Putting aside an object for donation: one reader’s tiny habit

doll, book The Wild Card by Renee, nest of boxes and orgasmatron?

Which of these objects will I put aside for donation after coffee today?

Our first survey of your tiny habits relates to housing. Living well in old age depends on forming good habits—your own habits, not anyone else’s! Habits of thinking as well as  doing. Starting good habits is itself a habit, and I reckon it’s the most important habit of all for positive aging.

Betsy shares a tiny habit that improves her own home environment as well as helping others. It follows the standard sequence of 3 steps in this order:

  1. Anchor (a prompt, either an existing habit or a common occurrence)
  2. Action (doing something that takes 30 seconds or less)
  3. Applause or reward for doing the action.
Q1
What tiny habit (a 30-second action) will you start this week to make your home better for yourself in old age?

Betsy: Putting aside an object for donation.

Q2
What existing habit or frequent event will prompt you to do that 30-second action?

Betsy: Finishing afternoon coffee.

Q3
How will you applaud or reward yourself after doing the 30-second action?

Betsy: Getting rid of something is its own reward for me.

Q4
How old are you?

Betsy: 65–74

Thanks Betsy for sending the first genuine Tiny Habit to our housing survey!

Now you know what questions are in the housing survey

Housing: your tiny habit to make home more safe, shipshape, and shareable

How about sending your own tiny tip to the housing survey?

NOTE: Tiny Habits are the brainchild of BJ Fogg, Stanford University

 

8 thoughts on “Putting aside an object for donation: one reader’s tiny habit

  1. Elizabeth says:

    It was fun to see this written up for the blog. Thanks.

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Thank you, more like it! Great tip.

  2. cedar51 says:

    I’m still forever “putting aside objects” I have 2 small carrier bags ready to go.

    And a few weeks ago, I travelled by bus (usual transport option) with a relatively large log type basket with side grips. Yes, it’s useful but it’s shape is all wrong…I then noted a week later the hospice shop is using it on the pavement to hold other objects for sale, okay I have no control on end use…but that wasn’t what I expected of it…

    I don’t go to the same one every time, I have others…once I took 2 large art bags on the bus to D’Rd/Sallies. They were awkward but I didn’t need 3! From my art school free supplies…

    And yes I shop for certain supplies in said shops, myself. But mainly for my “art-making” – all kinds of things attract me and I know if I don’t get to use them, I can return them to another store. Which reminds me, I must track across to Panmure to my favourite Dove Hospice shop 🙂

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      You have an excellent habit of disposing of waste, at the cost of considerable effort. It feels good when others help themselves to your discards, I think.

  3. Angelilie says:

    I really like your blog. A pleasure to come stroll on your pages. A great discovery and a very interesting blog. Fascinating and beautiful. I come back to visit you. Do not hesitate to visit my universe. See you soon 🙂

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Thank you, Angelilie.

  4. Joared says:

    Interesting topic. I should do more of this object donating. Mostly I’ve been limited to parting with books by taking a few to my local library periodically for them to resell. I’ve hardly scratched the surface of right sizing in this house which I should have started when I was younger, like you — or better yet, even younger.

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      I hope you are enjoying the book donating. Decluttering can be deeply satisfying in a Feng shui kind of way.

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