🧠 November 4 – Use Your Common Sense Day: Because Apparently, That’s Not So Common Anymore 🤷♀️
Ah, Use Your Common Sense Day—a holiday that feels like it should be every day... and yet here we are, needing to set aside one specific day to remind the world not to microwave metal, text their ex, or believe everything they read on the internet. 😅
Let’s break down this wonderfully practical (and deeply necessary) day, celebrate it with a wink, and maybe inspire a little less chaos in the world—one sensible choice at a time.
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📜 A Little Logic Behind the Day
Use Your Common Sense Day was created by Bud Bilanich, a career mentor and self-proclaimed "common sense guy," who launched it to encourage people to think logically and make smart decisions in their everyday lives. He strategically placed it on November 4, the birthday of Will Rogers, the legendary humorist known for his sharp wit and no-nonsense wisdom. (Will once said, "Common sense ain't common"—and honestly, he was onto something.)
🧐 What Even Is Common Sense?
Common sense is that quiet little voice in your head that says:
“Maybe don’t click on that sketchy link promising free iPhones.”
“If it smells weird, don’t eat it.”
“Perhaps now is not the time to start a dramatic Facebook rant.”
It’s the basic good judgment we all should have, but sometimes forget—especially when we’re tired, hangry, or trying to assemble IKEA furniture without instructions. 😵💫
💡10+ Delightfully Sensible Ways to Celebrate Use Your Common Sense Day
📵 Pause Before You Post: Take a moment to re-read that tweet, text, or post. Will it age well? Is it helpful or just petty? Is it a cry for help in meme form?
🛑 Don't Engage With Internet Trolls: It’s a trap. You won’t win. They feed on chaos. Use your exit strategy, not your energy.
🤔 Channel Your Inner Grandma: Ask yourself, “Would Grandma think this is a good idea?” If the answer is “no,” rethink your life choices.
🚗 Use Your Blinker: Wild idea, right? But turns out, signaling while driving does make the road a safer (and less ragey) place.
🔥 Refrain From Doing Dumb Stuff “For the Gram”: No jumping off roofs, licking frozen poles, or starting fake prank wars. Just...why?
👟 Wear Sensible Shoes: Especially if it’s raining. Especially if you’ll be walking a lot. Your future feet will thank you.
🧾 Read the Fine Print: Before you click “I agree,” maybe skim it? That gym membership might own your soul (or at least your next 12 paychecks).
🥴 Don’t Skip Breakfast and Expect to Function: Coffee is great, but it’s not a food group. Grab a banana or something.
🙅♂️ Say No When You Need To: Overcommitting is the gateway drug to burnout. Use your common sense and protect your peace.
🗣️ Have That One Friend Check Your Outfits/Text Messages/Crazy Plans: We all need a "voice of reason" bestie. Be one. Find one. Rotate as needed.
🧽 Clean That Weird Smell in Your Fridge: You know it’s there. You've just been ignoring it. Today’s the day. Be brave.
🧠✨ Dinner Theme: Cozy, Clever, and Just Makes Sense”
Think: minimal dishes, maximum flavor, seasonal ingredients, and a dessert that doesn’t require a candy thermometer or your soul.
🥘 Main Dish: Sheet Pan Herb-Roasted Chicken & Veggies
Because nothing says “I have a brain and I’m using it” like putting everything on one pan and letting the oven do the work.
Ingredients:
4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or boneless breasts—use what you’ve got!)
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp honey
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp dried thyme or rosemary
Salt + pepper
Veggies: carrots, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, or whatever’s in the crisper
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 425°F (because hot and fast is smart and tasty).
Whisk together olive oil, mustard, honey, garlic, paprika, herbs, salt, and pepper.
Toss veggies in half the mixture and spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Rub the rest onto chicken and nestle it on top.
Roast for 35–45 minutes until chicken is golden and veggies are soft with crispy edges.
Use one fork, one napkin, and one brain to eat. Enjoy your life.
🥗 Side: Common Sense Green Salad
Use what you have. Seriously.
Mixed greens, arugula, or spinach
Something crunchy: cucumbers, apple slices, or nuts
Something creamy: goat cheese, feta, or avocado
Dressing = olive oil + lemon juice + pinch of salt + optional Dijon
Toss in a big bowl. Taste. Adjust. Look at you, using your palate like a grown-up.
🍮 Dessert: No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars
(a.k.a. Dessert You Don't Have to Suffer For)
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups rolled oats
½ cup peanut butter (or almond, or cashew, whatever)
⅓ cup honey or maple syrup
½ tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt
Optional: ½ cup melted chocolate for topping
Instructions:
Mix everything in a bowl. Press into a lined pan.
Top with chocolate if you’re feeling it.
Chill in fridge for 30+ minutes until firm. Cut into bars.
Eat with fingers. Brag internally.
🧃 Drink: Citrus + Mint Infused Water
It’s water. With sliced orange, lemon, and a few mint leaves. Chill it. Drink it. Stay hydrated. Be brilliant.
🕯 Bonus Vibe:
Eat in your comfiest clothes. Use real forks. Don’t apologize for taking shortcuts. Light a candle if you want. You’re using your common sense—and that’s worthy of celebration.
🍎 Elementary (Grades 2–5): “Captain Common Sense: Everyday Hero!” 🦸♂️🧠
Activity Type: Role-play + Writing + Visual Art
🎯 Objective:
Students will identify and explain examples of common sense in everyday situations by creating their own superhero who always saves the day with practical thinking!
🪄 Materials Needed:
Chart paper or whiteboard
“Captain Common Sense Situation Cards”
Blank paper, markers, crayons, or colored pencils
Optional: construction paper for capes/masks
Printable superhero template (optional but fun!)
🧩 Steps:
Kickoff Discussion (10 mins):
Start by asking: What does “common sense” mean? List student responses. Clarify that it’s about making smart, practical choices that help us stay safe and solve everyday problems.Situation Brainstorm (10 mins):
Ask: When is it important to use common sense? (Examples: looking both ways before crossing the street, not touching hot pans, washing hands after using the bathroom, etc.)Card Activity (15 mins):
Distribute or read aloud Captain Common Sense Situation Cards. In pairs or groups, students decide how Captain Common Sense would solve the problem using good judgment.Superhero Creation Time! (20–30 mins):
Students design their own “Captain Common Sense” superhero with:A name
A common sense “superpower” (e.g., sees danger before it happens, always thinks things through)
A comic strip, poster, or mini-story showing their hero in action
Gallery Walk or Share Out (10–15 mins):
Display their work and let students present their heroes!
🃏 Sample Situation Cards:
You see a puddle on the floor in the hallway. What should you do?
Your friend dares you to jump off the top of the slide. What does common sense say?
You forgot your lunch at home—what’s a smart next step?
The fire alarm goes off during class. What do you do?
💡 Teacher Tip:
Let kids be extra with their superhero names! “The Thinkinator,” “Ms. No-Duh,” or “Sir Smarts-a-Lot” all welcome. 😄
🎓 Secondary (Grades 6–12): “Common Sense Courtroom: Is It Really That Obvious?” ⚖️🧠
Activity Type: Debate + Critical Thinking + Real-World Application
🎯 Objective:
Students will evaluate everyday scenarios to determine if using common sense is truly “common,” and defend their reasoning in a mock court-style debate.
🪄 Materials Needed:
“Common Sense Case Files” printable
Gavel (or any object that makes a satisfying thunk!)
Timer or stopwatch
Paper & pens or digital devices for notes
Optional: Judge robes, wigs, or signs for courtroom flair 👩⚖️
🧩 Steps:
Warm-Up Brainstorm (5–10 mins):
Ask: Is common sense actually common? Students jot quick responses or discuss in small groups. Share surprising or funny examples.Introduce the Courtroom Concept (5 mins):
Split the class into groups of 3–4. Each group will receive a Common Sense Case File—a real-life-inspired scenario where “common sense” might not be so clear-cut.Prep Time (15 mins):
Each group assigns roles (Defender, Challenger, Reader, etc.) and prepares a short argument:DEFENSE: Argues that the person in the scenario used (or should have used) common sense.
CHALLENGE: Argues that the situation isn’t that simple—maybe it wasn’t obvious, or context matters.
Mock Court Time! (25–30 mins):
Rotate through each case. Students present their sides, and the rest of the class (or you!) serve as jury or judge. Use a simple vote system or assign points for clear logic, creativity, and respectful rebuttal.Debrief (10 mins):
Discuss: What did this teach us about judgment, perspective, and making smart decisions in real life?
🗂️ Sample Case Files:
Case #1: The Wet Floor Slip-Up
A student walks across a freshly mopped floor, ignores the “Wet Floor” sign, and falls. Should they have known better?Case #2: The Expired Milk Mystery
A roommate drinks from a gallon of milk that’s been in the fridge for 2 months. Whose fault is it?Case #3: The Charger Swap
A student takes a phone charger from the school lost and found because “it’s just sitting there.” Reasonable or wrong?
💡 Teacher Tip:
Let students suggest absurd or funny “case files” too! It keeps the mood light while practicing very real thinking skills.
🧠 Quirky in the Workplace
A.K.A. “The one day a year we try not to microwave fish in the breakroom.”
Use Your Common Sense Day sounds like it was invented specifically for office life. But instead of passive-aggressively emailing "Just a friendly reminder" for the 400th time, let's turn this noble holiday into something a bit more...quirky.
🔍 “Did You Though?” – The Common Sense Detective Game
How it works:
Set up mock "crime scenes" around the office or virtually (for remote teams) that reflect common workplace blunders—and challenge teams to solve what went wrong using only their wits, deduction skills, and a healthy dose of sarcasm.
Example Scenes:
The microwave is covered in marinara. Nearby: an exploded Tupperware, a plastic fork melted into oblivion, and a passive-aggressive sticky note that reads “REALLY?”
A swivel chair is toppled over, with a suspiciously long phone charging cable wrapped around its base. A coffee spill leads ominously into the hallway.
In a shared Google Doc: 37 conflicting edits, 3 different fonts, and a comment that just says “???????”
Objective:
Figure out what happened, who probably did it, and what common sense rule was clearly not followed.
Tools allowed:
Magnifying glass, snarky logic, team chat sleuthing, and dramatic reenactments.
Prize for the best detective team:
A gold spray-painted office supply (i.e. “The Golden Stapler of Sense”) and the right to write the next all-staff memo in their own tone.
Tagline for the day:
“Use Your Common Sense Day: Because it’s funnier when we pretend it’s not obvious.”
🎬 Movie Pick: 12 Angry Men (1957)
Why it fits: This classic courtroom drama is the ultimate celebration of reason and common sense. It follows one juror (played by Henry Fonda) who uses calm logic and rational questioning to challenge the hasty assumptions of his fellow jurors in a murder trial.
Common Sense Moment: Instead of rushing to judgment, he methodically deconstructs the prosecution’s case, showing how thinking things through can lead to justice.
📺 TV Episode Pick: The Office – “Safety Training” (Season 3, Episode 20)
Why it fits: When Michael Scott tries to prove that working in an office is just as dangerous as working in a warehouse, he ignores all common sense — and hilarity ensues.
Common Sense Angle: The entire episode is a satire on ignoring basic logic, with characters like Darryl trying to talk sense into Michael as he prepares to "jump" off the roof.
Perfect Quote: “You will die. You will literally die.” — Darryl, using common sense while Michael does not.
🧠 Final Thought:
Use Your Common Sense Day isn’t about being boring—it’s about being smart. It’s about thinking twice before you act, speak, or hit “reply all.” It’s about making the world just a little bit more logical… and maybe saving yourself from an awkward oops moment or two.
So go forth and be gloriously sensible. But like, with style. ✨
🔖 Hashtags for the Sensible and Sassy
#UseYourCommonSenseDay
#ThinkBeforeYouAct
#SensibleIsSexy
#WillRogersWisdom
#CelebrateQuirky
#NotRocketScience
#EverydayWisdom
#PauseAndThink
#LogicIsCute
#CommonSenseClub
