Back on April 1

Howdy habithackers. Our official premiere is April 1, so look for us then at habithacker.com where you'll find news, reviews, these daily postings (a bit retooled), and a section that practices what we preach here...the idea that the only reason to hack your habits is to give you more time and energy for creative endeavors. See you then. (If you head to habithacker.com now, you will find some content; most of it will be repeated starting April 1).

Saturdays we D-Day our drives and then simply relax.

Polish your place twice, do your do, and take 5 (or 8 minutes) of break each half hour, and shovel your shitspot. Day 6 tasks are explained in the left-hand column of the website and at the bottom of this post. 
March's Habit: Master the art of meal planning. Every Monday in March you'll plan food for the next week. Let life become more delicious.

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Draw the line. Don't take on any of the tasks below unless you've done the first 31 days successfully AND you're ready for more.

Every Saturday we declutter our drives. Set your timer for 11 minutes and run out to the car with a box or a bag. Bring in everything--trash and treasure--that doesn't belong. Once you're back inside, put the stuff away and then go ahead and play.
Zoning in: Weekend Warriors only: Front porch / entry / dining room. I told you it's screw-around Saturday, but if you still want to work: arrange something lovely on your dining room table.
Do the Dirty. Saturday's for changing your sheets...and washing them. But don't punish yourself. Twice a month is good enough.
HabithackerHealth: 11 minutes of exercise. A little more? A little less? Customize it. And drink water.
Monthly habit building: January's habit was to polish your place every day. February's habit was to hack your health by exercising aerobically. 

Day 6
The shitspot fix.
Racers take pitstops, slatterns make shitspots--and they happen just as fast. A shitspot is a spot that collects...guess what? Lotsa shit. Once you put down one thing, the pile grows faster and faster. Your shitspot might be on your kitchen counter, a corner of your desk, your dining room table, atop a dresser, whatever. Maybe all these places. Repeat Day #5 and also add this to your routine: spend 11 minutes--no more, clearing what you can from one of your shitspots. Shovel your shitspot. Here's what you're doing so far:
Do your do.Polish your place x2.
Take five (or 8).Shovel your shitspot.

 
 

No freak-outs because Friday we free our minds.

Polish your place twice, do your do, and take 5 (or 8 minutes) of break each half hour. Day 5 tasks are explained in the left-hand column of the website and at the bottom of this post. 
March's Habit: Master the art of meal planning. Every Monday in March you'll plan food for the next week. Let life become more delicious. Visit food blogs, try new things, and keep it healthy. Check out Serious Eats.

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Draw the line. Don't take on any of the tasks below unless you've done the first 31 days successfully AND you're ready for more.

Every Friday we free our minds. Empty your to-dos, reminder, and even random thoughts into your BrainOnPapaer (BOP). Scan your previous week's lists, too. Clutter exists in your mind as well as your house.
Zoning in: Front porch / entry / dining room. Do a detail vacuum in your dining room and entry. I mean: not the half-assed way we do on Mondays, but baseboards and moving furniture. NOT the whole house. Obey me, please.
Do the Dirty. Friday is for frillies and woolies (handwashables). If, unlike me, you've forsaken silks and cashmeres, you get to relax. Or put away any clean clothes you didn't yet hang.
HabithackerHealth: 11 minutes of exercise. A little more? A little less? Customize it. And drink water.
Monthly habit building: January's habit was to polish your place every day. February's habit was to hack your health by exercising aerobically.
 
Day 5
Take five.
Repeat Day #4. Also master the art of taking breaks. For every half hour you work, whether it's at a crossword or your business, take at least five minutes to reconnect to your relaxed self by walking around if you've been sitting or, if your job is an active one, sitting down after you've been running around. I like to split hours into elevens: that is, work two 11 minute periods each half hour and take the last 8 minutes for recreation. Here's what we're doing so far:
Do your do.
Polish your place x 2.
Take five (or 8).
 .

Thursday. Pick up some supplies while you do your errands.

Polish your place twice, do your do, buy your notebooks and a timer. Day 4 tasks are explained in the left-hand column and at the bottom of this post.
I own the Polder timer at left and have been happy with it. My personal favorite, a vibrating timer,  the Invisible Clock II by Time Now receives such horrible reviews on Amazon that I won't list it here. (Reviewers note that it's hard to program and expensive; if you're technically inclined, like me, you might like it.) I've not personally used it, but here's a link to a vibrating timer at Flylady.net. Her products are usually reliable. See below for some of my favorite notebooks.

March's Habit: Master the art of meal planning. Every Monday in March you'll plan your eats for the next week. Let life become more delicious. Visit food blogs, try new things, but keep it healthy. 

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Draw the line. Don't take on any of the tasks below unless you've done the first 31 days successfully AND you're ready for more..



Every Thursday we chase.Grab your shopping lists and go. Check your car for gas. If you're getting close to a quarter tank, fill it. 
Zoning in: Front porch / entry / dining room. Dust the light fixtures in your dining room.

Do the Dirty. ThuRsday rags, rugs, the rest. "The rest?" It might simply be to finish folding and putting away Monday's or Tuesday's or Wednesday's loads.

HabithackerHealth: 11 minutes of exercise. A little more? A little less? Customize it. And drink water.
Monthly habit building: January's habit was to polish your place every day. February's habit was to hack your health by exercising aerobically.


Day 4
You're in for more. Repeat Day #3 again. And to prepare yourself for what's coming up, buy yourself a timer and a binder or notebook you really like. Steps to date:
Do your do. Polish your place x 2.

Nebooks I can recommend. 


3 ring binders (see left) really can't be beat. They're inexpensive; you can pick them up at grocery stores or Target; you can customize their covers if you get the kind with a transparent sleeve; you can add and remove pages and category tabs. Drawback: a little bulky and not much sex appeal.


Circa notebooks. OK, I admit it: I use these expensive buggers. There is a way to try them kinda for free. If you get the $40 starter kit, (see below) you get a $40 gift certificate to Levenger, which has all kinds of covetable stuff. Drawback: pricey, and you can only buy supplies from Levenger. Here's a link to Levenger's Circa collection.

Wednesday's work? Paperwork.

Polish your place twice and do your do. Day 3 tasks are explained in the left-hand column of the website and at the bottom of this post. 
March's Habit: Master the art of meal planning. Every Monday in March you'll plan food for the next week. Let life become more delicious. Visit food blogs, try new things, and keep it healthy. For instance, check out Serious Eats.

_____________________________________________________

Draw the line. Don't take on any of the tasks below unless you've done the first 31 days successfully AND you're ready for more..

Every WeDnesday is a D-Day. What's a D-Day? 11 minutes of decluttering, of course. 
Every WeDnesday we put derriere in desk chair to work on paperwork. Make a list for Thursday's chasing, making sure you include items from Menu Monday.  Pay your bills, write your letters, and when you're done, leave your desk or table clear.
Zoning in: Front porch / entry / dining room. Do a detail dusting in your dining room and entry. (Don't start roaming with your dust rag. Do these rooms only.)
Do the Dirty. Wednesday whites. Make sure you've taken care of Monday's black and blues and Tuesday's towels before you get to the whites.

HabithackerHealth: 11 minutes of exercise. A little more? A little less? Customize it. And drink water.
Monthly habit building: January's habit was to polish your place every day. February's habit was to hack your health by exercising aerobically.


Day 3
Rinse and repeat.
Repeat Day #2 with this important difference: from now on, polish your place twice a day.
Do your do. Polish your place x 2.

It's terrible Tuesday.

Polish your place and do your do. Day 2 tasks are explained in the left-hand column of the website and at the bottom of this post. 
March's Habit: Master the art of meal planning. Every Monday in March you'll plan food for the next week. Let life become more delicious. Visit food blogs, try new things, and keep it healthy. Check out Serious Eats.

_____________________________________________________

Draw the line. Don't take on any of the tasks below unless you've done the first 31 days successfully AND you're ready for more..

Every Tuesday we beat our betes noire . Your bete noire is the thing in life that gives you fits. For me, it's keeping my finished basement cleared of debris. Work on it. For  11 minutes, only once a week.
Every Tuesday we tackle one terrible thing. You may as well tackle the terrible things all in one day. Choose your own terrible thing, or finish up the  "zoning in" task below.
Zoning in: Front porch / entry / dining room. Take the stuff you cleared from your diningroom table and put it all away.

Do the Dirty. Tuesday is for tackling the towels...kitchen, bath, etc. ...But don't start this load until yesterday's is folded and put away.
HabithackerHealth: 11 minutes of exercise. A little more? A little less? Customize it. And drink water.
Monthly habit building: January's habit was to polish your place every day. February's habit was to hack your health by exercising aerobically.
 


Day 2
Do your do.
If you work at home, instead of donning sweats this morning, dress just a tiny bit better. If you work outside of the home, add a little something extra to your outfit: a scarf, earrings, a handbag you don't usually use. Before you leave home, or first thing in the morning, repeat Day #1's activity.
Do your do. Polish your place.

Monday the first. Polish your place, 3H, Menu planning

Every month we restart the 31 days to better habits. If you've already completed them and are ready for more, jump below the line for more tasks. If you need to repeat 31 steps, please do!

Day 1: Get one thing done.  Your first day of habithacking, finding one place to clear and clean, is explained in the left-hand column and at the bottom of this post.

March's Habit: Master the art of meal planning. Sit down every Monday in March and plan food for the next week. Let life become more delicious. Visit some food blogs, try new things. 

_____________________________________________________

Draw the line. Don't take on any of the tasks below unless you've done the first 31 days successfully AND you're ready for more..

Every Monday is 3H, half-assed housekeeping hour. It only takes an hour and it only happens once a week. Run around the house doing a lousy job of dusting, vacuuming, washing is dirtiest. One hour ONLY. Then stop. Whatever you missed will still be there, waiting for next Monday to roll around.
Every Monday is Menu Monday.Roughly sketch out a meal plan for the following week and add items to the shopping list you'll carry on Thursday. How about : Monday meat; Tuesday leftovers; Wednesday something with wings; Thursday carryout; Friday fish; Saturday spaghetti; Sunday salad extraordinaire. And remember: cutting back on meat and poultry saves $$, calories,and  the environment. 
Zoning in: Front porch / entry / dining room. Remove all the papers, clean unfolded clothes, magazines, unpaid bills, board games, etc. etc. from your dining room table. Don't take time to put the stuff away yet; load it into a laundry basket or big box.
Do the Dirty. Monday blues (and blacks)...wash everything that's dark.
HabithackerHealth: 11 minutes of exercise. A little more? A little less? Customize it. And drink water.
Monthly habit building: January's habit was to polish your place every day. February's habit was to hack your health by exercising aerobically.
 


Day 1
Get one thing done. Choose a space to clear and clean. Flylady tells you this should be the kitchen sink. Other organizing gurus suggest nightstands or dining tables. I prefer to clear off my kitchen island; it gives me the biggest boost. Just make sure your special place is small enough and manageable enough to be kept clear every day from now on. On successive days, when you are told to "polish your place" you need only clear this ONE place.
Polish your place.