The Best Way to Cook Vegetables, and More

9 Tricks to Improve Your Life*

1 Test Your Kitty’s IQ

A study from animal behaviorist Ádám Miklósi found that some cats can override their natural instincts and follow their master’s direction when searching for food. Put one opaque cup to your left and one to your right, leaving a treat under only one. Point to the cup you want your cat to go to, randomly alternating between the one with the treat and the one without. Give her a treat only when she goes to the one you point to. If she follows you instead of her nose seven out of ten times, your tabby has aced the test.

2 Make Your Own Jar Gripper

An old tennis ball can become the perfect tool to use on stubborn twist-off bottle caps or sticky jar lids. The rubber inside can grip tops large and small, while the soft exterior eases the strain on your hand. To make one, use a utility knife or a box cutter to cut the ball in half.

3 Get Rid of Sweaty Feet

Unless you want to win a stinky-sneaker contest (see page 46 for a girl who actually did!), sweaty feet aren’t great for your shoes or your tootsies. A swipe of antiperspirant across the toe knuckles and soles of your feet can help keep odor and moisture at bay. If you use a stick or roll-on, keep a separate one for your feet to avoid any bacterial transfer to your underarms.

4 Zap Your Veggies

While not as epicurean as roasting or sautéing, microwaving your vegetables might be the best option for your health. Veggies retain more nutrients when they are exposed to less heat and water. As with stove-top steaming, microwaving them preserves more vitamin C and cancerfighting glucosinolate than other methods.

5 Set Your Phone for Deeper Sleep

The blue light emitted by your smart devices is the same kind that comes from the sun, so staring at your screens suppresses melatonin production and inhibits sleep. To reduce blue light exposure without minimizing screen time, go to Settings on your Apple device, then Display & Brightness, and turn on Night Shift. For Androids, look for Night Light or Blue Light Filter.