light colors such as white and beige

It’s said that insects are easily attracted to dark colors like black or navy. Conversely, light colors such as white or beige tend to deter insects, so wearing light-colored clothing is recommended for outdoor play. Using insect repellent spray as well will let you enjoy playing outside with even more peace of mind!

soak in lukewarm water

We often use water-based pens for things like underlining textbooks or making colorful notes. But if you forget to put the cap back on, the ink can suddenly stop flowing. In those cases, a method that might bring it back to life is soaking the tip in lukewarm water! Because water-based ink dissolves in water, soaking it can dissolve the dried ink on the tip and sometimes make it write again. Give it a try!

Gargle only once with a small amount of water.

After brushing your teeth, rinsing just once with a small amount of water leaves the fluoride from the toothpaste on your teeth, which helps prevent cavities. Be careful—rinsing many times washes the fluoride away! Many people may be rinsing repeatedly to thoroughly wash out the toothpaste, perhaps more than they realize.

Study for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break

You can’t really use this method during classes at school, but it’s a great one for homework. It’s called the Pomodoro Technique, where you repeat a cycle of studying for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break. Give it a try when you feel like you can’t concentrate very well while studying at home.

blue

Did you know there are studies showing that writing with a blue pen can boost concentration and memory? Blue is said to calm the mind and stimulate brain activity, which makes it easier to retain information. If you’re struggling to remember certain kanji or vocabulary, try writing them once with a blue pen.

Wipe the soles of your feet with a disinfectant wipe.

These days, there are lots of mosquitoes flying around even outside of summer. And when you get bitten, it gets incredibly itchy—but some people feel like they’re the only ones who get bitten a lot. In fact, it’s said that having a greater variety and number of resident bacteria on the soles of your feet makes you more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes. So if you disinfect or wash the soles of your feet thoroughly, you’ll be less likely to get bitten!

Cutting aluminum foil

If you keep using the same scissors, their cutting performance will gradually deteriorate. Dull scissors not only slow down your work, but they can also be dangerous. In such cases, try cutting a crumpled piece of aluminum foil with the scissors! The blades of dull scissors have tiny chips, but cutting aluminum foil helps fill in those chipped areas, restoring their sharpness.