Micro Habits

So I know we are late March and most people created their New Years Resolutions months ago. However I decided to try something a little different this year. I am trying micro habits.

Now I believe this term came from a book. Which book I have no idea. It may have come from “Atomic Habits” by James Clear or the book called “Tiny Habits”. Either way it was something I had seen on my socials. Quick google search and I had a rough idea of what micro habits was about.

The last few years I have come to the realisation that I require systems to complete certain, or I should say any tasks or goals. Especially for things like housework. I really dislike that work!

Now my first micro habit is something a grown woman should already be doing but, habit one was to make my bed every day. I have struggled with that job since I was a child. I hated doing it. My mother always made me but, if I could get away with it would. I never understood why one would make their bed only to get back into bed at the end of the day to mess it up again. It seemed sooooo pointless.

So for everyday since January I have managed to make our bed every day. I have even been able to include some cute pillows to have on the bed as well. I still at times think it’s pointless but I have to admit it’s pretty nice to get into bed after a long day and feel like it’s had fresh sheets put on.

Micro habit two is around general housework. What is the bare minimum I could do with regards to the house that I would feel good about. I think this is where this habit has been the most successful for me. I thought about what I need to feel good and still meet the needs of my family. Cause frankly I could clean every day for hours and still have to repeat the same job every day!

What I discovered was I like vacuumed floors, a clean mirror in the bathroom, rinse down bathrooms sinks and toilets, quick cobweb de-web and tidy kitchen counters. If I want to do extra I could but didn’t have to. It was about the bare minimum that I could manage.

And guess what, it’s enough to make me feel that my home and life isn’t spiraling out of control. I’ve also noticed that when I do this routine each Saturday my oldest boy will often complete his part of housework in his area and bathroom with his brother.

Meanwhile habit three was getting back to something I did everyday as a teenager. Putting sunscreen on each morning. What a habit! I’ve noticed I’m not having tinges of red all over my face. My skin feels better and the v neck line from shirts is slowly disappearing.

Three micro habits. I could add more but frankly there have been days where I sometimes still forget to do one of these habits. Why add more when I haven’t nailed these three basic habits. Frankly, I’m okay that I only have three habits to work on. I want positive change and that takes work and setting small goals or in this case small habits to help with the bigger picture goals.

I get that these seem like small habits but, it’s often the small things that create either the chaos or smooth running. My aim is to have these habits be the bedrock for bigger and better goals that I have stashed away in my head. Just bursting to get out.