Small Habits

This little fact filled image was on Facebook. When I read it, I realized I never look at the overall effect of changing a habit and the results it will have in a year. I started to think about the habits that make a difference, not only over an entire year but in managing life. Most of my small habits are for my convenience and for a feeling of well-being.  

How does a person consciously save $8/day. Giving up buying coffee has always been the front runner for saving money every day. Picking up a coffee on the way to work is a habit many people have, and I doubt they want to give up. I am not sure if this happens, but I do wonder how many parents stop on the way home from school to get a treat for their kids. Switching that out for a homemade treat would certainly be a way of saving money every day.  

I am not someone who reads a book very often. For some reason I have aspired to be a reader, but it just doesn't happen. It is hard for me to realize that by reading 20 pages every day I would read 30 books a year. That would be a massive accomplishment and just short of a miracle for me. 

So, I usually do around 5,000 steps/day so that looks like in a year I would accomplish 35 marathons. I am good with 35 marathons, heck I am good with one. I am over the moon when I exceed 5,000 steps/day. 

I feel everyone have small habits that work for them. There are several that I have done for so long, they are just habitual for me. One that I like is: if you bring a new piece of clothing into your closet, take one out. Not only does it keep your clothes under control, but you don't have to do that big purge when they get out of control. It also makes getting something new make perfect sense.

Accept the fact that toilet paper will come on sale again. Stocking up on anything means you have so much money tied up in things that are just sitting there. I don't have the space to stock up, so buying in bulk is not something I do. With that said, a Costco run or a great sale at the Coop is what it is all about trying to manage a grocery bill and budget. I once lived in a small community, and I understand the importance of stocking up from the large stores in the city.   

Get your coffee ready the night before, it just starts the day off so much better. No one is geared up the second they get out of bed to pour water, add coffee grinds and have it turn out well. Pushing a button and drinking strong, fresh coffee in a few minutes is how I like to roll.  

The one thing I did when I worked that I feel made it so much easier, was I had food ready for lunches and the evening meal. I would cook on the weekend and fill containers. I know you have heard my container stories, but I like them. I made little baggies of veggies and fruit; life was organized then. Currently, I have nothing in my fridge on any given day. I look at leftovers as crown jewels. My go to is a an already roasted chicken from the Coop. I can eat that sucker for days. I make sure I always have eggs which can be served in dozens of ways, and I never get tired of them. I never waste food; rarely do I ever throw something out. If I do it is expensive fruits and vegetables that I thought I would eat, but I didn't.

The other work tip that kept my life in order was on Sunday I picked out what I was going to wear for each day of the coming work week. No lying awake at night thinking about what I was going to wear, that decision was made. Because I could lie awake at night pondering what I would wear. Whatever I picked is what I wore, there was no changing of my mind. 

I have a place for everything, and I put them in their place before I go to bed. I have always said on first impression, my home looks neat, and it is. But, behind the doors is not the same story. Out of sight out of mind works great for me. I need to form a new small habit to address that. 

A small habit I have developed is, when I hear of a death or know of a special birthday I send the card right away. If I don't it doesn't get sent. Card sending and receiving doesn't happen as much anymore. There is nothing like getting a card in the mail. 

If I have put something off and I need to do it, I put it on my table. I don't like things on my table. I have the rule, I have to take care of the table task before it can come off. It is usually things like paying my taxes, license or simply sending mail or parcels. They are always quick, little jobs that only take a few minutes to do but, I have chosen to ignore, until they hit the table.  

It is interesting what people develop as their rules. Some people make their bed before they leave the bedroom. Others get dressed before they do their housework. I know people that keep an ongoing, organized grocery list. Some check their banking accounts regularly and know how much money they have in their wallet. Many people have a regular routine in getting their mail. A cleaning routine is a small habit for some households. Some make a weekly menu and stick by it. Some cannot face the day unless they go for a walk or a run. Clearly, these are habits that I don't have. Some I used to do, others I have never had. 

I just go for what brings calmness to me. I believe that we don't recognize some of our habits because they are our way of life. It takes doing something 20 times before it becomes a habit. Routine is organized habits and right now I have a great routine, it is my direction in life. I hope your habits bring you calmness and they are working for you, no one has space in their lives to be overwhelmed.