Instructions you (really) don’t need!

In a world full of advice, try living off the edge

Aditi Ahuja
3 min readOct 29, 2024
Photo by Mark Duffel on Unsplash

I don’t know about you, but I am sick to the core about receiving endless instructions from multiple fronts. Everyone in this world has some friendly tip or wholesome advice that they think will add oceans of value to your life. But the reality is quite the opposite.

Yes, there are some well-wishers in your life who are actually looking out for you. No doubt about that. But do they really have to serve random rules and regulations every time you catch yourself in the middle of a crisis? Would these instructions actually prove beneficial when the world is ending? I highly doubt that.

Here are some instructions that I feel you could easily do without and literally serve no purpose:

The amount of shampoo to use

“Squeeze a coin-sized amount into your palm,” says the back of the shampoo bottle, as you squint your eyes and read while you are in the middle of a glorious hot shower. “Massage gently into your scalp. Rinse well.” But wait, which coin does it refer to a penny or a farthing? A rupee coin or a shilling? Lack of clarity leads to a dearth of lather, and you end up with oily hair cueing up to an agitated morning.

Photo by Erick Larregui on Unsplash

Quantity of water to make instant noodles

We all know that making instant noodles is no easy task! But the quantity of water mentioned on the packet makes it even more confusing. Should you add a cup or would a glass suffice? How much does ‘200ml’ even mean? Who even uses ml as a measure anymore? In this tussle to get the water quantity right, your noodles might actually end up becoming a bowl of soupy ramen. These instructions are best avoided — just use your own practical wisdom. Or your mom’s advice.

Blow Horn

There are so many goods carriers that display behind them in prominent red letters, “Blow Horn!”. Yes, we all know that the horn is meant to be blown when the vehicle in front of you travels slower than a snail. But this instruction really solves no purpose. Neither does it let us overtake, nor does the horn make any difference to its speed. Rather, we fear that you may just topple to one side right in front of our eyes!

Caution: Container is Hot!

When we had placed the order for that Chinese curry, it is evident that we didn’t have in mind a dish served cold. Naturally, both the curry and the container would be hot. But still, the restaurants and eateries do not hesitate from displaying this note in a clear font, lest they get sued for damages in a million dollar case.

Which instructions do you think are totally skippable? Share your perspective in the comments!

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Aditi Ahuja
Aditi Ahuja

Written by Aditi Ahuja

Former journalist. Forever writer.

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