There is a certain point at which problems just seem insurmountable. What the hell are you going to do that will suddenly fix world hunger or global warming, or stop people from fighting wars? You're not a billionaire or a politician. It's easier to just throw up your hands, go back to bed, and let someone else take care of it, especially since naps are fantastic.
But the good news is that for absolutely no effort or cost whatsoever, you can make profound differences in the world. These are meaningless little things that you probably didn't even know made an impact at all, and they can be easily scheduled in between your nine daily siestas.

#5. Keep Your Damn Cat Indoors (Before It Obliteratesthe Ecosystem)

This being the Internet, most of you adore cats. And what's not to love? They're easy to domesticate and are one of the lowest-maintenance pets out there. The trouble is that your beloved kitty's fondness for catching pests can become a huge problem the second you let your snookums outside. How huge? Well, cats are now listed among the world's top 100 invasive species . And yes, we mean domestic cats -- not feral. So, yeah, your putty tat's pwedatowy pwowess is way less adorable once McFluffin starts decimating local ecosystems.
The problem is that most of us tend to vastly underestimate the impact of domestic cats in the wild. Thanks to human breeding and protection, their population density is actually 100 times higher than feral cats in the same environment, and most ecosystems simply aren't prepared for those numbers. Domestic cats also have fewer risks from predators, as they have safe homes to retreat to whenever, say, stray dogs enter their territory. That means domesticated outdoor cats have all the benefits and hunting skills of feral cats and none of the drawbacks that force other animals to be more cautious. The resultis basically a natural apocalypse every time cat owners open the front door.
But maybe you're convinced that your outdoor cat isn't an insatiable killing machine -- after all, you feed the little guy. Why would he feel the need to hunt?
See, that's what everybody thought. So they did an experiment: A University of Georgia researcher tied small video cameras to cat collars and obtained nearly 2,000 hours of footage of kitties roaming the suburban wilds . They watched as these well-fed cats hunted prey ranging from mice to chickens, not even botheringto eat them. Yep, these cats were specifically hunting for pleasure , often hiding the evidence, all the while roaming through forests, across rooftops, and deep insewage systems. Just murdering everything they saw.
Even worse, these cats are putting endangered species at risk. Cats in England kill an estimated 275 million animals annually , and this U.S.-based report compiles sources implicating domestic cats in the extinction of 33 bird species, on top of a kill count of 1 billion birds. Overall, this knowledge changes one's perspective of the Internet Cat Video Festival, which now comes across as a heartwarming death cult.
So keep your freaking cat indoors! If you're already feeding your cat, letting it outside only creates a feline serial killer that murders for pleasure, decimates local wildlife , and occasionally even risks its own life for cheap thrills. At the very least, it's easier to hug your tabby when you know it hasn't been rolling around inbird blood and your neighbors' feces.



#4. Sneeze into Your Sleeve

For all of our medical advances, some of the world's biggest killers are run-of-the-mill viral infections. Respiratory diseases like influenza and pneumonia are the third mostcommon way to die worldwide , as they take out up to half a million people per year (and you're doubly screwed if you live in a poorer country like Nigeria). And let's face it: We suck at disease prevention. We live our lives like we're still completely in the dark about how these things spread -- we go to work sick, we cough on each otheron the train, we don't think to disinfect shit like our keyboards and doorknobs unless somebody sneezes on them right in front of us (and hell, probably not even then).
But the truth is that you don't have to wear one of those sterile space suits if you want to stop the spread of your unholy pestilence -- it just takes a few really simple and almost effortless steps. Washing your hands frequently is a great start, but here's one that's even easier:
When you feel a sneeze coming on, smash your face into your elbow and sneeze directly into your sleeve.