21-DAY HEALTHY HABITS CHALLENGE

Habits for the Morning Routine
1. Make the bed each morning – either as soon as you get out, or after you have been in the bathroom. BENEFIT: automatically makes your bedroom feel clean and tidy and gives you a sense of order.

2. Take any medication you need at the same time each day. BENEFIT: This will stop stress when you realise halfway through the day that you haven’t taken it.

3. Always have breakfast. BENEFIT: Sets you up for the day – and people say you tend to snack less on unhealthy foods if you eat at the start of the day.

4. Unload the dishwasher each morning. BENEFIT: You always start the day with all the items of your kitchen clean and ready to use.

5. Leave the house as you would like to find it when you come home – tidy and clean. BENEFIT: saving hassle in the evening and giving you a calmer welcome home!

6. Try and get up at the same time each day. BENEFIT: Lie ins at the weekend can do more harm than good, making you feel sluggish for the rest of the day. Balancing your body clock will have a huge effect on your day!
                               
Habits for the Evening Routine 

7. Wash dishes and/or set the dishwasher straight after tea. BENEFIT: You can have the dishes washed before bed time and ready in the dishwasher for the following morning and it takes less time to clean pans when they are newly dirty rather than leaving food on them to harden overnight.

 8. Tidy the house each evening – 10 mins is plenty. BENEFIT: waking up to a tidy house is so much better a way to start the day and you won’t end up with loads of tidying to do at the weekend! 9.

 Set the table for breakfast the night before BENEFIT: to save time each morning.

 10. Hang out what clothes you need the next day ready to go. BENEFIT: You don’t have to rush in the morning, or find too late that something is in the wash or needs ironing. 

11. Check your diary for the next day – and ensure you have everything you need ready to go. BENEFIT: no stress in the morning!

 12. Try and go to bed at the same time each night. BENEFIT: As with getting up at the same time each morning, this will help to regulate your body and help you feel much better each day. 

13. Put your phone on charge every night overnight. BENEFIT: You will never run out of battery during the day.

 14. Review your day last thing at night. BENEFIT: Focus your mind on where you need to work on tomorrow....  

Time Management Habits

15. Keep on top of your diary – schedule in all events, TO DO’s etc… BENEFIT: This will keep you a step ahead, and help you to organize your day.

16. Book in appointments as soon as you have had your last appointment – while you are still there. BENEFIT: You save time and don’t have to add to your TO DO list. You will also be able to get an appointment time that works best for you rather than having to have whatever is left at the last minute.

17. Check all birthdays and events you need to buy presents/cards for each week – and do in one go. BENEFIT: To save time at the shops/post office – grouping errands is a great time management tool.

18. Always add contingency time, travel time and time for the actual task into your diary – not just the task itself. BENEFIT: You will then be able to see exactly how much of day will be taken up, and not overbook yourself. Its much more realistic way of doing things as a lot of people simply write in a start time and forget about all the surrounding time required.

19. Don’t leave things until the last minute – do immediately or plan in a time (that allows for contingency as well) to get it done. BENEFIT: you will feel so much less stressed.

20. Handle incoming paperwork once only – don’t leave in a pile to do later – add them into your paperwork system BENEFIT: will ensure that things get done and you don’t mislay anything. It also saves time.

21. Bin rubbish (junk mail, envelopes etc…) as soon as it comes into your home (recycle if possible). BENEFIT: Simply saves time and energy.

More coming soon...