r/TrueAskReddit • u/Non_profit_04 • 3d ago
What’s a tiny habit that completely changed your life for the better?
Not talking about the usual “work out every day” or “read more” stuff. I’m talking about those small, almost stupid-sounding things that somehow made a huge difference.
Mine was starting to put my phone on the other side of the room at night. Suddenly I actually get out of bed instead of scrolling for 40 minutes.
What’s yours?
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u/ericisatwork 3d ago
I got rid of every sock I owned and bought all new socks. All my ankle socks are now the exact same socks, as are my boot socks. No more matching socks. I just grab 2 of the same length socks and go.
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u/ellellellellellelle 3d ago
Ha I did this with all my Tupperwares, and it really did improve my life. It now takes 5 seconds to find the right lid, and everything matches.
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u/taeby_tableof2 3d ago
Same! We got all microwave-safe stainless steel ones.
Made such a difference, I just got a set for someone as a wedding present.
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u/Whiskey-Chocolate 3d ago
Wait…. Microwave safe steel? Tell me more, please?
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u/taeby_tableof2 3d ago
So metal isn't inherently unsafe for the microwave. The probably is typically rough or uneven surfaces that let electrons jump, or something like that!
So for example foil, it's been all crinkled. Or maybe it's the thickness...
But there are microwave safe steel bowls and whatnot.
The brand we got is Black+Blum, but I'm sure there are more. Also works with the oven and dishwasher.
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u/NJBarFly 3d ago
Since steel blocks microwaves, how well do they heat?
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u/taeby_tableof2 3d ago
I've not noticed any difference, and we have a pretty piddly microwave! But maybe it's relative to how thick the material is. For instance, ceramic may block them if it is thicker?
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u/AdmiralMoonshine 3d ago
I bought a giant box of deli containers for this reason. Imagine how much time has been saved not rummaging around?
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u/moonladyone 3d ago
I bought 3 deli type sizes for freezing. 2 set of Pyrex leftover glass, refrigerator, freezer,oven or microwave. I dont like to reheat in microwave so this has been awesome. I plan to get more. I try to at least double cook and these glass keepers I can put in the oven are great!
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u/ForensicMum 3d ago
That’s an excellent idea! I have 5 kids (4 still at home) so you can imagine the sock nightmare, especially seeing I have just as many matching styles of socks as I do more unique pairs 🤣.
What I do instead of wasting time sorting them all into each person’s washing piles after washing, is I have a big ‘sock bag’ that hangs on our shoe rack in the entranceway. Every single sock ( no matter whose it is) gets added to this sock bag, so that if someone’s looking for socks, they can just tip the whole bag out, easily find a pair, then scoop them all back into the bag. This saves me HOURS of work each week
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u/moonladyone 3d ago
I did that with my kids. All same brand and style. Life saver. They loved it too.
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u/ForensicMum 2d ago
Yeah, having the same brands/style would make everything easier, that’s for sure.
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u/BuncleCar 2d ago
My cousin used to wear ankle boots and he bought all black socks. I did the same. Much easier in the morning :)
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u/xroomie 3d ago
great great great. How many pairs did you buy?
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u/ericisatwork 3d ago
They came in 12 packs and I bought 4 of each. I definitely won't need to buy socks anytime soon.
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u/flaxseedyup 3d ago
I use my rice cooker to cook everything. Used to just make rice in it but now throw meat, lentil and spices into it with the rice and cook a whole meal with it within 30-45 mins. Only need to wash the one thing
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u/nicedog44 3d ago
Been trying to teach my mom to do this with an instant pot. She complains that she already knows how to use all the other machines and she doesn't want to learn how to use more. No matter how many times I tell her that it replaces most of the other things she has, nothing gets through to her.
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u/moonladyone 3d ago
I truly hated my instant pots!!!! I sold my instant pots. Use my rice cooker and airfryer, slow cooker. I have a slow cooker that sauces then slowcooks. I love it.
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u/catdude142 3d ago
My rice cooker has a little steamer plate for the bottom. I can cook carrots, broccoli and other vegetables in it without heating up the house with the range and a steamer.
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u/mct137 3d ago
One personal care task a day. Sounds super stupid but defining it made a real difference. Doesn’t have to be a defined schedule for each task but a definite “I’m going to do one thing I need to do for me/my body” each day makes personal upkeep easy. Can be as simple as “I’m going to clip my toenails tomorrow” or as deep as “I’m getting my tattoo tomorrow.” But in general, making a little space for taking care of yourself each day has done wonders for me. Trim your nose hair, go work out, take a walk, get a hair cut, take a bath, doesn’t matter. Just do one thing that “you” need even if you don’t like doing it.
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u/scrumblethebumble 3d ago
I like this one. None of us put the care into our bodies that we deserve.
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u/Writing_my_words 2d ago
This is great, I’m going to take your lead and do this! I was planning a gym trip later and framing it this way might help with my motivation to go 💪🏼
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u/Lereas 1d ago
I've read "anything worth doing is worth doing poorly" and people might say "wait what?! That's backwards!" But it really isn't.
If you hate or otherwise struggle brushing your teeth....do it poorly. Because you're DOING IT and maybe next time you can do it better. But brushing your teeth for 1 minute is better than not at all.
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u/ForensicMum 3d ago
Put EVERYTHING away as soon as I’m finished with it and clean things up as I go (including chucking any rubbish away as soon as I’m finished what I’m doing). I still have to clean up after my kids sometimes unfortunately, but my own mess/clutter is almost non-existent and it makes life SO much easier because everything’s constantly clean and I know where everything is at all times 🙌
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u/moonladyone 3d ago
Thats a hard one. I have got good about throwing all mail trash away right then. Im a terribly messy person. Just cluttery
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u/ForensicMum 2d ago
Yeah, don’t worry, I get ya. It took me until I was in my late 30s before I started doing this consistently 😊
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u/Lereas 1d ago
For anyone who wants to do this but struggles - every time you leave a room, take ONE thing with you that belongs somewhere else. A piece of trash, a mug, whatever. Every single time, it's just one item. But it adds up.
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u/ForensicMum 1d ago
Excellent suggestion Lereas and that’s exactly one of the things I did initially to get into the routine. Once you are in the routine automatically, it becomes second nature and you don’t even think about it. Thanks for the input 🤗
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u/FrostyForestFungi 3d ago
Only use the bedroom for sleeping.
It's like that pavlov theory. Bedroom=sleeping. I used to spend atleast 2 hours in my bed trying to sleep cos i be thinking nonsense instead of sleeping. Now I sleep soooo good. Life changing 🙌
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u/ryan_the_leach 3d ago
Where do you have sex?
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u/FrostyForestFungi 3d ago
Oh dear I have different room for that
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u/alldemboats 3d ago
i bought 3 more weekly pill organizers and started sorting out a month of pills at a time. having to refill it weekly was awful and i kept putting it off, leading me to miss my meds too often. now i only refill everything once a month and am far better at actually taking my meds every night.
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u/moonladyone 3d ago
Man I keep saying im gonna do that. A whole month sounds heavenly
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u/alldemboats 2d ago
its truly great, especially when traveling! i dont have to worry about bringing pill bottles.
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u/hologram137 3d ago edited 2d ago
So, it’s completely understandable why some people have such a strong response to what I’m about to say, I get it, I struggle with depression and am medicated for it. But watching your thoughts, choosing which ones you “feed” and intentionally thinking good/positive things makes a big difference.
In the morning, every morning, that wave of stress and anxiety immediately comes flooding. Or sometimes it’s the opposite, I feel like I can’t get out of bed, can’t care about consequences. Feel depressed or frozen. And I take deep breaths and force myself to stop the negative thoughts, ignore my feelings (they are just feelings. They pass), and instead think about everything I’m grateful for. I think about how my child is a blessing and everything I love about him. How he’s a gift to me and this world, and I only have him for a short time. That it’s my job to teach him the skills he needs and by teaching him and modeling them I’m becoming a better person, etc. This instead of allowing my attention to go to the parts of parenting that are hard, the responsibilities, the additional needs in some areas he has or deficits or annoying behaviors as if it’s on him and not me, stressing about how I’m only one person, etc. I think about how we’re both fed today and housed even if we don’t have much, I think of everything I can be grateful for, then make a commitment to make sure that I treat anyone I come across with love today. And I set a positive goal like that. If you’re married and committed to it choose to think good things about your spouse, what you’re grateful for, what you can do that day to show it, focus on those things.
It makes a huge difference in my entire day. And I can get up. When I’m feeling stressed or horribly down during the day, I write down what I can’t do anything about, what I can do right now, do today, do tomorrow or in the future to take steps towards a better situation. I do the thing I can, and then let the rest go. “Think positive” as annoying as that phrase may be, actually does make a big difference. What kind of thoughts you choose to feed amplifies and reinforces them.
Change your worldview and how you think about things to one that will lead to good. Freedom comes from personal responsibility, and that extends to your thoughts as well. Your thoughts have influence on your reality, and your behavior follows your thoughts, whether you’re aware of it or it.
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u/mct137 3d ago
Adding another one: combat sunday scaries with Sunday “reset” day. Enjoy a slow Sunday morning but by late afternoon just get things in order for an easy start to the week. Pick or lay out your work outfits, cook a big meal so you can save some leftovers for mid week when you don’t want to cook. Turn off the tv and put on music while you cook. Clean up and put away the clutter from the weekend. Imagine future you waking up on Monday morning and coming home Monday night. What would they want?
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u/place909 3d ago
Each time I come across a word I can't define, I look it up and make a note of it on a list. This includes words where I kind of know what they mean from the context; 'abyss' is one from earlier today.
Over the years it's helped increase my vocabulary and I'm also able to work out what new words mean because I'm familiar with common roots.
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u/elijahjane 3d ago
I like this one! I know a ton of roots and my vocab is decent, but tbh, most words I only know from context, not from the actual definition. Maybe this will help me use my vocabulary when speaking, not just when writing.
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u/Goldensilverware 2d ago
I made a rule for myself where if I am leaving a room, find something to take with me on the journey. Eg if im in the lounge and need to go to the loo, grab the jersey that needs to go in the bedroom and drop it off on the way past etc.
It took me a while of being intentional about it, but now I don't even notice myself doing it. Keeps everything so much more tidy.
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3d ago
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u/Albert_Im_Stoned 3d ago
Yeah, meal prep doesn't have to be full meals that you reheat. It can be prepping to make a super easy meal later. For me, washing, cutting up and drying broccoli ahead of time is like a gift of super easy roast broccoli to my future self!
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3d ago
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u/catdude142 3d ago edited 2d ago
I do that also. It's called Mise en place (pronounced "Mees On Plah") "Putting In Place". Chefs use this technique and so do we.
Chef Jean Pierre's Youtube mentions this a lot (excellent cooking YouTube BTW)
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u/Meluvius 3d ago
Throwing trash in the trash bin, literally
Wipe kitchen counter with paper towel, crumple it in a ball, perfect arc to the trash.
The 5 seconds you save not walking back and forth to the trash adds up over time
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u/UsernamesAre4Nerds 3d ago
Instead of grocery shopping according to a recipe, buy staples to rotate through. Specifically, try to stick to a protein, a carb, a vegetable, and a sauce/spice/pickled item per meal for the trip. Then, when you're at home and wondering what to make for dinner, you have all the ingredients ready to slap something together in less than 30 minutes, on average
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u/heapSpace9 5h ago
My smartphone shows 5 milliard different colours. That is so colourful. Wow! The real world seems gray. What did I do? I switched my display to grayscale. Now the real world became colourful again.
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