How to open envelopes without ripping paper inside using 'genius' method

This envelope hack is blowing minds online (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

We all know the feeling of anticipation (or dread) when we spot a letter in the post, not knowing if it brings joy or bad news.

In our haste, we often rip open the envelope without much thought. But what if you've been opening your letters incorrectly all this time?

Thanks to the clever people on social media, an Instagram account revealed a "genius" method for opening envelopes that could save you precious time.

The user @jeffandlaurenshow, with a following of 324,000, showcased this nifty trick in a recent online post. In the video, it demonstrates someone neatly tearing one corner of the envelope flap and then smoothly ripping down in a straight line.

This technique allows for a gentle opening along just one side of the envelope, avoiding any damage to the contents within.

The caption exclaimed: "Jeff is obsessed with this satisfying letter opening technique!" Since its posting late last month, the video amassed thousands of likes and comments.

One user exclaimed: "Are you kidding me? This is genius." Another praised: "Brilliant."

A third was astounded: "You have to rethink EVERYTHING." While a fourth admitted: "I have indeed been doing it wrong."

However, some users were baffled this method wasn't already widely known. One remarked: "I've opened my mail like this for years." Then another critiqued: "That is the opposite of satisfying. It's just so wrong."