Habits that make you healthier, more organised or just somehow improve your life

[mynameisnotkate]

There was a great thread on MN about a year ago where people were sharing their useful habits. I picked up a good few, but have kind of lost my mojo and am looking for inspiration. Any ideas?

Things I've tried:

• getting up earlier - really like this, am going back to this soon
• Wim Hof - planning to go back to cold showers, but didn't get much out of the breathing
• drink four pints of water a day - have really given up on this but want to restart, it definitely makes me feel better
• 16:8 fast - again, I want to get back into this, it helps with weight, though on its own it's not enough
• ways to make me more efficient at work - have tried lots but find it really hard to make things stick. A task diary is quite useful.

What have you tried that worked / didn't work?

I have a paper chart on the fridge of jobs which need doing every month. I literally tick them off when done, and usually write the date too. They include
Reading meters
Descaling appliances
Filling water softener salt
Mowing lawns
Reconciling credit card bill/bank accounts
Top up school dinner accounts
These are all things that I used to forget about and then couldn't remember if I'd done them or not.

On top of that I have a note on my wall calendar (and in my phone calendar) on months when car tax/MOT/passports etc are due for renewal.

I answer emails, online bookings and do my online banking quite often sitting in the car waiting for a child to do a sports thing - sometimes I take a coffee and sandwich too. I schedule hands-free phone chats with faraway friends when I'm on a boring motorway journey (NOT in bad weather or when it's really heavy traffic!) For me, it's helpful to get the life admin out of the way at a time that I would otherwise not be doing something more exciting.

I always have an ongoing shopping list on my phone and bags in the car in case I find myself with 10 spare minutes somewhere and there happens to be a supermarket nearby!

I've done loads of things and got my life in a pretty good order (it took years) but the biggest game changer has been going to bed REALLY early (I'm asleep by 9pm).
This means I wake up naturally with no alarm, at 6/7 am, and feel so happy and rested.. from the moment I open my eyes.

Now I think it's really bizarre being woken up from a sleep against your wish, by a ringing alarm clock.
Then spend some time dragging yourself out of bed groggy, and only function after a coffee/tea. Seems so unnatural. And a horrible way to start the day.

I think of the days back when I used to wake up to an alarm clock, and how strange it seems to me now that my day would be spent being tired. I'm never tired now.

@Rummikub . There are beginners yoga tutorials available or you could pause it as you go along. Some moves are more complicated but there are lots of basic ones.

Thanks @Taswama

I do like the idea of a ten min morning yoga routine

Following this for ideas…

A ' Things to do today' ring notebook- one page per day. I use one side for work and one for home and tick them off as I go. You then rip it off once done. Game changing as I'm peri-menopausal and my brilliant memory is no more

@WindFlower92 what's the app called please? I can't find it on App Store

Listen guys, if you're setting up a Sunday summit, please don't set it up in such a way that you are saddled with weekly task of meal planning and online shopping order, while your other half waltzes off with the typically annual tasks of insurance and energy suppliers.

Something I swear by is an actual physical work diary that I write tasks in.

I found that I just forgot if I relied on my computer one.

i second early rise, yoga (i like adrienne), and 12 minute meditation. getting outside for a walk once a day if you can, even if it has to be after work. ooh and sometimes a 10 minute nap if I've actually got up at 5am.

One I read recently and have stuck to - if something takes 2 minutes, just do it. Like emptying dishwasher, taking recycling out. Sounds silly but helpful for me.

@Namechangeforthis88

Listen guys, if you're setting up a Sunday summit, please don't set it up in such a way that you are saddled with weekly task of meal planning and online shopping order, while your other half waltzes off with the typically annual tasks of insurance and energy suppliers.

I posted very briefly. DH does at least as much as I do and picks up all the other tasks. He probably does more of the cleaning and he does his own ironing, and a fair share share of the cooking. I just happen to be better at meal planning.

@Leah2005

One I read recently and have stuck to - if something takes 2 minutes, just do it. Like emptying dishwasher, taking recycling out. Sounds silly but helpful for me.

Agree with this

Every time I see one of these threads I think ooh I'm going to do that. Or that sounds like a good idea, I must try it, but I never ever ever ever stick to it.

I want to have a to do list, but it wont be very long. DH does most of the housework. I only really do the laundry. He does all the cooking and cleaning.

I also like the idea of getting up early, but I'm not very good at that unless I have to be somewhere.

Back in Jan I did run every day and I went out for a mile at least every day, but I was working from home them so it was easy to get out. Now I'm back in the office its not so easy every day or at least it wont be in winter, but it is something I'd like to do again.

Taking CBD oil morning and evening, has pretty much eliminated my chronic headache and really improved my sleep.

Having a visible wall calendar as well as phone ones. So much easier to see at a glance.

Keeping a stash of generic birthday cards and wrapping paper for kids parties, just so useful as it’s the sort of thing I would never remember.

Ditto a stash of £1 coins and envelopes for the inevitable school requests

Putting EVERYTHING in my calendar with a reminder set for an appropriate time before hand
(Eg birthday - reminder 3 days before so I can buy a card/present; doc appointment- reminder 2 hours before so I can get organised to leave on time)

See something that needs doing - do it straight away - change a bulb, take laundry upstairs, pick up that sock before it disappears forever

Place marking for inspiration!!

Have dedicated beach bag/swimming bag/baby change bags with all of the stuff you need for that activity. When you get home, clean and replenish anything you’ve used up and repack the bag within 24 hours. It’s more convenient and you’re never short of anything vital (locker money/sunscreen/nappy cream etc).

I buy, wrap and label all gifts for the year ahead in January sales. Takes one thoughtful planning session when I’m browsing sales anyway.

Integrate google calendars to eliminate back and forths about availability.

I strategically schedule emails (across time zones) to go out at times which mean I won’t get a reply at times I want to be focused on my family. I keep my inbox at 0.

I make big decisions in the morning, to eliminate decision fatigue. By doing this, when I have to make significant choices later in the day due to emergencies, I’m rested.

I bought the book and I'm starting The Organised Mum Method (cleaning routine)
Tomorrow

Decluttering really really helps me.
My label maker and a pantry and organised freezer.

I read the title as “Rabbits that improve your life” and thought yes, they probably do.

I’ll get my coat

do not over schedule yourself not everything is important and/ or urgent

no more than 3 main items in to do list per day ( it doesn't include everyday stuff like making dinner, sorting recycling or walking dog)

ie 1. Complete work project ( 4 hours)

1. check quotes and renew car insurance ( 1 hour)
2. Bake and decorate Suzie's birthday cake and arrange party food ( 2 hours)

always put item that takes longest time in diary first ( except for very time specific appointments if something takes 4 hours and is best done in one go even if it is not the most urgent it nneeds to go in schedule first as urgent short things can be arranged round it but there is probably only one way to get a continuous four hour slot in your day ie 9-1

Losing my martyr complex and Kicking my dh's ass so that the housework kidmin childcare is shared.
Absolute game changer!

Oh, I thought of one. Teach your kids to do housework and don’t let teenagers get away with being useless at a job so you give up and do it for them.

I try to swap out at least one of my daily coffees for a decaf. It probably doesn't make much difference but it feels like a healthy habit.