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Original poster

One percent better each day

7 replies

OnePercentBetterEachDay · 04/01/2026 16:17

Someone recently told me that, if you could improve something by 1% each day, then it would be 37 times better by the end of a year. I checked the maths, and as long as the changes are consolidated, it checks out!

I am quite an all or nothing person, and I typically approach the new year with grand plans about how I'm going to change my life. I'm always over ambitious and the improvements generally fizzle after a few days/weeks.

So this year, I've decided to approach things differently. I'm focusing on the small improvements that I can make on a daily basis which will hopefully result in bigger changes in the longer term. Perhaps a whole percentage point every day is a bit too optimistic 😂, but I am embracing the idea of starting small and not feeling like I have to accomplish perfection in order for it to be worthwhile.

So, today I'm sorting out my wardrobe and getting rid of everything that I don't wear so that I actually have space for the clothes that I like. And I'm planning to batch cook for the week ahead. Tomorrow, I'm back at work and I'm going to focus on getting myself organised for the year ahead.

Would anyone like to join me on my journey?

OP posts:
LadyJaneEarlGreyTea · 04/01/2026 16:35

I have just spent 3 plus hours deep cleaning the bathroom. I work full time, my husband hasn’t worked in eight or so years. He does almost no housework, which is exacerbated by how messy and careless he is in the house. I resent the prospect of spending my weekends cleaning and tidying, frankly I don’t have enough time to undo his messiness each week, so I have ignored the house for quite a while.

But no one else is going to do it so I’m with you on the 1%.

I am going to start cleaning the bathroom each weekend and I’m going to try to do 15 minutes of something towards tidying each weeknight. I’m out of the house for up to twelve hours during the week and I have quite a long commute so I think 15 minutes is a realistic starting point.

Original poster
OnePercentBetterEachDay · 04/01/2026 16:55

LadyJaneEarlGreyTea · 04/01/2026 16:35

I have just spent 3 plus hours deep cleaning the bathroom. I work full time, my husband hasn’t worked in eight or so years. He does almost no housework, which is exacerbated by how messy and careless he is in the house. I resent the prospect of spending my weekends cleaning and tidying, frankly I don’t have enough time to undo his messiness each week, so I have ignored the house for quite a while.

But no one else is going to do it so I’m with you on the 1%.

I am going to start cleaning the bathroom each weekend and I’m going to try to do 15 minutes of something towards tidying each weeknight. I’m out of the house for up to twelve hours during the week and I have quite a long commute so I think 15 minutes is a realistic starting point.

I'm sorry that your husband isn't pulling his weight. That's crap, and you shouldn't have to put up with that.

Well done for the clean bathroom. 15 mins of tidying each weeknight sounds doable and will probably a big difference over time.

OP posts:
Nacknick · 04/01/2026 17:40

You say 1% like it isn’t very much but if it’s every day it soon racks up so doesn’t sound very sustainable - unless I am misunderstanding…

Original poster
OnePercentBetterEachDay · 04/01/2026 17:45

Nacknick · 04/01/2026 17:40

You say 1% like it isn’t very much but if it’s every day it soon racks up so doesn’t sound very sustainable - unless I am misunderstanding…

Yes, I get what you're saying and obviously you're right. I guess I'm less worried about 1% in the literal sense, and I'm not too hung up on that at all - I mean, how would you even measure it anyway. But I'm attracted by the idea that small incremental changes can gradually add up to significant change, and the 1% thing is a helpful way for me to think about this iyswim.

OP posts:
Popfan · 04/01/2026 17:57

I'm doing this with my hobby (golf)! It's a really hard technical thing to do and 2026 is my year as I have more time now to work on it. Regular lessons and lots of practice. I can't practise every day but if I aim for a little bit of improvement every time hopefully by the end of the year I'll be loads better!

GameOfJones · 04/01/2026 18:05

LadyJaneEarlGreyTea · 04/01/2026 16:35

I have just spent 3 plus hours deep cleaning the bathroom. I work full time, my husband hasn’t worked in eight or so years. He does almost no housework, which is exacerbated by how messy and careless he is in the house. I resent the prospect of spending my weekends cleaning and tidying, frankly I don’t have enough time to undo his messiness each week, so I have ignored the house for quite a while.

But no one else is going to do it so I’m with you on the 1%.

I am going to start cleaning the bathroom each weekend and I’m going to try to do 15 minutes of something towards tidying each weeknight. I’m out of the house for up to twelve hours during the week and I have quite a long commute so I think 15 minutes is a realistic starting point.

Binning off your useless husband seems like it would improve your life dramatically more than 1%!

LifeBeginsToday · 04/01/2026 19:46

1% and 1 percentage point are not the same figure.

Aside, it's about gains in consistency. If you do a small amount every day you'll have better outcomes than if you tried to do it all in one day.

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