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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

356 replies

cloverlover · 17/03/2022 11:24

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 :)

OP posts:
ancientgran · 18/03/2022 10:08

@chesirecat99

take one old item out of the fridge each time I open it

Reduce food waste. Meal plan, buy exact quantities when possible, store the quantities needed in ways to prolong their life eg veg/fruit storage boxes, veg sacks, veg/herbs with stems in water (like a vase) and freeze/make use of the excess straightaway so there aren't any old things going off in the fridge.

I was thinking I'd have to start throwing out perfectly good food if I did that. I've already opened the fridge 4 times and it's only 10.15 am. Once to get milk out and then put it away. Then DH decided he wanted a bacon butty so opened the fridge to get bacon and butter out and then put them away again.

I haven't got 4 things in the fridge that need throwing out.

Pyewhacket · 18/03/2022 10:17

Punctuality, read for 15 mins on an unrelated subject before you go to sleep, manage your time properly, work your contracted hours and then go home, tea first then milk. Marry the right man.

DillDanding · 18/03/2022 10:19

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).

JudgeJ · 18/03/2022 10:19

@InDubiousBattle

I never leave the washing up etc over night. The kitchen is always clean and tidy to wake up to. I try to do the same for the whole house tbh, have a quick whizz around in the evening so it's tidy in the morning. I run, does that count? I hate it with a passion but do it because I also have bad wine and biscuit habits!
Re your username, I thought I was the only one who loved this obscure Steinbeck book, apparently they made a film though I've never seen it!
VeganVampire · 18/03/2022 10:22

Put a music heavy radio station on (say radio 2 instead of 4) and tidy a room until the end of a song. Then move to another room until the end of the next song. If you hit the news or an interview, that room will be tidier/cleaner than some of the others, and if you're in the middle of something it hurries you along as you only have 3 minutes left until you're out of there.

ArmWrestlingWithChasNDave · 18/03/2022 10:27

I wash every month, whether I need it or not.

ParaMonkeyNut · 18/03/2022 10:31

Great idea for a thread op

rosiebl · 18/03/2022 10:34

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!

Emilykeep · 18/03/2022 10:36

We exercise everyday - my children bike to school and I walk with them - it's 2 miles each way
We eat fruits with breakfast, with after school snacks and after dinner. Our dinners always include 3/4 vegs.
Shower, clean teeth and clean clothes everyday
Comb hair before sleep
Drink water everyday
Always on time anywhere we go
Tidy up after yourself
Actually we have lots of good habits which because I started when they were young, it's become part of their daily lives

Solosunrise · 18/03/2022 10:49

@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).

How old are you if you don't mind me asking @DillDanding?

I am mid fifties and I can stand on one leg for a minute with my eyes open, but I can barely manage a count of ten with them closed.
I think it's something you lose (or at least have to work harder at) with age Sad

Original poster
cloverlover · 18/03/2022 10:54

re. the chucking out old food thing, I should have said, I only do this if there's something in there that needs to go. I don't do it literally every time I go in the fridge, I should have been clearer, only when I spot something!! (I'm not big on food waste!!!). It's just a good way to keep it clean as you go along.

OP posts:
crochetmonkey74 · 18/03/2022 10:55

i love all the tips on this thread

inheritancetrack · 18/03/2022 11:02

Put things away after you straight away.
milk out of fridge...put straight back
take off coat...hang it on a hook
remove underwear ...straight in wash bag
open a packet... put wrapper in bin
print something off... file it immediately if appropriate
empty bottles...rinse and put in recycling bin

If everybody followed the simple rule of clean up after yourself straight away no one would come down to a kitchen or sink full of dirty dishes, clothes on the floor, toys left out etc

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 18/03/2022 11:04

Re irons, I once left mine on while I had to go downstairs - to answer the door or something.
When I went back, the iron was spouting flames! 😱

Safest strategy is not to iron - or do so as little as you can possibly get away with. That’s mine now, anyway.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 18/03/2022 11:09

What do you do with the things you take out of the fridge though, OP?

Eat them? Bin them? Or find a way of using them up?

I don’t have many good habits to shout about, but avoiding food waste is definitely one. Sod all gets wasted in this house.

starfishmummy · 18/03/2022 11:09

@chesirecat99

take one old item out of the fridge each time I open it

Reduce food waste. Meal plan, buy exact quantities when possible, store the quantities needed in ways to prolong their life eg veg/fruit storage boxes, veg sacks, veg/herbs with stems in water (like a vase) and freeze/make use of the excess straightaway so there aren't any old things going off in the fridge.

Exactly this. My DC is always asking if he can help me empty a cupboard of out of date stuff. He does this at the PILs house - I know MIL well and that there will be a steady stream of out of date stuff at least she's stopped trying to give it to us
peachgreen · 18/03/2022 11:11

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.

ancientgran · 18/03/2022 11:17

I always get washed/showered and dressed as soon as I get up, never go downstairs in nightclothes, actually when I was at my worst with covid I did it once.

If things need to go upstairs I put them on the stairs so I don't do special journeys and don't forget things when I am going upstairs.

I always have stamps and envelopes in and a few birthday cards for "emergencies."

I smooth out trousers and fold them down the creases and put them over a radiator then they need minimal or no ironing.

I don't drink so no need to keep wine in but I always have emergency chocolate available.

peachgreen · 18/03/2022 11:20

Ooh and I have a 2.4l jug which I fill with water every morning, keep in the fridge and make sure I've drunk it all by the end of the day.

ancientgran · 18/03/2022 11:21

@Solosunrise I am mid fifties and I can stand on one leg for a minute with my eyes open, but I can barely manage a count of ten with them closed. I had to see a physio after an accident and he said as I'm nearly 70 he didn't want me doing that but the alternative was:

Stand in front of a table or suitable heigh piece of furniture with your hands out to steady you if you get wobbly
Stand with your feet one in front of the other, so the toes of one foot touch the heel of the other
Close your eyes and count

Initially I could only do it for seconds, I can now do it for over a minute. The progress is do it while turning your head from one side to the other. Very difficult.

Onlywomengivebirth · 18/03/2022 11:23

I get up at 5.30am.

Menopause, but still.

Susu49 · 18/03/2022 11:26

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

Stretch every day.

peachgreen · 18/03/2022 11:27

Also I use Monzo and have savings pots for:

  • house repairs
  • car repairs
  • Christmas
  • birthdays
  • tax bill
  • holiday
  • general

I worked out approximately what I spent in a month on those things and then Monzo automatically puts that amount in each pot on payday. So I always have a fund for those items.

I also have separate pots with separate cards attached for bills (including monthly subscriptions and Amazon Subscribe and Save) and annual bills and subscriptions (like car tax etc) - again, Monzo automatically deposits what I need into that account so I never have to worry that I've got enough to cover the bills, they all just come out automatically without me aving to think about it.

I love Monzo. Pretty sure Starling does the same sort of thing, just in case I'm accused of being a shill. Grin

WelcomeEverythingIsFine · 18/03/2022 11:32

Mine is leaving my phone to charge in another room with a second alarm set for ten minutes after my first alarm (on an alarm clock) so I can’t lounge about in bed too long. Made such a difference to my mornings.

BrutusMcDogface · 18/03/2022 11:36

Why do you stand on one leg?