Friday, July 9, 2010

Chic Habits: Speak and Think Positively, Tidy Up as You Go


I only managed to score one out of three with last week's Chic Habits list. A very poor turnout Fifi.

I struck 100% with grooming, managing to shave my legs three times in the week, body exfoliation 2-3 times and total body application of lotion every day. I have been keeping this up beyond the week too, so the habit is getting more... habitual.

As for going to bed early, maybe twice I managed that. I probably had more late nights than usual. I was rebelling against myself!

The last one, my new 'early face wash' I just kept forgetting to do, and then it was bedtime when I do it anyway. So I'm not going to worry about that for now. Even though I did read somewhere else it was a good thing to do. I just couldn't find the webpage with the reason why. Dang old links.

This week my two chic habits I will be cultivating are:

Speak and think positively. This will be more pleasant for me and the people around me. It will also be quite a challenge. I can at times be cynical and sarcastic. I don't like these qualities in others and wish to minimise them in myself. Rather than notice a bad point about someone (whether I verbalise it or not) I will pick out a good point and focus on that. Whatever you think - positively or negatively becomes more over time. I want my life to be heading in the positive direction.

Tidy up as I go. Both at home and at work. Picking up and putting away, tidying and cleaning as I go makes for a calming and easy to live with home and work environment. If I notice something, fix it. Don't just walk past and let it be noticed a second or third time. I know that each time you do that, a tiny wee bit of energy leaks out of you, and yet I still do it!

If you'd care to join me, please let us know what chic habits you would like to bring into your life, either on your own blog or in the comments here.

11 comments:

  1. hi fiona,

    i love this little chic habits thing you do. very clever. i, too am way to cynical. it's one of my biggest character defects. it's something that i work on every day. i'm learning to meditate and that is helping me. i will be going to a silent ashram this month to focus on meditation. if i learn anything good i will share it with you. for right now i imagine myself draped in peace. sort of like peace rippling out from my body. it is working well and i feel a lot more serene. i'll keep you posted.

    ~janet

    ps ~ thank you for your lovely comment today. i meant a lot to me.

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  2. Janet, I would love to hear more! Being draped in peace sounds so calming. It's amazing the power words can have on you.

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  3. I think these are both excellent little goals (and ones that perhaps I need to strive for as well). It is so often the little things that can make a huge impact on our lives.

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  4. What a great idea, your chic habits list! I tried your grooming habit that you posted last time and I'm afraid I haven't been as successful as you. I think part of the problem is that I'm not working at the moment so I don't really have a routine. I have a lovely bottle of lotion but I haven't been using it as often as I'd planned.

    Your new habit of "speak and think positively" is a great one. For the most part I can be positive about the people around me, but have difficulty with this when it comes to self talk. That's really the area I need to on.

    And tidy-up as I go ... that's always a goal but if you could see my house now ... oh boy!!!

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  5. Fiona,

    Washing my face early is a great idea. I have gotten lazy and will brush my teeth, remove my contact lenses and, instead of washing my face, I will use toner. I'm still getting dirt and oil off but I'm not getting all of it and I don't treat and moisturize afterward. I am missing an opportunity to proactively improve my skin while I sleep.
    My husband and I have a rehearsal dinner to attend tonight. When I get home, I am washing my face before I do anything else.
    That is a chic habit I want!
    Adrienne

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  6. I like to wash my face earlier than bedtime because it tends to wake me up a bit. By doing it earlier, I get it done and then when I'm so sleepy I must go to bed, I just crawl into bed and sleep.

    This week I've tried something new: when I come home, I set my timer for 15 minutes and I unpack my work bag, change into comfy clothes and select a work outfit for the next day, wash my face and then set out what I need to get ready in the morning. That 15 minutes is the productive time that prepares me for tomorrow.

    Love your "chic habits" posts. Can't wait to read more!

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  7. Kalee, you're right. It's the little things done every day that add up. Same with diet, same with body maintenance, same with your thoughts. Wise words.

    Jackie, I think I would be incredibly lazy without the routine of going to work. Especially since it's temporary, with you looking for a job. It would be a challenge to create a home routine. Do-able, but without someone there alongside you, easy to slack off. Perhaps you can create a 'work routine' at home?

    Adrienne, maybe I need to revisit the early face wash. It is easy to skip steps when it's late and you're tired.

    Love your new blog name and I'm so glad you kept the design. It's gorgeous.

    Sunny, nice to have you here. Thank you for the early facewash encouragement, and I love your after-work routine.

    I unpack (mostly) and change into cosy clothes, but your other steps would be so good to incorporate. I often leave things until the last minute, so that means late and tired face wash, and outfit selection in the morning. It would be so relaxing to have those two things done. I could even iron a shirt the night before rather than a knit top in the morning too... Thank you!

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  8. I love this! I will have to think on mine but you have inspired me ; )

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  9. The New Black, thanks for calling in. I'm so glad to have found your blog, it's so classic and chic.

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  10. I love this idea of chic habits - it's my hair that lets me down, it's long and naturally messy. I'd like to try you chignon but I grew out my fringe and have a long face so i think it looks harsh on me, hmm to cut a fringe or not?

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  11. Tabitha, I don't normally have a fringe, but with my most recent haircut I felt like I wanted one. Past experience has shown that a normal straight across fringe looks so bad on me.

    I talked to the hairdresser about a longish swept-to-one-side fringe and she cut it long and on the diagonal. I find I wear my hair down more now (I used to wear it in a ponytail a lot) as it doesn't fall into my face as much, and with a chignon it is softer around my face to have a slight side-swept fringe.

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Merci for your comment. Wishing you a chic day!

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