AIBU to ask you if a daily habit has transformed your life?

[CarlyWarly1980]

Just that, really..
Do you have a daily habit that has transformed your life for the better? A friend recommended a book along these lines but am I being unreasonable to think a daily habit can't really transform your life?
My friend has said the new habit of drinking water and putting on mascara every day helps her feel confident and think clearer improved her skin and helps her concentration. So I'm asking others on here AIBU to think one habit done daily can't really "change" your life?

A daily skincare routine. Started during lockdown after trawling the S&B boards on here. Sets me up for the day and is a nice wind down at night. It has lead to other habits and means I'm taking the time to look after myself more than ever.

I look better, feel better and getting my confidence back - all because of a bit of moisturizer

I started taking a daily multi vitamin and a womans health probiotic at the beginning of lockdown which have helped to settle the reoccurring uti's I've had for the past 17 years.
I've stopped wearing make up over lockdown and my skin has never been better.

I need you all in my life

Following with interest as I'm really unhappy with some of the bad habits I've gotten into during lockdown and would like to work on changing them. Unfortunately I am the sort of person who gets stuck in a rut and finds it hard to break so I think there will need to be some small but substantial changes that will add up to an all round healthier lifestyle.

Needs to start with diet, drinking and exercise as I've put on so much weight through lockdown with excessive snacking and drinking alcohol.

Some really inspiring and helpful lifestyle here.

This thread is just the kick up the backside that I need. I’ll be back for more ideas later.

Brilliant thread!

I too have rediscovered my love for music and will always have it on now when I'm in the kitchen. Will often have it on in the living room too, rather than the TV for background noise.

I'd love to get into a daily exercise habit!

Prayer
Getting up at 5am- to exercise

@KizzyWayfarer thank you. I feel like I have much to change and don't really know where to start. I don't always sleep well, worry a lot and don't exercise as much as I should. I certainly don't drink tons of water. I function OK - but know I could be so much better....I will look up that book.xx

@MattBerrysHair have you been tested for coeliac - the IBS, brain fog and anxiety are symptoms and you'll have been cutting out gluten if low carbing. www.isitcoeliacdisease.org

Writing 500 words a day. Four or five months later I have a novel. I've done this twice now, just editing the second one. Getting published is the next challenge!

Learnt to say no. Have various polite versions for work and a few for home . One or two non polite versions too. It's made a big difference to lots of aspects of my world. But most of all it's allowing me actual time for me at last.

Oh, and another book recommendation - Marie Forleo 'Everything is Figureoutable'. Brilliant, inspiring, kick up the backside!

lookatmememe

What are your polite 'no' ideas?

Frenchic What sunscreen do you use on your roseacea please? I've horrid reddish acne prone skin & any spf just seems to make mine worse

This is such a basic thing, but it makes a difference. When you get up, make your bed and tidy your room. Your bedroom should be a place of rest and calm.

Also, I find linking tasks helps. For example, while the kettle is boiling I will empty the dishwasher and lay out all my vitamins, probiotics and drugs (I have RA).
When brushing my teeth in the morning, I will do squats. If my partner is staying over, when we brush our teeth in the evening we will actually cuddle. I know this sounds weird, but we really look forward to having those two minutes to connect.

Going for a walk for an hour as soon as my toddler has gone to bed. Earphones in, podcast or music on. I can get just over 3 miles walked in an hour and I feel like a new woman when I get home. I’m less irritable with my partner, I sleep better, I feel better about myself, I enjoy laughing to funny podcasts, I’ve lost weight. I realised that “relaxing” doesn’t have to mean sitting on sofa eating junk food. I can relax by going for a walk.

My daily dog walks.
My morning gardening.
Sitting with the pets every day in the garden. My kids have no interest in being so boring. The cats and the dog love it though. We're totally in the Zen zone. It is magic. The four of us sit out there in the garden, sniffing the good air and feeling the love from our green canopy of trees enveloping us. My cats look at me with eyes have closed, doggo is right by my side, loyal soul, and it's like, "Yeah. This is NOW." It's awesome and a way to feel totally connected, part of something great, especially after dropping to the ground and going into cardiac arrest back in March! I almost died. Instead, I lived. I feel like the comeback kid with a heavy dose of Om.

Hmm I might read it. I have instilled small daily habits I'm trying to organise my life more, less chaos.
I done the fly ladies and meditate 3 times a week. I need to up that though it has made a big difference.

I think there's some great arguments here for a daily habit being able to change your life. Agree these ideas are a massive kick up the backside and definitely food for thought. Thanks everyone! I might read the book now....

I’m not sure if it’s transformed my life but keeping a diary is lovely. I don’t have a great memory so it’s lovely to look back over it and remember things I did. Mine’s an online one so I can also upload pictures which is fab. I rarely miss a day.

Fab idea for a thread. I've ordered a couple of the book recommendations on my audible account.

Things that have helped me include a daily walk (I've lost around two stone during lockdown without really changing what I eat) and listening to podcasts/audio books while doing household chores.

I love the idea of setting up a good morning routine. I'm definitely going to try this. Will come back later for more inspiration!

Exercising on a morning, early alarm, gym gear ready the night before, have a coffee and get straight to it so I don't have time to think about it or start making excuses. As a result my skin, body, mood and everything feels better. It took some getting used to as I wasn't naturally athletic but now it's a habit.

Secondly, I have a busy schedule so planning ahead and getting work bag/ lunch ready the night before. Stops me being chaotic and spending a fortune on shop bought lunches and eating crap.

@CarlyWarly1980 I listened to a podcast that tackled the question of can one small habit make a difference and they gave the example “if I told you smoke a cigarette for five minutes every day or drink a can of larger - you’d soon notice the negative differences. Positive differences work in the same way”.

I must confess though that I have no daily habits no good ones anyway

Podcasts while doing housework.

Smoothie for breakfast every work day, and taking a multivitamin every day.

A bit of proper skin care every morning (hyaluronic acid onto damp skin, moisturiser and sunscreen, glycolic acid every other day).

Have got into a bit of yoga each day too.

Am going to try to leaving your phone downstairs to charge thing I think....

Cleanse, tone, moisturize twice a day regardless of how tired or ill you feel. My mum got me into the habit when I was still in my teens.

Marie Kondo folding and tidying method truly amazing, have gained so much space and e setting is ordered. It takes time after each batch of laundry but so worth it. I do it everytime.