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?

@Yeahyoureright can I ask which vits you’ve been taking? I’ve started on floradix and have seen a big difference to my energy levels.
So I guess that would be my habit.
I’m quite bad at sticking to habits..

@thenightsky - I’ve posted on numerous insomnia threads that I am lucky if I get 3 straight hours a night! Have tried everything but most nights i get about three or four 30 minute naps.

Loving the thread though. I have a cup of tea in the garden and listen to the birds every morning. I also plan my day in my head whilst standing on one leg with my eyes closed - does wonders for your balance and core muscles. When it was recommended to me, I couldn’t manage three seconds, now I can do it for over a minute!

On reading back this sounds nuts but try it - you will be surprised!!

Daily vitamins and planned exercise.

cheezy Floradix is a very effective iron supplement, as well as that I take vitamin D, calcium and magnesium every day. I take B complex twice a week just in case.
Magnesium is good to regulate moods, I've been taking it since coming off anti depressants.

I just read the book summary and review while it reads okay I don't think it is for me.
Any suggestions for a similar read to make changes.

@Manolin it sounds like you get up early so you can do 10 hours work a day. I hope you’re paid very well for that. Otherwise that wouldn’t be a positive habit in my book.

I feel kinda sad that some people's life affirming habits revolve around housework, but I know that being clean and tidy and in control is a big thing for a lot of you.

I don't think I have any daily habits. I just can't concentrate for long enough. I play the piano 5 days out of 7 probably, at various times of the day. That's my little bit of mindfulness and I love it.

Bollocks. Having a clean loo isn't life affirming, but having a system that means you spend next to no time keeping it that way frees time for the other stuff.

Such a smug mumsnet response re playing the piano Vs cleaning toilets.

I’ve one to offer. I bought a lovely Sophie Allport lunch bag and two little cool packs. Everyday when I come home from work I take the coolpacks and they go back in the freezer, clean the lunch bag and hang it up and I’m set for another day. It sounds a small thing but if I do it straight away it doesn’t get missed. It’s saved me a fortune.

@cheezy I take the wellwoman multivitamin as its got really high b vitamin levels plus a folic acid tablet as I was really low in foliate and also a strong vitamin D tablet that I get off amazon. MY GP recommended these ones to me for my tiredness and I really think they've made a big difference over a period of time of taking them daily.

@Doggybiccys - that's inspired! Do you alternate legs on different days?

I love this thread.

I take high strength Vitamin D every day too, plus an apple cider vinegar powdered supplement that might not actually do anything! The docs told me to take vit D because I was low. I generally feel more alert and awake now, and my hair growth has been an unexpected side effect. I was getting thin patches at the temples and they have all grown back in.

Meal planning and online ordering has made dinners much easier for the last few years. I have the same things for breakfast and lunch most days, which helps too.

10k steps a day. I run on alternate days for 40 mins, with music playing. On my days off running, I walk for an hour listening to an audiobook.

Having a cold shower for 3 mins every morning.
Was hard work for the first 2 or 3 (heart attack shock feeling) but since getting into the habit I look forward to getting up and the tingly feeling hitting the water and then the buzz I have for the rest of the day. Not sure if its my imagination but I'm sure my Raynauds symptoms have been less reactive.

@Smallsteps88

If you go by the rest of my posts you will understand I am no slave. My example itinerary was a typical working day during the week. I work for myself, my commute is 20 yards and I have full discretion on who I offer my services to, for how much and when. It has been a long time coming, but now I am in complete control. A good 10 hour day means I can achieve so much and enjoy a high income, and there is still 14 hours left. Quite a lot really. Carpe diem

@MoreOfADogPerson - I do both legs each day. My balance on my right leg is much better than my left so I sometimes do the left leg twice. I was given this tip from a health professional who works with elderly/infirm people and apparently teaching them to do this has cut the falls rate in the care homes they work in by 50%!

[quote Manolin]@Smallsteps88

If you go by the rest of my posts you will understand I am no slave. My example itinerary was a typical working day during the week. I work for myself, my commute is 20 yards and I have full discretion on who I offer my services to, for how much and when. It has been a long time coming, but now I am in complete control. A good 10 hour day means I can achieve so much and enjoy a high income, and there is still 14 hours left. Quite a lot really. Carpe diem[/quote]
In other words, yes, you’re paid very well, which is what I was asking

@HaudMaDug

Having a cold shower for 3 mins every morning. Was hard work for the first 2 or 3 (heart attack shock feeling) but since getting into the habit I look forward to getting up and the tingly feeling hitting the water and then the buzz I have for the rest of the day. Not sure if its my imagination but I'm sure my Raynauds symptoms have been less reactive.

Do you then have hot water after to wash yourself with it do you only wash in cold water?

Has she read/listened to Atomic Habits. It's really interesting and I'm hoping some of the advice will rub off.

@Doggybiccys - thank you! Will give it a try.

Daily prayer and bible meditation; first thing, before anything else
It's 10-15 mins and no one else is up yet

Sit in the same spot and look at the same trees and sky and observe how different that same view can be depending on weather, season etc.

I'm definitely going to start adding 'Let the chickens out' to my to do list every day, so that I can always start by crossing something off immediately. No chickens here. ;)

I've never quite succeeded in making a habit stick permanently, but I've definitely noticed a difference in my mental and physical wellbeing when I've been in better routines for going to bed and getting up, for cleaning the house and keeping on top of the garden, for eating and drinking, and several of the other things mentioned upthread.

For me, using a proper planner (not just a diary), really helps massively with this. I can track habits and work out routines, as well as fill in daily/weekly tasks and appointments. I use separate ones for work and home, and I wouldn't be without them. You can use digital planners, but I find it works much better for me to use a paper version.

This year I committed to 10000 steps a day and a new eating routine, Breakfast: Greek yogurt, 5 prunes, pinch of cinnamon, flax seeds, chai seeds and blueberries
Lunch: protein shake with kale, walnuts, frozen mango
Dinner: whatever I fancy

Having this eating habit keeps me full all day, no more snacking, walking makes me happy. I've lost 2 stone and couldn't be happier because of these habits.

@BigBadVoodooHat

Oooh, three of us posted the same book at the exact same time - spooooooky!!!!

I bet the three of us have amazing habits

I've already posted on this thread and said it has made me think I need to find a good habit for me and I've come to the decision of daily stretches. I stretch after exercise, but I'm thinking of taking 5-10 mins in the morning to do some stretches too. Need to find which ones to do. So many different ideas out there after a quick goolge.

I'd also like to add an evening walk on my non running days too.

Then in time I want to garden, but will probably save this for next spring now. Just one habit at a time. Might look to do some indoor household things first.

@Smallsteps88
Cold wash with eucalyptus radox in the morning and hot wash to get the mop clean and wind down at night.