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 :)

Some interesting reads!

My top two I can think of:

For email/diary heavy job.
I have colour coded categories for email (Outlook).
I changed the settings so my emails are always ‘unread’ until I mark them read. Only open an email when I’m prepared (eg have time) to look at it and deal with it then.
Zero inbox - only keep items that are unread or in progress, everything else is filed/deleted as appropriate, aim for under 20 items in the inbox by the end of every day.
Diary is also colour coded so I can see at a glance where my time is going. Block out time in my diary for me - I make private appointments, eg will block out some of the morning if I know I’m having a later start, block out lunch, block out time after a run of meetings so I have some headspace. Private means no one else knows what it’s for so they don’t attempt (usually!) to stick meetings in with little notice. And I actually get time to eat or think, hurrah.

For food.
I have a blank magnetic whiteboard on the fridge, think it’s about A3 size. I write on it the main things in the fridge (things that will perish quickly like meat/veg/dairy) and also the freezer. I also write the day I cooked something for any leftovers. It means we actually know what we have at a quick glance, we use it, avoids waste.
I fill the large freezer drawer roughly every 2 months with meat and fish, so I know we always have something that can be defrosted and work my way through so we use it all up instead of languishing in there.
We’re not big on meal planning but this alternative works well for us and we have very little food waste (mostly ones that are inevitable like coffee grounds, tea, some bones, that sort of thing).

Oh, and on more of a wellbeing note. Used to be daily with the commute, now we’re hybrid so still applies just a little different, but basically I don’t touch anything work-related before I start or after I finish working.

In practice, this means I don’t read emails on the commute/at the dining table (as applicable!), in the morning or evening, don’t work weekends. Work mobile on silent during lunch.
My work is flexible but is mostly a Monday to Friday place, people work anywhere from 8am to 7pm (within that range, not the whole time). But working earlier or later is not unusual, weekends too, because there is always more to do
I used to think picking stuff up on the commute or weekend helped me get everything done, but realised the toll it took on me as it never ends, someone will just add to it.
So, now I just don’t and I’m in a much better headspace when I’m not working, and I’ve created a clearer line between work and everything else, even when WFH. And I’m more efficient - I think I’ve become more focused whilst in work-mode. Win-win!

@Bogofftosomewherehot

Keep a printed calendar page of the current month on the front of the fridge. As an item goes in it's use by date is entered on the calendar, then at a glance can see what goes out of date soonest and needs eating. Have reduced food waste massively by doing this.

I like this idea but I know I'd stop doing it after a few weeks. A simpler version that works for me is to organise the food that way when I first pack it into the fridge after the weekly shop, so that the things that need using soonest are at the front. Not foolproof but I cook for a family and can't remember the last time something went out of date.

@Fairislefandango

Keep a printed calendar page of the current month on the front of the fridge. As an item goes in it's use by date is entered on the calendar, then at a glance can see what goes out of date soonest and needs eating. Have reduced food waste massively by doing this.

Hmmm. Good idea in principle. I'm always reading about things like this which sound like great ideas, but life is too short to do even a fraction of them. I like my good habits to make life easier rather than harder!

Agree. I just do a fridge inventory a couple of times a week and move things that will go out of date soonest to the front. But mostly I just meal plan, bearing in mind that prawns have a shorter fridge life than steaks. Ditto lettuce/herbs vs bell peppers or cauliflower.

And it's always a good idea to have a butternut squash and a few potatoes and onions on standby - especially if you have a Patak curry paste jar to hand. Add a cup of Basmati rice and you've got a meal

as a retired dentist the idea of flossing in shower closing eyes and trying to balance while cleaning teeth just means you are almost certainly in the 95% of population that clean their teeth inadequately everytime, you need to spend two minutes in front of a mirror checking that you are not missing bits, if you are trying to balance do kegels etc at same time, the teeeth cleaning will be below parr,
and especially do not let children run around with a brush in mouth ( or a dummy for that matter) can cause very nasty injuries if they fall and alsoa dummy jammed in mouth with a fall can dislocate teeth
Sometimes the few seconds saved tried to multi-task two things at once doesn't work. there is a big difference between brushing your teeth while waiting for a kettle to boil and trying to do exercises while cleaning teeth

Agree. I just do a fridge inventory a couple of times a week and move things that will go out of date soonest to the front

I don't even do that. I make a meals list, buy the food snd use it

I get a load of laundry ready every night. I work out what I'm doing in the morning. Get up a good hour before I need to leave and make sure the washing machine is finished for about that time so I have time to hang stuff or dry anything that needs doing.

I have a bills spreadsheet that I open at least twice a week. I know how much is in my bank and what it is used for.

That's it for me. I'm a slattern otherwise. Would love to change this. Maybe one thing at a time

If chopping onions, garlic, ginger etc. Always do a few extra or double up whilst at it and keep in a tupperware in the fridge to make next meal prep quicker.
Same for veggies. Eg Wash all the kale in one go, even if not all needed etc.
Always make salad dressing in double or triple quantities, keep in the fridge and find myelf more inclined to make a quick salad for lunch.
Always wash up and clean kitchen down after each meal, never leave dishes overnight etc.
Always make the bed, open the blinds. Leave the house tidy each evening.
Always start the day with a herbal tea before any caffeine.

Only shop once a week. Has made a big difference to my supermarket spending and reduced our food waste.

Make packed lunches the night before.

Put clean clothes away when they’re dry rather than letting a huge pile grow!

I get up and shower and get dressed straight away. Duolingo every day. I walk the dogs every day so at least one hour brisk ish walking no matter the weather. That’s about it though, all my other habits are much less than good 😂

I always get a bath/shower every night before bed or if I’ve had a late one then I always get one first thing in the morning.I also change bed sheet and duvet cover and pillow cases every few days and have always done this.😁

Good thread

Chamomile and journal before bed.

Clear everything off the sides every night before bed.

Find a place for EVERYTHING to live.

@Fairislefandango

Agree. I just do a fridge inventory a couple of times a week and move things that will go out of date soonest to the front

I don't even do that. I make a meals list, buy the food snd use it

Re food waste: having a designated spot (eg half a shelf) for little bits of leftovers/foods that have limited shelf life helps me to see then to use up

Also freezing things with short life/that I won’t use

@MissConductUS

Apologies if this has been mentioned before. I use my Amazon Echo to keep my shopping list. Every time I see that I'm low on something I just say "Alexa, add XXX to my shopping list" then in the store it's all in the Alexa app, sorted by produce, bakery, meat, etc.

How do you get it sorted in the app, that would be handy? I do the same but it's just one big list... ?

How do you get it sorted in the app, that would be handy? I do the same but it's just one big list... ?

@dgirluk

It's in the settings in the app. Mine was on by default I think.

OP thank you so much for starting this thread, and thank you everyone for the contributions.

I’ve been in a real slump recently, mild depression and zero motivation. I’ve picked up a few little things from this thread abs it’s amazing how much it’s lifted my mood - simply because I know I’m doing something positive without feeling overwhelmed

@noaprilfool thank you - I know what you mean about it being inspiring! I have found that since I have tried to implement very regular habits it has had a huge impact on my mental health in a positive way. Like the routine helps me no end!! Small steps but makes a difference as it gives my day structure. If you've not read it I can recommend Atomic Habits (book) by James Clear. NB There are some good summaries on youtube which are easier to digest if you can't be bothered to read the whole book. The effect on my life has been really great. I've always struggled with rouitine and motivation and mild depression but it has made a real difference.

@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 bought one of those clear plastic hanging shoe organizers and put inside of the door of the cleaning cupboard. I put cleaning bottles and other stuff in the pockets so it doesn’t take up any space in the cupboard.

I get my arse in the gym and lift weights, that's my only good habit really. Everything else just gets done because it needs doing not because I want to do it.

@peachgreen

I put those scented laundry balls in the bottom of the kitchen bins (between the bag and the bin) which stops it from smelling, and then when I empty the bin I fill it with hot water to give it a good wash - the smell fills the whole kitchen and is divine.

@peachgreen do they smell even when not in contact with water?

@Scandisaurus22 Yep! Not overwhelmingly so, but enough to mask any bin smells.

[quote peachgreen]@Scandisaurus22 Yep! Not overwhelmingly so, but enough to mask any bin smells.[/quote]
Ok thanks, will actually try that!

Exercising daily.

I have two rules on my emails - one that delays sending for a minute (so useful for when I've forgotten an attachment or whatever) and one that puts a copy of the email I've just sent into my inbox so that I can file it away with the email I've replied to into the correct folder. So handy.