to ask for your good habits so I can copy them!?

[cloverlover]

On the look out for great new habits. What are yours? Here are a few of mine to start us off:

• floss and use interdental in the shower
• take one old item out of the fridge each time I open it
• get dressed as soon as I get out of bed to avoid lounging in dressing gown

what are your great habits that help your life run smoothly? I'm in need of inspiration! thanks :)

@RAOK

I like the idea of flossing in the shower. I’m going to try that.

If you floss on the shower, you are wasting lots of hot water...

@BrutusMcDogface

Why do you stand on one leg?

As you get older it is important to have good balance as falls can be pretty devastating.

It is also good for the muscles in your legs.

I make sure I catch up with the news on tv and newspaper websites so that I am properly informed with regard to what is going on in both world and domestic politics.

This takes till at least lunchtime, so the house looks a bit of a tip, but it's worth it not to be an ignoramus.

@rosiebl

I have a couple; One Touch - if something needs putting away, only touch it once, to pick it up and place it in its final destination. Don't move it (looking at you with the cluttered stairs!) because that invariably takes longer than One Touch! Wardrobe - turn all your hangers the wrong way around and make a note of the date; when you wear something, put it back the right way. 12-18 months later, anything that is still the wrong way, you haven't worn throughout all the seasons. Seriously consider if you need those items. One in, one out - normally if I buy an item of clothing, I must get rid of one. Doing nothing new for 22 this year so doesn't apply!

I don't find running up and downstairs a dozen times particularly efficient but I suppose everyone looks at things from their own perspective.

I applied a rule to my email system that delays the email sending for 2 minutes; it just sits in my Outbox for 2 minutes. The amount of times its saved me when I click "send" and realise I've forgot to include some info, or sending to the wrong person or forgot attachment. Rule name is "Lifesaver" for me

i am amazed at the number of people who have time to do something while the kettle is boiling. From when I flip the switch until when it turns itself off, i have enough time to grab a mug and dump in the coffee and sugar and get the milk out of the fridge....mind you i only boil enough water for me.

@hungryandhormonal

I applied a rule to my email system that delays the email sending for 2 minutes; it just sits in my Outbox for 2 minutes. The amount of times its saved me when I click "send" and realise I've forgot to include some info, or sending to the wrong person or forgot attachment. Rule name is "Lifesaver" for me

That's brilliant, I must see if I can do that.

I have a walk very nearly every day, at least a mile but usually 3-4 miles.

I love seeing the changes in my local area with the seasons & feel really cooped up & stressed if I haven't been out.

Inside the house I'm very strict on never leaving washing up overnight or teabags in the teapot / coffee grounds in the cafetiere

Marking my place, I think this thread could be life-changing for me

Keeping a Bullet Journal. Game changer. Oh and never, ever eating anything after dinner. I'm a bit overweight, but not half as overweight as I'd be if I did evening snacking!

@DillDanding

SPF50 on my face and hands all year round.

Kitchen is always spotless before bed (dh does this, but I appreciate it).

Stand on one leg while brushing my teeth (1 minute per leg with eyes closed).

I do this, I have got a duff knee....well a really duff one and a slightly duff one. I can't close my eyes because I would fall over but in my head I sing "sons of the sea" (bobbing up and down like this) and do a knee bend and straighten in time to the music. It also helps me manage my gag reflex as I have to concentrate on something else while I am brushing. PS I have NEVER been able to stand on one leg with my eyes closed and trying just makes me giddy..always has....I can't do fairground rides either apart form gallopers. I do a variation of one touch. before I go upstairs I look around to see if there is anything that needs to go up...and yes I do mostly leave stuff on the stairs ready. The aforementioned duff knees won't stand multiple stair journeys in one day. I do the monzo thing with my bank account, it will allow me to have as many savings pots as I need and will do auto transfers from my current account. I absolutely agree about the wine in the fridge thing only with me it champagne in case I need to do an emergency celebration :)

@Susu49

Wash socks in washing nets - keeps pairs together so you don't end up losing odd ones.

Stretch every day.

I do this too with socks and also peg them on the line in pairs so they can be easily balled up to put away once they’re dry and I’m not left with a mountain of socks to be matched up.

I also keep a roll of bin liners in the bottom of the bin so I can replace it straight away after emptying and know when I’m getting low so can add more to my shopping list.

This is brief, as just on a mini break, off hand

Always have a journal that documents important information, and have some academic stuff in it too, like lists of terminology for different subjects, key words and phrases, maps of different areas , or important tourist attractions, ect but tailored to your areas of expertise.

when transferring or handling money always document the amouts dates, ect

Write down a list for items to be completed

Always regularly backup electronic documents, e.g. Via usb data stick or DVD ect

I am an untidy person and learned to do these things to keep a clean, tidy house:
Have as few possessions as possible - less to clean up/tidy up.
If one thing comes into the house, another goes out.
Wash up and wipe around the kitchen last thing at night; it takes a few minutes and the mornings are happier for coming down to a neat kitchen.
Put things away as soon as you've used them.
Have a box or basket at the bottom of the stairs - handy for rounding up stray possessions from upstairs that need to go back. And reverse the process while you're upstairs.
Empty the bins and take the rubbish out while the kettle boils for your morning coffee - it makes you whizz round to get it done!

Make bed as soon as I get up

Have shower as soon as I wake up

Hang out my clothes and dc clothes night before

Pack bags, rucksacks night before

Make lunches night before

Iron uniforms on a Sunday after dinner

Take photo of party/wedding/other invitations as well as any letters

Note appointments and events in your mobile calendars as soon as you receive them

When taking public transport, always aim to catch the bus or train earlier than you need so if it is cancelled or you are delayed, you will still be on time.

If you have a family, do at least one load of washing a day otherwise you end up doing two or three on another day.

Do your food shop after 6pm during the weekday. Shops are almost empty- you can be in and out in 30-40 mins.

BTW, there are some great ideas on here! I am taking notes to copy them too.

I buy mince & portion it up into single serving size amounts & freeze them in labelled bags. I have to have different food to DH & DD due to severe intolerances so I have a cupboard & a drawer of the freezer for "my" food.

I have a tube of whitening toothpaste in the bath tidy, quick squirt of that sometimes when I have a shower. It's reduced my tannin stains. I use a bicarb whitening one, apparently you shouldn't brush with that type if you have sensitive teeth due to the abrasive action but it's working great for removing tannin.

I also remove the tannin stains regularly from my insulated metal tea cup with bicarb & boiling water. (This is where I got the idea for the toothpaste from). You just leave it to soak for an hour or so then pour it out & wipe it while it's still soft. Sometimes needs another go but much easier than scrubbing.

It obviously doesn't work for everyone but I have big drink of water before I go to sleep. I find I sleep much better if I'm properly hydrated. It also motivates me to get out of bed in the morning!

@FanFckingTastic

Figure out something that you do really regularly throughout the day - could be changing a nappy, answering the phone, putting the kettle on etc. Every time you do it, you complete 10 kegels and 10 pull ins (contract your tummy muscles, hold then release) By the end of the day you'll have actually done quite a few reps without even realising it, strengthening your pelvic floor and working your abs.

I did my thesis for my physio degree on this (the theory being that people are more likely to stick to it)

@OrangeSanPel

My favorite is I bought a shoe organizer that looks like a discreet slim cabinet because the shoes go in at an angle. It is close to the front door. Now all 5 family members are trained to put shoes away immediately on entry and can always find their shoes. Game changer.

I had one of these 45 years ago in Germany, a Schuhschrank if I remember correctly, no idea where it went, it was very useful. I'm not sure that with a family of 5 one would be enough though!

@peachgreen Starling does do something similar. Although I haven’t figured out how to tell it what the bills are.

Great thread!

Drink a glass of water 1st thing in the morning, then fill my big water bottle up and drink it throughout the day.

Skincare routine every morning and night

Going out for a walk and getting fresh air everyday with dc

Dc and I always have breakfast together - afterwards she will carry on sitting at the table playing or drawing. I use that 20 mins to put the laundry on/wash up/sweep and hoover downstairs.

Once a week we get a big good shop - the morning of the food shop, I empty & clean the fridge, ready for new food.

I cut up carrots, cucumber & pepper every couple of days and keep in the fridge in a lunch box - if I’m peckish, I snack on them instead. I’ve lost weight doing this (used to snack on crisps & biscuits instead) and I’m getting my 5 a day in.

Dh and I will wash up and clean kitchen together after tea - takes no time at all when we both do it and it’s nice and fresh for the morning.

Tidy as I go along - dc has lots of little toys, toy figures, duplo/Lego etc, it doesn’t take long for them to cover the whole floor. If she has finished, I have separate trays for them & just bung them in, but I do it one at a time, so all Lego first, then toy figures, then the trucks/cars etc. It makes it all less chaotic and easier for dc when she comes to play with them again. Even better, I get dd to help me tidy things away, she’s only 2 but is getting good at it!

@Mnusernc

I would bet my mortgage that 0% of men would include a clean sink as one of their good habits.

You’ve just lost your mortgage.DH is obsessed with clean sink but especially shiny taps. Doesn’t matter about the rest of the kitchen or bathroom…..

@JudgeJ @OrangeSanPel

ikea www.ikea.com/gb/en/search/products/?q=shoes%20storage

Loving these tips. I always make sure that whatever I’m leaving ^behind^ me is tidy- so if I have a bath at night, I’ll always straighten the bathroom as I’m leaving the room, laundry in laundry basket, any products tidied away etc etc. When I’m going downstairs in the morning I leave upstairs sorted- bed airing, windows open, etc. It means you never walk back into a mess. I am very minimalist/clutter free which I also think helps a lot with an overall impression of tidiness.