Tiny Habits that Increase Your Quality of Life

Caring for Home, Forward Our Mail, Home Inspiration, Home Motivation

caring for home:

Do you ever wish you could find a magic routine that would actually increase your quality of life, not simply add another task to your list? I have learned that the tiny habits you implement on a daily basis can be that magic. These habits may be common sense for some readers, but I promise you, if you implement them and stick with them, they will absolutely increase your quality of life. Curious?

Always clear the counter…

The first tiny habit is to always clear the counter. It doesn’t matter if it’s a bathroom counter, the kitchen counter, or a work surface in your laundry room. After you have finished a task, be sure to always clear the counter.

Clutter breeds clutter. It has been studied that on a cleared surface, if even one item remains out, it signals the brain it’s allowed for more items to accumulate. Likewise, if a surface is clear, it is less likely that clutter will accumulate. If you don’t believe me, try it. Clear one surface in your home’s traffic path. Simply wait. Then, place a single random item on that same surface, and see how long it takes for other items to join it.

To increase your quality of life, start by clearing your counters when you are finished with a task. After dinner, clear the dishes, wipe the counter, and maybe light a candle. After you’ve finished your morning or evening routine, put away your cleansers, cloths, and serums. Store them out of sight if possible.

How does this simple habit increase your quality of life? It silences the unspoken task list in your mind. Your brain actually recognizes things as something that needs attention. Did you know that? When you see items left out, your brain starts to make an unspoken task list for you to manage. Clearing the surfaces in your home help to silence that list, increasing your mental health and therefore your quality of life.

clear counter
Care for your clothing…

Clothing is expensive. It doesn’t matter if you shop places for the best deals, clothing is still pricey. If you want good quality or name brands, that cost increases by leaps and bounds.

I have three products I use on a weekly (if not daily) basis. They are my Rowenta steam iron, my hand held steamer, and my clothes shaver. I will leave them linked at the end of this post if you’re interested. They were not expensive (well, the Rowenta wasn’t cheap), but each one increases the quality of life by increasing the longevity of our clothing.

Some of this comes down to routine and laundry habits. But even these little additions save wear and tear on our clothing, and increase their usefulness. Here is my basic routine:

  1. Launder clothing on the coolest setting that will actually get them clean. For most clothes it can be a tepid setting. For whites I like hot water, but for bright colors or darks, I lean into the cooler temps. It reduces fading and shrinkage.
  2. Hang items up right out of the dryer. When you hang up your clothes fresh from the dryer, it will reduce wrinkles by at least 50%.
  3. Iron the parts that need to be crisp; steam the parts that need to be smoothed. I try to save ironing for collars, cuffs, and plackets. These areas need a crisp touch, but for most other areas, they simply need to be wrinkle free. That’s where I bring out the steamer. Clothes are already hung on the hanger, running a steamer over them has them ready to go into the closet, and consequently ready to wear the next time you need them.
  4. Finally, keep a simple clothes shaver in your laundry arsenal. When you notice a sweater beginning to pill, simply run the shaver over the area and the sweater is almost as good as new. You don’t have to wait until the entire sweater needs a good shave. You can touch up collars, plackets, or under arm areas whenever you notice the need. Shaving your clothing when you notice the need simplifies life for your future self, and increases your quality of life.
clothes shaver 2
Before
clothes shaver 1
After
Reset your rooms…

Another tip that I am completely convinced will increase your quality of life is to reset your room before heading to bed. This isn’t the time to do a complete 10-minute tidy. Let’s be honest, we’ve had a long day and we’re tired.

However, straightening the throw pillows, folding or replacing the blankets on the sofa, putting away the remotes, and picking up any stray glassware will have your room reset back to normal in only a couple minutes.

You can also do this in a bedroom as well. Before crawling into bed, putting away any stray laundry, shoes, or clutter will have your room reset and tidy for when you awaken the next morning. Why is this an important habit and how does it increase your quality of life?

Much like the cleared counter, waking up to a straightened living room and bedroom reduces stress and anxiety before your day ever starts. Waking up to a cluttered room signals to your brain that there are an array of undone tasks and unmet expectations. Taking a couple of minutes the night before clears that distraction and stressor allowing you to begin your day in a more productive head space.

living room
Participate in your community…

My last and final tip is not necessarily one that will have you caring for your home. This one is a bonus tip for you. It is to participate in your community. Currently, our apartment complex is hosting a Christmas decor contest. Residents can opt to participate in a healthy community challenge for best holiday decor. The management will come and do a photoshoot of participating residents’ homes. Then the community will vote on their favorites. Winners will receive generous prizes.

You may choose to participate in your community by organizing a caroling session at the assisted living facility, or reading to a group at the local children’s hospital. Participate in giving opportunities at the humane society or volunteer for Toys for Tots. Check your community for opportunities, and then find a few minutes to participate.

Why is this important and how does it increase your quality of life? It does this by making you feel like you’re part of the community, like you’re participating in something outside of yourself. It gives you a personal challenge or task to complete, and it gives you something fun to look forward to. Even if you don’t win a prize, participating in neighborly challenges gives you a sense of belonging and of being part of something.

Whatever your community looks like, whether it’s an apartment complex, a church community, a school / uni community, find fun activities you can participate in. It will reduce your stress levels, increase your serotonin levels, and being part of something increases your quality of life.

Increase your quality of life…

Whether you work outside the home or work from home, whether you are single or married, live in a large space or a small one, implementing these changes can decrease your stress levels and increase your overall quality of life.

I hope you’ve gained inspiration today with these tiny habits. I encourage you to try them out and let me know how you feel about them.

xo, Billie

You may enjoy reading: Closet Organization: A Simple and Effective Method

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