As a way to give virtual pats on our back, let’s details some of the good habits or disciplines you have picked up. It could be those you have been ingrained with from childhood, or just recently adopted. To start for me:
Keeping track of expenses; I used to be horrible with that but for the past 2 months have been using an Android application to keep track of what I have been spending and to monitor usage of money.
Calorie countings, which I have stopped for a while because I just eat the same thing over and over again and it has become somewhat predictable.
Washing my hair and scalp throughly. I used just plop the shampoo on, spray water at it, and call it done.
Used to think it was a big pain in the ass. But I started to pay attention to how quickly my dental assistant did it at the end of my appointments. Well, seemed like not a lotta effort for a whole lotta payoff.
Doing things the moment I notice they need to be done, if it is at all possible. I have stopped with the, “I’ll do it later.” It is amazing how much more productive I am now.
Choosing water as my first option when I’m thirsty. I had decided to do this on a temporary basis (thirty days) in order to lose five pounds (and it worked). I have always preferred fruit juice or milk (lots of both) and would never have thought I could do this permanently, but it seems to have stuck. So 80% of my fluid intake is now cheaper/healthier water. (The other stuff is treat food, now.)
Cutting up enough fruit on the weekend so that I can just grab some during the week. I love summer melon but I’m LAZY about it – if I have to cut a slice off a watermlon or cantelope it just seems like too much effort and I’ll grab some other, less healthy/refreshing, snack.
This way I always have fruit ready to go, making it easy to make good choices.
Flossing - it was my New Year’s Resolution when I was 30. One of the few resolutions that stuck for good! I have been a daily flosser for 10 years - my dental hygienist raves about the condition of teeth and gums (never had a cavity!).
My other good habit is to always order a small. When I was a heavier person, I always wanted the biggest of anything (lattes, ice cream, french fries - whatever). Now, I always order a small serving and I am perfectly satisfied.
My freezer has an ice maker, but there’s no convenient water line to connect it to. . .
Unfortunately, my husband, my sister (who lives with us) and I all love ice. I’ve ‘trained’ myself to empty and refill the ice trays (five of them) as soon as I get up in the morning and before I go to bed at night.
Brushing my teeth at least twice a day. My husband was brought up doing it just once. Whenever I brush any less than twice a day, it feels like fur is growing on my teeth.
Exercising at least a few times a week. Yeah, I might not be at my ideal weight, but I can still run, and I also have a heck of a lot more energy than I would have if I didn’t exercise.
Turning off the TV once I’m done watching a specific show. I hate getting to bedtime, only to realize I’ve hardly spoken to my husband or done anything I planned to do because the television was on. Instead of aimlessly flipping and watching shows just because they’re there, I turn on the TV, watch what I want to and turn it off.
Indeed. I rarely flossed when I was younger, especially when I had braces in my teens, because it was a huge PITA to have to thread the floss through the wires. Biggest problem was getting my fingers into my mouth, because I have a small mouth and big hands.
Then I discovered those handy-dandy Y-shaped floss holders. Now there probably aren’t two days of the month when I don’t floss, and boy, I notice it when I don’t!
I make my bed every morning. For most of my life, I figured, what the hell, I’m just getting back in it in 16 hours – but it takes 30 seconds to straighten out the sheets and smooth the quilt over everything, and it … I don’t know how to explain it, it’s mentally a good thing to do – like I’m a human, not a critter with a lair.
I have a pre-printed grocery list form, arranged by aisle. When I run out of something, I write it down immediately. It stopped me running to the store for one or two items that I forgot, and cut down on spending, because I can never go in and just buy the one thing! I also plan menus and write down all the ingredients I will need for the week. It helps me keep inventory of what we have on hand, too.
I am in the habit of doing the dishes after dinner, instead of letting them wait until morning. It’s nice to wake up to a clean kitchen.
I make my bed, too, twickster, but just to keep the muddy pawprints off the sheets.
Particularly the “sort the mail at once”, “write down shopping items as soon as they run out”, and “JFDI* on household tasks”.
Taking a while to bed them in though but hopefully by autumn they’ll be second nature.
One habit that is obvious but necessary is to immediately shift childcare costs to a separate bank account once I’m paid, to make sure that it’s untouched. We can live with most things going close to the wire but missing a childcare payment having to find another childminder would have a real impact right now.
Brown-bagging my lunch instead of eating fast food every day.
Working out six days a week.
Dedicating time every evening to creative projects instead of wasting time in front of the TV or online.
Tidying everything up immediately after dinner instead of letting dishes sit indefinitely.
Planning meals for the week.
My 21-year-old self would probably die of shame if she met my current self.
I’ve had a terrible time sticking with improving habits, but one thing I have learned to do is not to bring the mail in at all - open it on the porch over the recycling bin and only bring in real mail.
