What small habits you have that make your life better?

[misscheery]

Obviously posting here for traffic

As part of "new year new me"resolutions, I am trying to establish a set of habits/small things to do in order to be either happier/healthier or look better/be smarter

What I do now-
-Gym 3 times a week (either zumba or cross fit for now)
-Have a nice cup of tea in the morning
-Reading 30 mins a day either the book I am currently reading or a nice magazine
-Bubble bath

Nothing else crosses my mind now. What do you do?

I hope this post makes sense as I have an exam tomorrow and am a bit crazy today

• downloading something to watch on my train commute (or a Kindle book to read) rather than wasting time staring at my phone & being bored.

• deleting Facebook app from phone as wasted too much time on it. Also putting phone ‘away’ and resisting looking at it all the time.

• meal planning. My 2018 resolution is to learn some new healthy recipes and I’ve downloaded a couple of books. Trying to eat more healthily as all the sugar I eat is making me feel crap.

• agree re getting clothes laid out and bag ready night before.

• I’ve bought a static bike so I can exercise at home (pregnant and no longer feel safe cycling outside). I’ve already done 100 miles for the month.

• de clutter regularly and every object has a home - return items to their home immediately after use.

I got a cleaner six months ago and it's revolutionised my life. I have M.E. and should have got one long before, I capitulated when I had surgery that left me incapable and I've kept her because she's an angel.

I run notes on my phone, one is a two-week ahead running meal plan and the other is a full list of the contents of my main and backup freezer. As soon as my weekly shopping is delivered, I book a new shop for the following week, and edit as I go/organise my meal plan. I keep my freezer list up to date so I always know what I have in, and I can use five minutes of down time when I'm out and about to meal plan and update my shopping.

Bought both kids minimum five lots of 'base' uniform (polos and trousers) and make sure they're clean, dry and on hangers complete with pants and socks on a Sunday night, we then just have to add blazer/jumper (they have at least 2 apiece) and they're ready for the day, for a full week.

Likewise put together five work day outfits on hangers on a Sunday night complete with underwear, socks and matching scarves and have them hanging ready, I just pick what takes my fancy each day. No stressing in the mornings.

Buy cleaning products I like using (I'm a sucker for Method) - they are more expensive but make chores more bearable in between cleaner visits.

Frozen pre portioned smoothie packs mean I'm now having a smoothie every morning and getting more fruit and veg. I also make my own juices a few nights a week and freeze in portions.

Batch cooking on a Sunday if I can stand up long enough, for the fridge and freezer. I will prepare the filling for, e.g.,veggie shepherds pie on a Sunday and on Monday/Tuesday take frozen mash out in the morning to defrost, ready for coming home at 6pm, when I can just chuck the potato and some (gasp-pregrated) cheese on top of the filling and hung in the oven.

Gousto and a dishwasher. Amazing food that I enjoy cooking gets delivered every week. No more standing in the super market, mouth agog wondering wtf I’m going to cook tonight. Dishwasher for obvious reason.

Hopefully getting a cleaner this week. Balancing everything has been having a bad impact on my stress levels.

Meal plan and weekly shop- get it all over and done with rather than doing it sporadically through the week. I waste less food any money this way.

Make breakfast (if i have an early start) and lunch the night before. Breakfast of overnight oats or greek yoghurt with fruit, honey and nuts. Lunch of fish (mackerel or salmon) with a kale and spinach salad and either sweet potato chunks or rice/quinoa. Good hot or cold.

Load of washing every day.
Clean up and tidy every day.
Refillable water bottle and coffee mug.

I have forced myself to start either cycling or walking to work. I feel so much calmer and more relaxed for the extra exercise and fresh air; much better than sitting in the car getting annoyed by traffic.

Finally, leaving my phone in my bag when i get home. I waste far less time on it than i used to.

I like having a weekly pre booked supermarket delivery. It helps with meal planning and is a quick task in the weekly routine.

Wine.

Oh, when I make baked potatoes I buy a big bag of them and bake them all, wrap the spares in foil and freeze them. Out of freezer in the morning and in the oven with whatever else we're having like veggie lives, or bake in the microwave to eat with beans etc, very quick dinner for busy nights or when I'm too tired to cook properly for just me if the kids are with their father.

Try and get up one hour before DC.
Avoid screens at night.
Make sure I read an hour in bed before going to sleep.
Make a mental list of all the things that went well/I am happy about that happened that day.

As a result I feel much less stressed and much more content.

I batch cook something to take into work for lunch during the week
I always make sure that car/house keys, specs and work entry card are in the bowl, which has saved hours of frantic searching in the mornings
I use the time it takes the kettle to boil to wipe/tidy/clean in the kitchen
Everything in the fridge is stored in tupperware-ish boxes so spillages are contained
All sachets and tiny food bits like stock cubes, vitamin pills, etc are stored in transparent hanging shoe racks cut into strips so they run down that wasted space in the door jamb in the larder and I can see where everything is.
All foil, cling film, rolls of bags, place mats, etc are in plastic covered wire baskets on the back of the larder door.
I have a small pretty box with just a few sewing bits on the shelf in the sitting room, so that I can make quick repairs without going upstairs for the big sewing box

I'm going to adopt the habit of getting clothes ready the night before.... if I get really good, I would like to copy the whole week's outfits idea...

Amazing thread

Cant wait to read this thread properly.

Having drawers for school uniform only.

Leaving 20 minutes extra early for the school run.

Listening to the radio in bed.

A meal planner.

Going shopping only once a week. Saves heaps of money.

I'm really enjoying this thread!

We don't have a tv in our bedroom so we listen to podcasts in bed, taking it in turns to pick one. I sleep so much better than when I used to have a tv on. I'm trying to turn the tv off during the day too when I'm not actively watching something, rather than having constant background noise.

I'm doing the Walk 1000 Miles challenge this year, so I'm walking to all the baby groups/shops etc that I would have driven too. 3 miles a day is less than an hour of walking and it's nice to get the fresh air. Our car is getting a lot less use and I've lost 4 lbs already, without even trying.

I also meal plan, but that doesn't seem to stop the extra trips to Sainsburys midweek for some reason.

I have a folder with all the receipts of big purchases (oven, washing machine etc) and instruction booklets (the boiler one has been very useful) in one place so they're easy to find when needed.

In the process of decluttering. Need to feel the house breathe (or is that without th 'e'... brain fried)!

Working on getting up earlier including weekends.

Tidying up and sorting house and accepting it takes an age to paint but will be worth it, as will tiling the dining room/kitchen floors, and changing the bathroom - it'll all make me happier as will be clean and fresh (all been as is for over two decades, with the occassional lick of pain).

Putting my horses on full livery, which costs about the same as normal plus my fuel twice a day. The 'spare' time is immense! Maybe, when life is back on track I'll go back to DIY, but for now it's bliss.

Keep the car clutter free! And have it cleaned once a month. I'd love once a week but can't afford that.

Having a cleaner. It's a luxury, but I know that at least one day a week the kitchen will be topped 'n' tailed, and knowing she's coming encourages me to get on top of all the other Stuff!

Getting to sleep earlier, but not too early as then I wake at four, which isn't long enough and all gets in a pickle. Still working on changing to being an early bird. Doubt it'll ever happen, but working on it.

Um. Sure there's a load more, but brain gone phut.

Just thought of another one - checking my phone's drop-down list of stuff that's coming up.

Making sure all appointments go straight into my phone (see above point!).

Not making do - if something's not right then I'm not settling for it, unless the situation demands it. I've have years of it and enough. I'm too blinking old.

I am glad you people love this thread. I also love it, so many great people with great tips! Keep it coming❤️

I sat down and made a list of the household jobs that give me the most stress (or procrastination!). Tackled it at the source.

Laundry:
-use ‘colour catchers’ in each load so I can do colours and whites together (at least 1/3 fewer loads now).
-bought an ‘octopus’ peg drier hangie thing, now even a 4yo can peg up all the teeny socks and knickers at their own height (as well as remove and put away).
-put a digital radio in the laundry, so can listen to audiobooks or podcasts while I sort.

I almost look forward to it now!

Oh, and am a bit in love with my new app called Trello.

DH and I can update each other on joint projects (xmas presents buying, grocery list, home maintenance jobs, packing lists,etc) when we think of it, rather than texting/voicemail or just forgetting!

I also used it today to set up a list (they call them boards) for my DSIL who is pregnant with her 1st. I don’t want to bug her with suggestions, offers and bits of baby advice so I log it all on there when I think of something- like ‘don’t forget we still have a high chair if you want it’ and ‘by the way that cot bumper your MIL gave you at xmas? Ummm they’re verboten these days!’. She can see it, and choose to use it or not.

It means you can schedule a few minutes a day to look at projects/tasks, rather than be interrupted (or interrupt) your nearest and dearest. I can see it being useful for kids chores lists when mine gets older...

Certainly is making my life easier!

After reading this thread last night I tidied my kitchen before I went to sleep. Just wanted to tell you all that when I got up this morning, it was lovely to walk into my lovely clean kitchen!

When I go to bed I switch the tv channel to the one I will want on the following morning. saves me about 2 seconds.

I made a list of all the wonderful tips here

I am starting with a massive clear out on Friday and meal planning for this week

Love you, nest of vipers❤️

I deleted all the games from my phone on NYE. Am already on my third novel this year. My reading time had been crowded out by stupid games. I feel better for it.

Joined a Rebelfit mission - ten minute exercise delivered to my inbox each morning. I feel fitter and stronger after just three weeks.

Children (12 and 16) have a job of the week. They do that job all week and then they can swap. This week the 16yo is on dishwasher duty and the 12yo is on rubbish and recycling duty.

YY to clothes, packed lunches etc ready the night before. I also clear the clutter out of my bag so I can easily change handbags if I want to.

We have a kettle in the bedroom and a cafetiere. We take milk in insulated cups up the night before and make coffee upstairs - saves time and distractions in the kitchen when you go downstairs to make a drink and end up doing other things instead of getting ready. Nice at the weekend too!

I try to get everything done by 9pm so I can wind down in the sitting room with nice candles for an hour. Only watch specific programmes on tv - it doesn't go on unless I know what I am going to watch. Otherwise I read.

I followed the "using your nice stuff" thread a few weeks back and have now chucked all my cheap make do products and am now using my "best" stuff like nice handcream and shower gel. Clothes too. Today I am using my buttery soft green Italian leather handbag. Sod saving it for best - I love it and I am using it!

Ok so I have-

Put all the breakfast items except the milk on a tray the night before.

Take the kids to McDonald's once a week (humour me) we have swimming lessons straight after school so it's then. I'm so paranoid about unhealthy food but it's worth it for the getting straight home and kids in the bath not rushing and enables an on the dot bedtime after an extended story time. My kids do loads of exercise anyway I'm not worried about the impact on their diets.

Find some hacks - I've just asked the after school club to give my kids a packed tea (which I provide) on the day they stay late - again enables a decent bedtime and some quality time with me reading etc. This has worked really well.

Teach the kids to tidy and make them do it often. Dd1 has got really into this and actually enjoys it. We have just been given her home learning for a brownie badge about housekeeping and I signed off most of it in one go she was v pleased. Dd2 is shocking though!

Came off Farcebook, feel so much better without reading all the wailing, one upmanship tripe.

Have a weeks worth of white school shirts for DS so I only do one white was a week, makes a real difference.

Bought a dressing table and chair so my makeup and hair stuff is organised and I have face wipes and creams in view so I actually use them at night (always couldn’t be bothered if they were in the bathroom cabinet hidden).

Wear perfume every day, I like smelling nice even if I’m not going out.

Moved house last year so had a massive declutter and now we aren’t allowed to bring anything in unless it’s needed or essential. Clutter makes my head spin now.

Always have a notepad shopping list on the side of the fridge.

Next task for me is getting DH to get rid of his trillion T shirts that he won’t part with

Maybe limited to younger children but we have a box of card bases and stickers - the kids make all the birthday cards etc and like doing it.

Bulk buy birthday party presents. That tiger shop is amazing for gender neutral gifts under a fiver. We are always prepared

There are some great ideas but I had to laugh at the PP who made sure her babies slept through so she wasn't tired.