Silly (or Maybe Not) Rituals And Routines

I have found that there are a few rituals, routines or "preferences" that seem to always be in debate, as to which way it the "better way". I thought it would be fun to get those out there and see who does what and why.

Feel free to add any of your own "debatable rituals" as you answer those posted.

I'm starting off with a few classics.

Toilet paper - over or under??

I personally do under, simply because the way I grab the paper. Under allows me to fold it so that the soft side is out. If it was overhung, I would have to turn it over before folding it.

Showers - morning or night??

Morning for me, I feel icky if I don't and my hair needs to get wet in the morning so I can style it.

Socks before pants or after??

Depends on if I want my socks under or over my pants. Obviously this depends on the type of pants I'm wearing the day, for example, I will put my socks on before putting on a pair of leggings if I want my socks under them. I hate pulling leggings over socks as I always end up with folds or wrinkles in them, or they push down a bit. I like my socks to feel pulled up and not floppy.

Showers always used to be first thing in the morning. But since I've been doing my workout, they have been at 5pm. I'd rather take them in the morning, but if I get sweaty, I want a 2nd shower, which is not environmentally friendly.

I think I put my socks on last, but I don't really pay attention.

Toilet paper, I don't really care, but it's under right now.

Toilet paper-over. It just makes sense.

Showers-night. I always feel kind of gross at the end of the day.

Socks-before. It just makes sense.

I make up my bed and lay out my clothes before I get in the shower in the morning. This is such a consistent routine that I get confused and mixed up if I don't. I put my socks on after my jeans because my feet get stuck in the jeans if I put them on first.

TP and Bounty go over the top. I have been known to change other peoples if I use their bathroom.

Shower in the morning. Otherwise I feel dirty all day.

Socks on first.

I shower at night before bed. It is a bit ritualistic. I have trouble sleeping so being clean and relaxed doesn't hurt.

Our toilet paper rolls are not over under they stand. There is no place for a toilet roll hanger in our bathroom that is too small to even fit a counter or litter box.

Trying to think of other rituals...hmm...

I smile and say "great, great, great" enthusiastically before I make a phone call I am dreading. Somewhere I picked it up. It's part smile therapy and it makes your voice sound chipper so the person on the line doesn't pick up on the fact that I'd rather be doing something else at the moment.

Toilet Paper is over. I personally don't care as long as it is on the holder, but that is how my husband prefers it. We've been married 26 years and just mentioned last year that this is how he prefers it.

Showers tend to happen more late afternoon for me. I have a lot of environmental allergens ( dust, pollen, cat ). After getting dirty either around the house or the yard all day I often take a shower then to get the allergens off me before making dinner.

Socks are almost always before pants.

Toilet paper is always over. Showers or tub baths, which is better. I always do showers. I don't even remember the last tub bath. Which foot do you put in a sock or hosiery first, left or right. I always do with left foot. If I do right, then I just can't get on with it, especially with a pair of hose. Feet, bare or with socks while sleeping. I always sleep with the little fuzzy socks on, even in summer. If I don't I just don't sleep well at all. I have tried to break the habit, but decided it is not worth losing sleep over.

Showers are for when I'm done outside for the day. No sense in showering in the morning if I'm just going to be muddy or dusty 10 minutes later
Toilet paper is over, toilet seat down.
I wonder who taught me that second part
I always prep morning coffee for us the night before, so all I have to do is push a button when I'm tripping over hungry cats and stumbling around in the dark.

Toilet paper is over.

Showers vary depending on the time of year and what is going on that day. (Also, my morning is in the afternoon. My daughter's work schedule has me currently sleeping from 4 or 5 am until 7:30 am, and then back to bed by 9 am until I wake up, a time that depends on if I have appointments or not.) I do not wash my hair every day, but my hair dictates when I shower. I tend to shower in the afternoon so that the heat is up in the house and I am not sleeping on wet hair. My hair is hip length, and I do not blow dry it. During the summer, showers are typically at night because I hate feeling sicky from humidity. The downside is that the air conditioner in our room makes it horribly cold on my wet hair!

Socks. Whenever. I have no preference.

Toilet paper is over. Showers are usually at night, unless I've put it off too long. Socks are put on after when I wear jeans, but they are put on before when I wear leggings.

Toilet paper - rarely makes to the holder, but if it does it’s over.
Shower in winter is in the morning, summer some time during the day depends on what time I get hot and sweaty.
Socks - after jeans.

Showers/baths usually twice a day now, morning and early evening. I have allergies so it's best for me to bathe x2
(I also change my pillowcases daily in allergy season)

TP over

Socks go on last

TP over, it bugs me when it is not because you can't find the end. At least it can be found easily when it is over the roll by spinning the roll. If it is under it doesn't come free when you spin it and I spend a lot more time than I want trying to find the end!
I shower when I am done working outside, I am sweaty and dirty, and a hot bath soothes my muscles.
I lay my clothes out for the next morning before I go to bed, mainly because my husband is still sleeping and I don't want to bother him looking for something to wear.
I make sure the coffee pot is empty and the filter empty, so it is ready for the morning each night. I get really annoyed when I have to take that minute to do it when i first wake up.
My main ritual is going to bed at nine or before, I get up AT 4 am every morning no matter how late I go to bed. (4th ofJuly is murder) I got into this habit, or ritual, when I had to be a work at 5 AM for nursing. Now it seemsI can't change it. It works well in the summer, I start my day outside when it is still cool. My husband and I walk around our 'empire' with a cup of coffee every morning, (anotehr ritual) enjoying the stillness, the flowers and all the beautiful landscape!

I'm an 'under' and will change it in my house if people put it the other way.
Showers are morning, fresh for the day, but it can be very hot here, in which case it's both.
Socks are last.

I get my coffee ready the night before as well and set the timer for it to go off so it's ready for when I wake up.
And the toilet seat is always down in my house, my husband was taught to sit to pee!

for me, toilet paper is always 'over' -- and i'm very lucky that my three cats have never decided to play with the toilet paper......though, i've had cats that have done that, too.

showers depend on what i'm doing that day. if i'll be outdoors doing yardwork or dealing with firewood, then i'll shower at the end of my day -- which is usually sometime in the evening (i can't stand going to bed all sweaty and grungy). if i'm just doing household chores/stuff, then it's usually late morning or early afternoon......after the stuff is done.

i always give my cats their meals/snacks before i have mine. there's two reasons for this. that i know my cats have happy, full tummies...so i can relax and enjoy my meal. and that my three aren't milling around waiting for their snack while i'm having my meal......so i can relax and enjoy my meal.

i usually put my socks on after i put my sweatpants or shorts on. in warm/hot weather months, i'll only wear socks if i'm going to be outdoors doing yardwork or dealing with firewood...or on the rare occasion i need to go somewhere that it's not appropriate to not wear socks. in the winter months, i've almost always got socks on...thick, warm socks.

i have a rule that no shoes that are worn outdoors, are worn inside my house. my house, my rules. however, i'll make some exceptions...like for contractors or repair persons. not during the winter months, though. i don't want snow, slush, or (worse yet, because that's dangerous to my cats) ice melt chemicals on my floors, and i don't need to clean that cr@p up either. i'll chalk this up to being 'old, tired, and grumpy'.

micknsnicks2mom said:

f i'll be outdoors doing yardwork or dealing with firewood, then i'll shower at the end of my day

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I have to shower before dinner. If I wait until after dinner, then I just feel too tired and won't end up doing it.

I never have showers unless I'm on holiday and the accommodation I'm staying in doesn't have a bath. I've always preferred baths as I have a disability which means baths are a lot more easy for me. I normally have a bath in the late/mid afternoon or evening and I normally always have a bath after I've been out because I'd feel dirty otherwise. I rarely have baths in the morning unless I have a quick one before I need to be off somewhere.

We also always feed the cats before we get our own food. This is mostly because they'll nag us terribly if we don't We normally also have our dinners fairly late, which isn't a normal practice here in England (it depends on the region, but most people in the London suburbs have their dinner at 4:30 - 5:30pm). The earliest we'll have dinner is 6:30 or 5:30 if we're feeling really hungry. The latest we've been known to have dinner is 10:30. As it's only my mother and I in the house, the toilet seat is also always down and if we have builders or plumbers coming to do some work on the house, we always ask if they can put it down when they've finished.

I'm not a morning person and my day doesn't start until 11:30 at the earliest unless I'm off somewhere or working. When I make plans with people I prefer later times, normally from 12pm onwards. I often go to bed round about midnight.

I also like to put my socks on first when getting dressed unless I have tight jeans on. And I can't stand sleeping without socks!

micknsnicks2mom said:

i have a rule that no shoes that are worn outdoors, are worn inside my house. my house, my rules. however, i'll make some exceptions...like for contractors or repair persons. not during the winter months, though. i don't want snow, slush, or (worse yet, because that's dangerous to my cats) ice melt chemicals on my floors, and i don't need to clean that cr@p up either. i'll chalk this up to being 'old, tired, and grumpy'.

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That is something that is always practiced no matter where I go, and something that I honestly thought everyone did. I actually find it weird that people leave their shoes on when entering someones house. It wasn't until I visited someone who immigrated here, and they explicitly told me "No, no, leave your shoes on..." as I was removing them, that I realized that in some "cultures" you leave them on. It's just not done where I'm from, although, living in Canada, with long winters and lots of snow, I guess that is why it common practice here.