Don't be a Time-Traveling Novice: 5 Tips to Avoid Paradoxes

As a time traveler, you're probably aware of the Grandfather Paradox. You're also likely aware of the Predestination Paradox. But do you know about the lesser-known 'What's for Lunch' Paradox?

Use the Novikov Self-Consistency Principle: Don't Eat in the PastWhen time traveling, it's essential to remember that any events that occurred before your birth are set in stone. Don't even think about it.

Don't Kill Your Grandmother (or Grandfather)

As the grandfather paradox goes, if you kill your grandfather before he has children, you wouldn't have been born, so you can't have killed him. But what if you're not your grandfather's killer? What if you're just a time-traveling hipster who's just really into the whole 'being a time traveler' thing?

Don't Bring Back Technology That Doesn't Exist Yet

If you bring back a smartphone from the past, you might just ruin the whole timeline. Or you might just give the ancient Egyptians a really good reason to hate you.

Don't Try to Change History for the Sake of Itself

As a time traveler, it's tempting to try and change the course of history for the sake of it being cool. But trust us, it's not worth it. Leave the big changes to the experts (or the really, really rich time travelers).

Don't Be a Time-Traveling Tourist

Time travel is not just about visiting famous landmarks and taking selfies. It's about respecting the timeline and not making a mess.

Don't Get Lost in Time

It's easy to get lost in the timestream, but don't worry, it's a common problem. Just take a deep breath, grab a map, and remember that you're not alone.