Short useful messages from Respect Yourself, the guidance site for young people to help make good decisions in life.
Get up 15 minutes earlier than you have to. You’ll have less stress, less rushing, and a more peaceful pace to start your day. If you’re looking after a family member, get them up 10 or 15 minutes earlier too – enough to reduce the racing around.
You can prepare for common household emergencies: water pipe leak (know where your stopcock is), power cut (torches in all the bedrooms), being snowed in (have a snow shovel), blocked toilet or pipes (plunger), being locked out (leave a key with a trusted neighbour).
Teach all family members to be responsible for their own mess. If you take it out, put it back; if you open it, close it; if you throw it down, pick it up; if you make a mess, clean it up.
If tidying up seems a large and daunting task, start small by tackling the current clutter a room at a time. Prevent future build-up by using the mantra “Don’t put it down, put it away”.
Some people feel weighed down when their home is untidy or cluttered, or embarrassed to invite people around. Making and actioning a plan to get rid of clutter and tidy up can lift your mood.
When cleaning, little and often is much easier and less stressful than having to spend a whole day going through the house.
Start closest to your head at your hair roots when shampooing – this is where the grease comes from. Work it into a lather, then rinse it all off, then do it all again using more shampoo.
Shampoo is used to clean dirt and grease from your hair. You should wash your hair at least twice a week for your – and others’ – benefit.
Group your foods together in your cupboards for easy access and to help you identify when inventory is getting low: group together your canned goods, cereals, pasta, etc.
Clean your microwave by bringing a cup of water to boil in it – the steam will help loosen dried on food which you can easily wipe away.