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 keep my crisps on top of my fridge, so it's easier to grab crisps and dip together.

I jest, I jest.

We have dedicated bags for dedicated activities, so when I or DH folds the laundry, stuff gets put straight into their allocated bags. PE kit? Straight into the PE bag. Swimming stuff? Straight into the swimming bag.

Whoever is doing the evening meal, sets the bread maker running for the next day (depending on the day).

We do virtually everything mentioned above.

Clothes out ready the night before

When DS was at school, rucksack packed night before with books/gym stuff etc

Every room "reset" after use, cushions back in place, cups etc removed, generally tidied up.

Beds made every morning, so ready to get into at night

Washing up done after every meal, plus wiping down kitchen surfaces, putting away crockery/cutlery.

Rubbish and recycling put out into the relevant bins as part of evening kitchen "reset" after evening meal.

Cars parked the night before in the "right order" on the drive so the first person out in the morning doesn't have to move the other out of the way.

Dirty washing put into washing machine the night before, ready to be turned on by whoever gets up first the next morning, so we can hang it out before leaving for work.

Clean laundry ironed, folded and put away the same day it was washed to stop it building up. Everything put away in "it;s place" so we all know where to look for things as and when we need them, i.e. in drawers, wardrobes, etc.

Perishables removed from fridge/kitchen cupboards etc before we go away for a few days, so nothing is left rotting whilst we're away (saves cleaning up a smelly mess on return).

Shopping list templates on excel of all the stuff we buy regularly. Just delete the items we know we don't need and we've a quick and easy shopping list for when we go shopping without having to think too much. (including templates for ingredients for the most common meals we have).

At least two of everything in terms of non perishable foods, cleaning/laundry items etc. As soon as we run out of something, we put the "spare" in the cupboard and as we put the container in the recycling, we make sure a replacement is marked on the shopping list to replace the "spare". Means we never run out of things and don't waste time looking at what we may need.

Minimise your wardrobe to things that meet these criteria:

• fits
• like it
• current season for weather

Pack away the non-seasonal and the doesn't fit so long as you like them.

This leaves me with a small pile that is much easier to wash and put away. Having clothes that are the wrong size and season just sort of extends the laundry cycle unhelpfully.

I'm sure every year that company gets a (well deserved) sudden spike in purchases from threads like these on MN!

Yes to having generic wrapping paper.
Or even better, have a few generic gift bags in a couple of sizes to hand for when you cant find the selotape dont have time to wrap.

Oh and my 2025 hack has been the batch lady lunch recipes. So easy for when I'm working from home. The batch lady has been a good hack generally.

Dh I and do this! In the morning, add milk, stick in the microwave and I've got a perfect latte.

If you have an Alexa you can just shout out to her to add something to the shopping list and then look at it on your phone at the shops or when you do an online shop.

I buy all my birthday cards in one go at the beginning of the year. If you give the kids cash pocket money, withdraw that at the beginning of the year so you always have the right change/notes (although I did get quizzed by my bank as apparently it's unusual to withdraw in five pound notes!).

The shopping list we're fine at. It's the freezer contents list that we always seem to fail at. No clue why. I'm currently writing one now to try again 😁

What really works for me is to let all tasks of any importance go ignored and pile up until the last minute. Minor household chores can be left, as they’re not important enough, leave major ones that feel ‘too important’ to start and probably take ages anyway. Then the panic of a missed deadline or surprise guest allows me to unleash my productivity in one big stressed out manic wave.

I have a notes section on my phone and also on alexa. Every time something is put in or taken out it's added to/taken off the list.
DH is great at it, me not so much!!

I purposely cook more of meals like curry , chilli , bolognaise, etc and freeze the extra in portions for when I have to work late and DP eats solo 2 or 3 times per wk

I set off the hoovers as I get up

Basic clean of the sink and loo as I use the bathroom in the morning

get wk clothes ready the night before

Clean the fridge a day or so before dustbin day , go through the contents

quick clean and tidy downstairs before bed plus set off the dishwasher

make bed as get up

Have a bag of ‘charity items’ constantly on the go so when a charity ‘fill up bag’ comes through the door it’s there ready sorted to go

write a list as and when I cook of items I’m running out /low on

pay any bills /do admin as it arrives

tidy as we go

Shared Google Keep shopping list, if it runs out it goes straight on the list.

Also work lunches are route of least resistance, usually a can of soup or a pouch of noodles and a few spares in my office locker.

I only buy silver wrapping paper. It works for all ages and occasions

Tidy little and often

Gradual decluttering. It's easier once you get started

Laundry service wash - they wash, dry, iron and fold the laundry. They come to collect every Monday morning and return it Friday afternoon. All I need to di is put it away. It saves me so much time and effort and the cost is worth it to me - when I take into account cost of electricity to wash, laundry detergent, cost of electricity to dry, time it takes to dry (no tumble dryer) and time it takes to iron.

my local launderette is brilliant

How do things like jumpers etc fare with them being regularly tumble dried?

Well stuff like that cannot be helped but a wedding or something you would have advance notice of and could work around it. I wouldnt drop dead or anything I just prefer to do things this way.

I'm old fashioned and ADHD so I need things written down if I'm going to remember them. So I have a notebook in the kitchen and one beside the bed, that way if I realise I need to remember something I can jot it down and there it is where I can see it.

I also have Audible and run audio books overnight to help me sleep. Running non fiction books on subjects I am interested in means that, even if I can't sleep, I am learning something. It helps me feel that I'm not wasting time by lying awake during the night.

Oh, and I don't make my bed until I get into it. A bed needs to air and when you get menopausally sweaty at night it also needs to dry out. Making it immediately when you get up can lead to a smelly bed. So I strip mine back and fold the duvet tidily and straighten the sheet, plump the pillow. It looks tidy but the mattress can air properly.

Tbh even though I've trained myself well, I've still fallen foul of not crossing something off when I've taken it out, so then later assume I've still got 2 chicken breasts in there or something... but on the whole, it works!

I'd end up engrossed in the learning and staying awake by accident!

Getting dressed in the morning.

If you're liable to do this, then listen to the book for the first time when you're up and doing other things (cleaning or ironing or whatever). If you've already heard it, it's less likely to keep you awake listening, but hearing it again is strangely soothing and also helps information to go in better.

You do get some REALLY bizarre dreams though.I once fought the War of the Roses... that was a busy night.