By Nicole Kliest Interiors 28.09.2023

These 9 At-Home Habits Are Roommate Red Flags – Here’s How to Break Them

We've all been guilty of at least a few of these...

Habit – a word that strikes fear in the hearts of many. Whether it’s something innocuous such as nail biting or something slightly more troublesome, it’s safe to say most of us are in favour of kicking bad habits to the curb. But when it comes to your at-home life, it can feel especially challenging to pivot habitual behaviours in the right direction.

But there’s hope! Sometimes fixing patterns is as easy as identifying them – and a solution, of course. Ahead, we break down seven common bad habits and why nixing them can enrich your day-to-day life.

From not letting a pile of clothes grow too large to making your bed each morning, continue below to find out how small adjustments can make a big difference.

1. Post-shower drips

Whether it’s you, your partner, or a slightly oblivious roommate, there’s usually at least one member of the household who is notorious for leaving a slippery mess when exiting the shower. And while this isn’t the most harmful of offences, it’s undoubtedly unpleasant to walk onto wet tiles.

The solve for this bad habit is two-fold—first, ‘squeegee’ your body before exiting the shower (run a flat palm down your limbs to brush off excess water).

Secondly, invest in a bath mat that lives below the bathtub or shower so any additional drips are kept within a small (stylish!) perimeter.

2. Not making your bed

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who diligently make their bed each morning and those who don’t. If you fall into the first camp, skip to the next tip, but for those who are guilty of letting their twisted sheets and blankets go untouched for days, it’s time to make a change. But how?

For starters, consider ditching the top sheet if you’re not attached to it – it’s one less step in the bed-making process. Also, you might want to switch to an oversized duvet cover for a look that feels relaxed but can be achieved simply by giving the whole thing a shake and smooth across the mattress.

Lastly, if you’ve been putting off getting new bedding, kicking this bad habit might be as simple as a refresh – it’s a whole lot easier to make your bed when you love the way it looks!

3. An ever-growing pile of clothes

Ah yes, the ubiquitous pile of clothes – we know it well. Perhaps it begins innocently enough as a few workout pieces laid atop a chair, but at some point, we have all been guilty of letting a pile of clothes grow before returning them to their respective homes.

While it’s not a big deal if this happens from time to time, if you’re a frequent repeat offender, it may be time to consider a solution like the 'Touch It Once' rule. If you’re not familiar, it’s the idea that when you receive something that needs to be dealt with – an email, stack of mail, and so forth – handle it right away.

So next time you’re changing out of your work clothes and into pyjamas, remember to simply touch it once.

4. Leaving your shoes out

There are few things more aggravating than tripping on your shoes, which is why breaking the habit of leaving your sneakers, slides, and stilettos scattered across the house is one worth breaking.

The best way to do this is by incorporating clever storage beyond the bedroom. If you have a knack for neglecting your sneakers by the front door, why not invest in a pretty woven basket that you can toss them in?

Or perhaps your slippers are perpetually in the living room – why not give them a home there and place them on the bottom level of a shelving system? The more intentional you are the more likely you’ll remember to keep them tucked out of sight.

5. Hitting the snooze button

Whether you’re a chronic snoozer or lightly dabble in the habit after a late evening, most can agree it’s not always the best course of action when it comes to daily morning rituals. And while some would argue hitting the snooze button isn’t all that bad for you, there’s something to be said about rising with intention.

While breaking from this may vary depending on the person and their sleep hygiene, one approach we’ve found to be effective is to sit up as soon as you hear your alarm. Even if you need a couple of minutes to adjust, signalling to your body that it’s time to rise can be an effective method.

Beyond that, tried-and-true hacks include changing your alarm tone, scheduling your coffee pot to begin brewing just before you get up, and – most importantly – making sure you’re actually getting enough hours of sleep in the first place.

6. Working at the sofa

We get it – the sofa is a lovely place to answer emails from. It’s safe! It’s cosy! It’s peak WFH vibes! But in reality, it’s not great for your body. In fact, it’s terrible for your posture as your back is effectively slumping all day long, which can result in long-term alignment issues.

While we won’t banish you from the occasional couch indulgence, this is a habit you should break. Help yourself resist the urge by curating an equally cosy office space in your home, complete with a well-styled desk and an ergonomic chair.

Whatever you can do to make your at-home office feel more enticing – candles, fancy headphones, or a cute coffee mug – do it.

7. Late-night scrolling

There are few out there who haven’t fallen prey to the late-night doom scroll – it happens! But if you’ve made a habit of spending a substantial amount of time on your phone before falling asleep every night it’s the perfect time to kick this habit to the curb.

For starters, we all know it’s bad for your sleep cycle to look at a screen just before hitting the hay. But beyond the basics, it simply doesn’t align with a healthy nighttime ritual. We suggest cultivating a meaningful evening routine (a warm shower, a cosy cup of herbal tea, or a face mask, perhaps?) and placing your phone on the other side of the room to remove the temptation.

After a few days of this and noticing your improved sleep, it won’t be hard to ditch late-night scrolls altogether.

8. Poorly stacking the dishwasher

Have you ever opened up the dishwasher and containers or bowls are filled with water because they haven't been placed correctly? Or you've heard a clunk because a utensil has taken off under the spray arms? – the worst! The art of stacking a dishwasher is real.

If you're someone who throws things in, presses start and hopes for the best, there's a good chance your dishes either aren't getting washed as well as they could or you're wasting space for other plateware and utensils to fit in.

Knowing how to stack the dishwasher correctly will save you time and also stop you from being greeted each morning with vessels of water you need to empty and dry off.

The bottom level should be reserved for heavier and oversized items, the middle for glassware and mugs, and the very top for utensils. It's also important to "Think about water flow," explains CHOICE dishwasher expert Ashley Iredale. "You want to ensure water can reach all dirty surfaces easily."

9. Leaving half-drunk glasses of water around the house

We get it – you're trying to be good and get your water consumption in. But sometimes life gets in the way (or so we tell ourselves) and we leave a half-drunken glass of water (or tea) on our coffee table... and then our bedside table... and then our desk.

Leaving several glasses around the house feels like a throwback to when our parents would ask us 'where are all of our cups?' It's a bad habit we tend to form in childhood and many of us bring it well into adulthood. And when it's something other than water left for more than a day, it's just plain gross

We have faith you can get on top of this one! Either use a reusable water bottle as your sole drinking vessel throughout the day or dedicate one water glass and one tea glass to yourself, as a reminder.