Fancy sharing your 'atomic habits'* for inspiration for a September reset?

[LadyMaria]

Hello everyone

I love a clean slate and making resolutions. I've been making (and breaking) resolutions since I was little. I always considered September to be a second January, and in that spirit, I want to take advantage of the fresh-start atmosphere that comes with the back-to-school season. My goal is to start implementing small changes that will help me reorganise my life and regain the sense of control that I absolutely crave.

I'm here to ask you lovely ladies to please share with me (and anyone interested in doing the reset) the tiny changes that helped you start transforming your lives for the better.

• Atomic Habits

A tip I find very useful: always keep one or more cartons of long-life milk in the pantry. That way, when we run out of fresh milk before my planned shopping day, or if I can't go shopping as planned, I can use the pantry milk instead. This prevents me from making a quick trip to the supermarket for milk, only to return with a full trolley of unplanned groceries.

May I recommend "Tiny Habits" written by BJ Fogg - he's the researcher that most of Atomic Habits is lifted from.(not to knock Atomic habits which I also found helpful)

BJ Fogg uses a "habit recipe" (paraphrasing from memory)
When I <existing habit eg brushing teeth>
I will <TINY habit eg do one squat>
Then I will celebrate eg say yay me

He says the key to cementing habits is to celebrate & to keep really tiny - you celebrate the 1 squat even when you really plan to do 20.

Anyway I've realised mine are all physical (I REALLY need the organisation ones 🙈)
eg I do calf raises, toe/tib raises, & some shoulder mobility while I shampoo my hair

Pelvic floor squeezes at traffic lights (use to be while reading to kids but they're bigger now)

counter top push ups while a kettle boils

stand on one leg or use my half dome to stretch my calves while brushing my teeth

I sit on the floor all evening which is far more active/stretching than a chair/sofa & everytime I get up I do it twice

I drink 2 pints on waking - before I really think about it.

Two pints of water! I do not start the day with Guinness 😂

I use a bullet journal. It's a dotted notebook that you customise yourself.It takes ages to draw everything out but I find it very relaxing and look forward to doing it!

I stumbled across her and she resonated with me so so much more than Mrs Hinch (my allergies couldn't deal with all the chemicals she uses!) or Marie Kondo (I love the spark joy thing, HATE the Kondo folding 😂).
Dana aka a slob comes clean has a youtube channel and an old fashioned Internet blog so plenty of free resources, I watched a few videos and impulse bought her audiobooks and binge listened to them, made a massive difference to my life.

Work out what the ONE thing is that's the biggest priority in your life and just focus on that ONE thing initially.
As pp said- you can't go wrong with starting with water! Everything else flows from health so my personal priority order is
Health (diet, sleep, exercise)
Home (decluttering / organising / cleaning)
Finances (Because I can't focus on this if the top two are in chaos)
Then relationships, hobbies etc

If I feel really stuck and overwhelmed then I might watch YouTube videos because at least then even if I'm not doing anything I'm taking something in.

There's a youtube channel called Struthless there's some good tips on there to get out of a rut. His style might not be to everyone's taste but I find him really humble and inspiring.

I tend to avoid the "motivational" channels that play dramatic Hans Zimmer music and have someone randomly shouting stuff about being the best and putting the work in, doesn't work for me just makes me feel like shit haha

Sorry @LadyMaria , I've just seen this. I ventured into robovac buying nearly 4yrs ago with the Eufy 30C (which I use downstairs). I then bought the Eufy X9 last year, which I use upstairs. I have 2 DC and 4 cats, so they're worth their weight in gold.

The X9 is excellent. It gets under the beds and furniture upstairs, and is more savvy than the 30C (it avoids cables etc). It has two spinning mops on it. The docking station has a thing for clean and dirty water (that's where it refills etc). You empty the dust bin as and when needed (it's in the Eufy itself). I refill/empty the clean/dirty water things weekly. I have wooden floors upstairs. Downstairs I have wooden floors in the living room (large low pile rug in living room) and quarry tiles in kitchen, hallway and bathroom.

Admittedly the house is a (very very small) 3 bed semi, but having the robovacs does mean that the floors are sorted each day, so one thing I don't have to worry about. It means I just need to mop stairs (wooden) and downstairs. Oh, and I have to hoover the stairs.

I'm going to Google aslobcomesclean! I'm getting the kids to declutter their rooms over these next few days as the house is doing my head in a bit.

I once felt so stupid when I asked when doing the dishes was to be done on the TOMM plan and was told "err we kind of assume you do those anyway !" That was a lightbulb moment for me that I don't automatically think to do them. But then again I cook. Always. And don't expect to have to wash up but do. So often delay it

Asloncomesclean may be the one for you! She has a nice kindly southern US accent and I think all this stuff really does not come naturally to her either.

Ahh that sounds wrong! Of course there are naturally organised Texans, I assume! It's just that she has a nice gentle slightly rambling tone. I like her. If I heard somebody ultra brisk and efficient sounding on a podcast my natural stubborn streak would think oh just FUCK OFF - she doesn't elicit that reaction in me.

batch cook some meals to put in the freezer (or even just some quick freezer food like pizzas) that you can pull out on evenings you don’t want to properly cook

I always have the dc school uniform laid out the night before, and all bags sorted so we’re not worrying about it in the morning. If I’m feeling particularly organised I do it for myself too! lol

Premaking and freezing sandwiches is incredible, fantastic idea!

We do this too, we call it emergency milk 😁 I agree it’s such a small thing but removes something that can really ruin your morning. If I can’t have my morning milky coffee then I’m starting the day pissed off.

I have the Kindle Edition but not yet read it. Thanks for reminding me about it!

I'd love to incorporate all the "physical" habits that you mention but I need a lot of willpower to do them.

Thank you. I am more of the Marie Kondo kind but I have already bookmarked Dana and will definitely watch some of her videos.

I agree with the way you order your priorities except that for me maybe Home comes first as I noticed that taking care of myself is way easier when everything is in order.

Thanks for getting back to me! I have the x8 with Lidar, and it is good. I would like a mop one, but I'm still not sure. Doesn't the water develop a foul smell when sat for one week inside the station?

I agree 100%.

Oh yesss I HAVE to have my milky coffee in the morning!

So as someone who does around 2 hours of sport a day, I find to establish and maintain a good training schedule the following:

Have a gold / silver / bronze standard
So my gold is
Bjj 6 days and gym 3 days
Silver is
Bjj 5 days (10 hrs gym 3 days)
Bronze is
Bjj 4 times and gym 3 or bjj 6 and gym 2

Bjj - Brazilian juijitsu

Food shop list writing on the Saturday while I plan my next week schedule and meal plan at the same time
Meal prep Sunday

Lay clothes out the night before and tell the dogs I'll walk them the day before and tell them when and where (I feel like I have to stick to it then or they will be let down)

"tell the dogs I'll walk them the day before and tell them when and where (I feel like I have to stick to it then or they will be let down)"
love this 😃

When you read it you'll know habits don't require any will power! (I have NONE)

I have sleep headphones and listen to self help books like atomic habits for 15mins a night- sends me straight to sleep but usually a little nugget goes in- hugely helps my sleep.

I found exercise I adore (swimming lessons) and have been going without stress for months now. It’s an hour class and I feel amazing after and even when I don’t want to go I have started tricking my brain by “ I’m not sure if I’m going but I will get my kit ready/find my car keys/ fill my water bottle/put swimming costume on/ sit in car/ and before I know it I’m there and swimming even though I really wasn’t feeling it twenty mins before.

I’ve asked all relatives for experiences not presents as with 3 kids they all have too much shite. Still working on the decluttering but had big sort outs this summer.

I try and keep books out and my knitting out in places I sit so I pick it up rather than my phone. This one is a work in progress!

Just don't leave your car keys out and available on the hall table!

Actually, I do. Then they'll just take the car and not ransack the house. The last thing I want to happen is to wake up while a burglar is going through the drawers in my bedroom.