Little chores you’ll be glad you did a year from now

When it comes to chores, it’s so easy to just say you’ll do it later, or you’ll do it when you really need to. But chances are, if you have a habit of doing this, you find yourself scrambling to complete the task last-minute. These to-do-list items don’t take you much time, but they’ll be a huge weight off your mind and will save you time and stress in the future.

On the other hand, learn the household chores that are actually a waste of time.

“When you avoid seeing the dentist on a regular basis, minor conditions grow into major issues. For example, a small cavity develops and grows until you end up with an abscess. The abscess will take considerably more time and money to fix than the cavity, not to mention the pain. I always emphasise to my clients that it’s just as important to do ‘health chores’ as it is house chores.” —Alice Price, certified professional organiser and coach.

“We tend to put off big projects, like planning a vacation, because they take more than one step to complete and need to be managed over a long period of time. But procrastinating may mean you do a sub-par job or, worse, it doesn’t happen at all. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, do some planning and scheduling. Break down a project into small tasks that can be done fairly quickly. Research locations online one day; then gather supplies another day. Mapping out a plan and scheduling time to do each step will help you save time and money and get the vacation you really want.” —Janet Schiesl, certified professional organiser and owner of Basic Organisation.

“A lot of my clients struggle with productivity and procrastination, especially in the home. One household chore I’ve found that helps clear some mental and physical space is to clean out the fridge. Clean up little spills as you go but once a year make time to clean it out top to bottom. If that sounds too overwhelming, think about the very first thing you need to do to get started rather than the entire chore. One of my favourite mantras is ‘If it’s difficult to get started, the first step is too big.’” —Joel Minden, PhD, Clinical Psychologist.

“People defer decisions on paperwork because they don’t know where to put a bill, an office memo, or a recipe, so it ends up in a pile and you can never find anything when you need it. Creating a system that’s easy to maintain means that it will be, well, easy! You’re much more likely to put something away if you know where it goes than if you feel like you have to figure out where it goes each time, so develop a fool-proof filing system—and use it.” —Erin Strasen, professional organiser and owner of Placed by Erin.

Check out these 20 things professional organisers never do in their own homes.

“It’s easy to procrastinate dealing with finances but this is how people get in thousands of dollars of debt and lose control of their financial health. Keep an app on your phone such as Mint or LearnVest, know your net worth, and stay on top of your daily spending habits and budgeting plans. It only takes a few minutes a day but letting this get out of control can cost thousands in interest payments, late charges, unused and unnecessarily purchased items as well as a lowered credit score which in worst cases, can prevent you from getting jobs, homes and transportation.” —Beth Derrick, life coach at Live Good, Live Well.

“Upload your pictures to your computer or a cloud service at least once a month. Even better, take a minute to change the names of the photos to something more meaningful. Or organise them into folders labelled with the date and event (like Sep 2020 Kim birthday). You can go a step further by right-clicking the photo and selecting properties. This menu option will allow you to add keywords or names to an image making it easier to search for specific images later. Making backups will save time and money later on and also give you peace of mind.” —Cheri Warnock, Photo Organiser and owner of Cherish Your Photos.

“If you have a walk-in shower, get a squeegee and use it to remove excess moisture from any windows and walls. It only takes 30 seconds and will do wonders to prevent mildew and soap buildup. If you have a shower/tub, wipe down the walls and tub (along with the shower curtain) after each use. These little preventative measures will save you from having to do a massive shower scrub later on.” —Marty Basher, home organisation expert.

Here are 22 bathroom mistakes you never knew you made. 

“Take the time to set up auto-pay for all the bills you can; then you don’t have to worry about being late and paying fees and it will improve your credit score. If you can’t do auto-pay, schedule a time one night a week to pay bills. Have a ‘bill paying’ drawer or basket that has envelopes, stamps, a pen, chequebook, everything you need to pay bills.” —Felice Cohen, professional organiser, author, motivational speaker.

Here are 40+ things homeowners aren’t doing but need to. 

“Before you even put the mail down on the counter, take a quick look at each piece quickly. If you know you don’t want the catalogue, flyer, advertisement or credit card offer, drop it in the recycle bin or bin straightaway. Do not put them down and then let these junk items join the rest of the pile of mail. Recycling as the mail comes in saves you time because you won’t be looking at things twice. Even better, sort it over the outside garbage can so you won’t have to take it out again.” —Diane N. Quintana, certified professional organiser.

“You should clean out your closets and drawers every season. But don’t just focus on clothing. Make sure you also sort through your makeup, travel items, small electronics, accessories, jewellery and home goods. You may find some ‘hidden treasures’ that you’d forgotten you had and it will save you the expense of re-buying them.” —Rebecca Gitana Torres, interior designer, Healer through the Home Space.

Beware of these makeup mistakes that age your face. 

“Many people do not check their kitchen cabinets or fridge before grocery shopping and end up buying multiples of the same things over and over because they can’t remember if they have enough. It takes only a few minutes to check to see what you need to restock or may be out of, but it will save you money (and cleaning) throughout the year.” —Anna Bauer, owner of Sorted by Anna and Thumbtack Top pro.

Learn the things you actually shouldn’t be keeping in your pantry.

“You may be good at putting things in bags or piles to return, exchange, donate, or toss—but do you actually take those things all the way out of your house to their intended destination? Once you’ve decided something needs to leave, get it one step closer to its next home (whether that’s the garbage bom or the car) and clear up space instantly. It’s easier to take a handful out with you each time you go than to spend hours and make a giant trip once a year. It also means you can drop things off as you pass the store. If it’s already in the car, it’s a quick stop on the way home – not a day full of errands on your one day free during the week.” — Amy Trager, Certified Professional Organiser.

Memorise these 13 secrets of people who always have a clean house.

“Too often, people read emails but opt not to respond, sometimes for months! To prevent this, react to emails right as you read them instead of marking them as ‘unread’ and saving them for a later date. Delete any spam or advertisements that are not of interest to you and flag those that are. Reply to any emails with deadlines, even if you don’t know the answer yet. For example, ‘Thanks for your email. I’ll review your request within the week and get back to you. Please feel free to follow up with me if you haven’t heard from me by then. Thanks!’ Then, mark deliverables and dates in your paper or electronic calendar. This will save you time and frustration down the road, not to mention embarrassment when your colleagues wonder why you’ve not answered them.” —Amy Cooper Hakim, PhD, industrial-organisational psychology practitioner and workplace expert.

Learn 11 ways the most productive people handle their emails. 

“Self-care often ends up on the bottom of our to-do lists but it should really come first. Before you do anything for anyone else (unless you have very small children) take time to exercise, eat breakfast and attend to personal hygiene. Over time this becomes a habit and will build self-esteem, improve health and save you so much time and money in countless ways. Self-care also sets the stage for the rest of the activities of the day to be done with intention, attention and greater purpose.” —Michele Barton, PhD, Director of Clinical Health at Psychology Life Well

“Leaving your air conditioning filters in place for a longer time than recommended can cause them to accumulate dirt, which restricts air flow and leads to the use of more energy and time to clean them. Keeping your filters clean and working properly can reduce energy costs by about 5 percent. Take the five minutes to change the filter every two to three months to improve efficiency and ensure savings.” —Richard Ciresi, owner of Aire Serv.

“Many people take an ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach to their health, but preventative health care is one of the best things you can do for your own health. A yearly exam is about so much more than blood pressure or cholesterol. For me, it’s also about the conversation, the discussion, because so much comes out. I hear about substance abuse, depression, pain during sex, domestic violence and other things that are incredibly important to a person’s health that they wouldn’t make an appointment to talk about otherwise.” —Sherry Ross, MD, OB/GYN and Women’s Health Expert.

Discover 45 things doctors do to protect their own hearts. 

“I cannot count the number of hours I spend trying to convince clients that they are capable and have the tools they need to prepare food for themselves in a healthy and functional fashion. So many people waste time and money waiting on lines for food. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, they end up standing in line or waiting for deliveries of food that is more expensive and less healthful than simple dishes they could make themselves.” —Dr Barton.

“Getting everyone in the family involved in chores can really help pull your family together as a team. But it can sometimes feel hard to get the kids involved because it feels like nagging. Creating a chore chart system can help take the burden off. Sit down in a family meeting and brainstorm a list of chores that need to be done around the house. Set up a whiteboard and write each child’s name on the board. Post a list under each child’s name and then switch up the chore lists each week—that helps keep kids from dreading chores because they change each week.” —Tonya Dalton, productivity expert, owner of inkWELL Press and the host of Productivity Paradox podcast.

“You want to make sure you keep your dishwasher drain clear, so it’s important to clean it every few months between washes. This sounds complicated but it’s actually really simple. All you do is remove the bottom dish rack and look into the drain. If you see any leftover pieces of food that might be stuck, throw on a pair of yellow cleaning gloves and just remove it. This will keep your dishwasher draining properly, help stop your dishwasher from developing an odour, and ultimately keep your dishes sparkling clean.” —Bailey Carson, Head of Cleaning at Handy.

Watch out for these ways you’re shortening the life of your dishwasher.

“Save precious time in the mornings by taking time to create a week’s worth of full outfits. Hang the clothes together in your closet and complete the look by putting accessories in a small bag on one of the hangers. That way you’ll be able to ‘grab and go’ instead of wasting time struggling to find something to wear. Once you’ve established a good outfit, keep it together. And don’t forget to check your calendar for upcoming special events.” —Jamie Novak, expert organiser and author of Keep This, Toss That.

Learn the 17 things in your home you should throw out asap. 

“Assign a daily ‘theme’ for meals, assigning a different theme to each day of the week. For example, Taco Tuesday, Chicken Wednesday, or Pasta Thursday. Keep it the same theme throughout the year. You don’t have to know the exact dish but having a basic meal plan will save you money and time at the store when coming up with meal ideas.” —Jamie Novak

“You shouldn’t keep every photo you take. If the picture is blurry or the lighting is bad, delete it immediately. If you took the picture to remember where you parked, delete it once you find your car. If you take a burst of ten photos, you can eliminate eight once you get a good look at them. Set aside a time to go through your phone and delete unnecessary photos, music and other files. Clutter on your digital devices is just as bad as real-life clutter.” —Cheri Warnock.

Here’s how to hide private photos on your iPhone or iPad.

“The frequency of eye exams depends on your age. For example, if you have healthy eyes and vision, we recommend an eye exam once in your 20s and twice in your 30s, then a baseline exam with an ophthalmologist at 40, after which the ophthalmologist will recommend the next point at which you should have an exam. After age 65 have regular eye exams every one to two years or as recommended by an ophthalmologist. If you wear contacts or glasses you’ll need more frequent check-ups.” —Dayle Kern of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Also look out for these 12 signs you need to see an eye doctor. 

“Schedule a cleaning/task day. I advise taking one day a month to focus on completing the tasks that you haven’t been able to check off your to-do list. Need to swap out your winter wardrobe for your summer wardrobe? Need to go through your children’s clothes to figure out what still fits? You already have a day scheduled to focus on those tasks if you schedule a recurring ‘get it done’ day.” —Stephanie Cummings.

“Lint that’s sitting in your dryer can clog it and also push air back into it, leaving your clothes hot and damp. This would then require you to run your dryer two or three times in order to fully dry your clothes. Before you run the dryer, check the lint trap and remove any lint build up with your hand or a dry cloth. You can also rinse the filter after wiping it clean under room temperature water. Make sure to let it dry before putting it back. By simply cleaning the lint trap each time, you’ll have dry clothes after one cycle, running your dryer less, which will help it last longer—and you’ll also save on energy costs.” —Bailey Carson.

Don’t miss these clever ways to reuse dryer lint around the house. 

“Mornings can quickly turn into a nightmare when everyone is rushing. You can reduce all this stress if you just do most of the preparation at night. Setting out clothes, making lunch, and making sure kids are all set can really save your mornings. You will even sleep better, knowing these things are taken care of. Take the time now to list what tasks you can do each night to make the morning rush easier, and then set up a routine to make them habit.” —Lauren Haynes, cleaning and home organising expert.

“Most women should have a baseline mammogram at age 40 and then discuss with their doctor about the frequency of tests thereafter. I also recommend yearly clinical breast exams. Just make it part of your annual check-up because doctors are trained to find anomalies that you might not recognise yourself.” —Elizabeth Chabner Thompson, MD, MPH, founder of Best Friends For Life (BFFL)-Co.

“While you don’t need a yearly prostate or testicular exam—that’s a myth—you should still check in with your doctor on a yearly basis to be screened for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, colon cancer (if over 50), and review and update of the family history to look for other potential genetic disease. For men at risk of prostate cancer the American Urologic Association recommends screening every two years or more.” —Harland Thomas Holman, MD, a physician at Spectrum Health Medical Group.

“To strengthen their relationship over time, couples need to make a conscious decision to do things to nurture their connection. Lots of people make a big deal about date night and that is what this is really about. But the date night itself isn’t enough. Their commitment needs to include paying attention to each others’ interests and experiences as well as creating experiences that shore up their bond together. This might include things like maintaining their interest in sharing going to concerts together or some sport, something that doesn’t involve taking care of the kids. Schedule a weekly date night and make sure it happens.” —Mark E. Sharp, PhD, psychologist, relationship counsellor and author of Not Lonely at the Top: A Relationship Guide for the Courageous, Successful Single Who Hasn’t Found the Love They Want.

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Source: RD.com