Little routines that quietly make life run smoother

[dongbibi]

I was chatting to a friend this morning and we realised how much the small habits matter more than the big plans. Nothing dramatic, just tiny routines that make the day easier without much effort.
For me it’s things like laying out school stuff the night before, doing a quick kitchen reset before bed, and keeping breakfasts very boring and predictable. It’s not exciting, but it means mornings are calmer and I start the day feeling a bit more in control.
It’s made me appreciate that I don’t need to overhaul everything to feel on top of things. A few small systems seem to carry a lot of the weight.

I prep my Moka pot the night before so I just turn on the heat when I get up.
Coffee is important to me 😁

Hire a cleaner, robo hoover, household essentials set up on repeat so they arrive when needed.

When I'm wfh or off work, I turn the washing machine on while waiting for the kettle to boil for my morning coffee. That way, the washing is done and put out to dry nice and early. If I put it on later, I end up going out or getting wrapped up in work and forget about it.

I spend a few minutes folding stuff up in the evening. At the same time, I get the next days clothes ready.

My DC won't eat school lunches so I make batches of turkey sausage rolls and tomato or pesto twists and freeze them. When the dinner is cooking, I also cook them for the next days lunch.

I do similar with the washing machine. Or I'll pop it on as I'm getting ready to walk the dog, it's usually finished when we're back.

I like the tip of folding in the evening, I should really do that while we have the TV on rather than zoning out.

I also often chuck some veg in the soup machine as I'm leaving for a dog walk (dog absolutely hates the noise so it's the best time) and then there's a few portions of soup ready when we get back. They can be lunch, go in the fridge for later/another day or freeze.

I have two pre school age kids and my absolute favourite hack is do multiple 5 minute tidies throughout the day. Ask Alexa for a 5 minute countdown and wee all run around like mad tidying, make it into a game for the kids see who can do the most in 5 minutes. It’s AMAZING wat you can actually get done in 5 minutes when there’s a clock ticking. Also a lot less intimidating as you know it’s only 5 minutes.

Thanks to this thread I've just spent a very happy 30 mins choosing cards and placing my first Whistlefish order 😃

Making sure that everything we need for the morning is ready the night before, including packed lunches.

Tidy 2 - 5 things every time I go into a room. I don't stick to it religiously but when I do the house just stays tidier.

I also wipe down the dado rail with a damp towel before I put it in the laundry at least twice a week to cut down on the visible dust (old house).

Great thread. I have done really well with planning my work outfits ahead and am continuing with that - helps with laundry and also avoiding always wearing the same top every time you have that Thursday meeting with the same people.

I've also been taking packets of dried food into work en masse so I have low sugar biscuits or similar there when hungry and don't have to spend money on snacks that aren't good for me anyway.

Don’t understand the ‘making beds’ thing -doesn’t everyone have a duvet now?

Keep your house keys in the same place.

When everything is a mess put just 10 things away. At least you’ve started and it’s easier to so the next 10 as well.

What do you do if you do activities on weekends, eg wedding or something or if something happens in evening and throws your schedule out.

Starting everything earlier in the evening helped us a lot. We started eating dinner early at 5.00 (sometimes even earlier!) which I appreciate not everyone could manage around work. But doing that, then using the shorter cycle for the dishwasher means that I can get the dishwasher unloaded and everything put away by 6.30 a lot of evenings which makes it feel like we have more of an evening to relax.

Doing a wash load every day also helps plus agree with getting clothes out the night before.

i do a short 7 minute workout most days before getting showered and dressed in the morning and although it sounds too short to even bother with it makes huge difference to my fitness level.

I started taking a thermos flask of tea or coffee to bed with me and a mug. So I can have a cuppa in bed without having to leave it. That 10 mins with radio 4 on in the morning has made my day much more civilised.
i work from home mainly - on those days I will make sure I do some kind of exercise- either walking the dog or a class. To delineate the day a bit.
I meal plan and shop only to that.
DS has 5 school shirts and they are all washed and ironed on Sunday (the only day ironing happens).
We have a weekly catch up - with wall planner - who’s where when - plan meals around who’s here and shop accordingly.

Which work outs do you do pls?

Learning how
to use my oven timer.

prep
food
on the morning , pop it in , ready when I get home. Or 20mijs after to give me
enough time to make rice/veggies etc

works great for tray bake all
on one dishes and stuff out of the freezer.

Keep a present idea list in my phone all year round, with headings for every one in my family that I buy for, just add to it whenever I get an idea for someone

My 3 older ones just automatically carry out certain routines as they are now just pure habit - took a lot of repeating myself over and over and over and............
but we got there!!
They come in from school and automatically take off shoes and coats and put them where they go, over to sink and take out lunchbox and bottle and whoever's turn it is washes and dries them. They go to their room and take off uniform, dirty into basket, clean over a chair for the next day and any clean stuff needed is added to pile.
Up to the table for a snack, homework, fill their water bottle and back in fridge and put non perishables into their lunchbox for the next day. Rest of the day is then theirs.
When they come in from sports, everything off and into wash, straight into shower.
When I cook I do big pots of whatever it is and freeze portions, I only need to do this once a month.
When DH bakes he slices the bread and scones and freezes individual portions, into the toaster/oven in the mornings for a few minutes.
The above are the ones that have our mornings and evenings fairly calm and ordered.

I have a big chest freezer and used it hate sorting it out. I recently bought some amazing industrial freezer gloves, can’t believe I’ve had a chest freezer for over 20 years and never had freezer gloves before. They are a game changer! (Of course if you already have some, this post is redundant! 😁)

I feel much more settled and put together if I get everything ready the night before. It gives me chance to make sure I have everything as well as quickly check for cat hair, fix lose hems than seem to appear in the wardrobe and get jewellery together etc

Now to actually do it more often...

On a Sunday evening I have a everything shower, body brush, hair mask, face mask, shave, exfoliation then I give myself a pedicure and manicure. During the week it's just quick showers/hair wash and putting on my hand and face creams before bed. Saves trying to fit different things into different days and helps me look semi decent at all times.

Whoever is cooking dinner (dh and I take turns) makes dd's lunch box at same time.

I make beds when I get dressed, I also set out tomorrow's clothes the night before.

As others said, having a "bag" for.each activity - we have a swimming bag in which swimming towels and costumes live, so its grab and go. Same for my gym bag. DH has a table tennis bag. We have a generic "going out" bag which contains a change of clothes for DD, wet wipes, plasters and usually a pack of crackers. DD also has a nursery bag with essentials. Makes a big difference.

Ive been training DD to put shoes.away/coat away when she comes in. DH is a bit.trickier!

Wash every day (we are sporty and have a pre schooler!). Tidy up toys before bed. Clean down kitchen after dinner.

"Healthy habits" makes everything a little bit easier.

I saw something the other day which inspired me - if it seems like hard work, its probably good.for you. I try and use.that mentality!

Fill the sink with hot soap water and clear the draining rack before you start cooking. It means you can wash up as you go and saves a massive clean up after dinner.
Life changing!

Put the dishwasher on every night even if its not 100% full. Means there's always space in the dishwasher and less washing up or dirty plates stacked on the side waiting for the dishwasher to finish.

About 15 years ago an MNer said she only ever bought silver wrapping paper, which can cover pretty much every occasion.

When the dc were younger, I used to bulk buy birthday cards for whatever age their friends were being that year. From about 8, I’d put money in the card and stick it to a box of maltesers rather than buy a present.