AIBU to ask you if a daily habit has transformed your life?

Such a smug mumsnet response re playing the piano Vs cleaning toilets.

Bollocks. Having a clean loo isn't life affirming, but having a system that means you spend next to no time keeping it that way frees time for the other stuff.

I feel kinda sad that some people's life affirming habits revolve around housework, but I know that being clean and tidy and in control is a big thing for a lot of you.

I don't think I have any daily habits. I just can't concentrate for long enough. I play the piano 5 days out of 7 probably, at various times of the day. That's my little bit of mindfulness and I love it.

I just read the book summary and review while it reads okay I don't think it is for me.
Any suggestions for a similar read to make changes.

@Manolin it sounds like you get up early so you can do 10 hours work a day. I hope you’re paid very well for that. Otherwise that wouldn’t be a positive habit in my book.

Daily vitamins and planned exercise.

cheezy Floradix is a very effective iron supplement, as well as that I take vitamin D, calcium and magnesium every day. I take B complex twice a week just in case.
Magnesium is good to regulate moods, I've been taking it since coming off anti depressants.

@thenightsky - I’ve posted on numerous insomnia threads that I am lucky if I get 3 straight hours a night! Have tried everything but most nights i get about three or four 30 minute naps.

Loving the thread though. I have a cup of tea in the garden and listen to the birds every morning. I also plan my day in my head whilst standing on one leg with my eyes closed - does wonders for your balance and core muscles. When it was recommended to me, I couldn’t manage three seconds, now I can do it for over a minute!

On reading back this sounds nuts but try it - you will be surprised!!

@Yeahyoureright can I ask which vits you’ve been taking? I’ve started on floradix and have seen a big difference to my energy levels.
So I guess that would be my habit.
I’m quite bad at sticking to habits..

Cleanse, tone, moisturize twice a day regardless of how tired or ill you feel. My mum got me into the habit when I was still in my teens.

Marie Kondo folding and tidying method truly amazing, have gained so much space and e setting is ordered. It takes time after each batch of laundry but so worth it. I do it everytime.

Podcasts while doing housework.

Smoothie for breakfast every work day, and taking a multivitamin every day.

A bit of proper skin care every morning (hyaluronic acid onto damp skin, moisturiser and sunscreen, glycolic acid every other day).

Have got into a bit of yoga each day too.

Am going to try to leaving your phone downstairs to charge thing I think....

@CarlyWarly1980 I listened to a podcast that tackled the question of can one small habit make a difference and they gave the example “if I told you smoke a cigarette for five minutes every day or drink a can of larger - you’d soon notice the negative differences. Positive differences work in the same way”.

I must confess though that I have no daily habits no good ones anyway

Exercising on a morning, early alarm, gym gear ready the night before, have a coffee and get straight to it so I don't have time to think about it or start making excuses. As a result my skin, body, mood and everything feels better. It took some getting used to as I wasn't naturally athletic but now it's a habit.

Secondly, I have a busy schedule so planning ahead and getting work bag/ lunch ready the night before. Stops me being chaotic and spending a fortune on shop bought lunches and eating crap.

Fab idea for a thread. I've ordered a couple of the book recommendations on my audible account.

Things that have helped me include a daily walk (I've lost around two stone during lockdown without really changing what I eat) and listening to podcasts/audio books while doing household chores.

I love the idea of setting up a good morning routine. I'm definitely going to try this. Will come back later for more inspiration!

I’m not sure if it’s transformed my life but keeping a diary is lovely. I don’t have a great memory so it’s lovely to look back over it and remember things I did. Mine’s an online one so I can also upload pictures which is fab. I rarely miss a day.

Hmm I might read it. I have instilled small daily habits I'm trying to organise my life more, less chaos.
I done the fly ladies and meditate 3 times a week. I need to up that though it has made a big difference.

My daily dog walks.
My morning gardening.
Sitting with the pets every day in the garden. My kids have no interest in being so boring. The cats and the dog love it though. We're totally in the Zen zone. It is magic. The four of us sit out there in the garden, sniffing the good air and feeling the love from our green canopy of trees enveloping us. My cats look at me with eyes have closed, doggo is right by my side, loyal soul, and it's like, "Yeah. This is NOW." It's awesome and a way to feel totally connected, part of something great, especially after dropping to the ground and going into cardiac arrest back in March! I almost died. Instead, I lived. I feel like the comeback kid with a heavy dose of Om.

Going for a walk for an hour as soon as my toddler has gone to bed. Earphones in, podcast or music on. I can get just over 3 miles walked in an hour and I feel like a new woman when I get home. I’m less irritable with my partner, I sleep better, I feel better about myself, I enjoy laughing to funny podcasts, I’ve lost weight. I realised that “relaxing” doesn’t have to mean sitting on sofa eating junk food. I can relax by going for a walk.

This is such a basic thing, but it makes a difference. When you get up, make your bed and tidy your room. Your bedroom should be a place of rest and calm.

Also, I find linking tasks helps. For example, while the kettle is boiling I will empty the dishwasher and lay out all my vitamins, probiotics and drugs (I have RA).
When brushing my teeth in the morning, I will do squats. If my partner is staying over, when we brush our teeth in the evening we will actually cuddle. I know this sounds weird, but we really look forward to having those two minutes to connect.

Frenchic What sunscreen do you use on your roseacea please? I've horrid reddish acne prone skin & any spf just seems to make mine worse

lookatmememe

What are your polite 'no' ideas?

Oh, and another book recommendation - Marie Forleo 'Everything is Figureoutable'. Brilliant, inspiring, kick up the backside!

Learnt to say no. Have various polite versions for work and a few for home . One or two non polite versions too. It's made a big difference to lots of aspects of my world. But most of all it's allowing me actual time for me at last.

Writing 500 words a day. Four or five months later I have a novel. I've done this twice now, just editing the second one. Getting published is the next challenge!

@MattBerrysHair have you been tested for coeliac - the IBS, brain fog and anxiety are symptoms and you'll have been cutting out gluten if low carbing. www.isitcoeliacdisease.org