Weird Habits
Good morning! 
So, last night, I realized that I have a weird bedtime ritual. Before I get into bed, I need to close all of the closets in the apartment. For some reason, I feel like I can’t sleep soundly if they are open. Weird, right?
This weird-o habit probably goes back to my “monster in the closet” days as a kid. Of course, my husband finds it entertaining to watch me walk around the house and double-check that the closets are closed. What can I say, I’m strange sometimes!
Breakfast
I’m working at NuVal today and taking Friday off, so I woke up bright and early with Mal to put on a pot of oatmeal for breakfast.
In the mix:
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/4 cup spelt flakes
- 1/4 cup granola
- 1/4 cup low-fat ricotta
- 1/4 cup non-fat milk
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
Makes 2 servings
I also added two packets of Barney Butter to my bowl.
This was a really tasty batch of oats! Mmm! 
My iced coffee was especially delicious this morning. I brewed a new batch of Caftea Chocolate Truffle coffee last night, and it tastes, oh, so good!
I’ve been loving the Caftea coffee so much, the nice folks at OpenSky have hooked you guys up with a sweet deal: buy a 12-ounce bag of Caftea Creme Brulee and get an 8-ounce gourmet coffee blend FREE! You get 20 ounces of coffee for the price of 12! Sounds like a deal to me!
Yoga Challenge
I am such a bum. I don’t know where last week went, but I only managed to practice yoga one time, which is not a good start to the Yoga Challenge. This week, however, I am recommitting myself to the Challenge. I have two yoga sessions planned (including a 60-minute yoga class), so hopefully, a little planning will help re-motivated me.
How’s the Yoga Challenge going for you?
Question of the Day
Do you have a weird ritual or habit? What is it?
Posted by: Tina 89 comments
Posted in: Uncategorized
Tags: Barney Butter, chia seeds, NuVal, OpenSky, spelt flakes, yoga challenge
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 7:17 am
Yummy looking oats- 2 packets of Barney Butter sounds just right in my book! I cannot sleep without some form of white noise. I have a travel sound machine just for vacations! Weird, I know
Have a great Monday to start your week!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 7:30 am
I like all closets closed, too!! I also CAN’T have our bedroom door closed – makes me claustrophobic or something. And I must have all covers on me no matter how warm it is!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 7:35 am
Yes, I need all of the doors in the apartment to be closed. Even though our bedroom door is shut so I can’t see the other doors, it gives me peace of mind knowing they’re shut. Who knows why. Oh, and I check to make sure my alarm is set right, the doors are locked, and the oven is off about a million times before I can go to bed.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 7:41 am
Mine is similar-I can’t sleep with any open doors. Our bedroom door and door leading to the bathroom must be closed! It’s probably because I don’t like any light coming in while I sleep. Have a great week!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 7:42 am
Hmmmm…no weird habits before going to bed…although I do INSIST on sleeping with one leg hooked out over the covers
Have a great day!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 7:46 am
not only does the husband have to close all the closet doors, he also has to turn around the mirrors.
don’t ask.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 7:46 am
I’m the same way about closests and all cupboards. MY bf loves to leave a cupboard here or there semi ajar and it bugs the HECK out of me!!!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 7:47 am
I don’t know if you can call this is “habit,” but I refuse to look in a mirror without a light on…the idea of looking into a mirror in the dark freaks me out! If I need to get out of bed in the middle of the night, I avoid glancing at the mirror at all costs (which can be difficult, since our closet doors have huge mirrors on them).
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 7:49 am
I have to close the closets too! I also HAVE to have all the dishes out of the sink and wipe my counters with a clorex wipe or I can’t sleep. But I believe that’s just called anal. haha
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 7:50 am
@Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg: Gotta love the leg hook!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 7:53 am
Cooking granola into oats…clever! I don’t have any werid sleep habits, other than that I need three pillows and I sleep with them almost parallel to the side of the bed (ie all twisted round)- I can imagine it’s very annoying for other people!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 8:07 am
I like to close all the doors too. I used to check the locks on the doors and make sure my wallet was in my purse like 10 times before I went to sleep!!! I was a lot more anxious then and I think that was how I channeled it. Now I only do that if I’m feeling anxious about something.
Courtney
adventures in tri-ing
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 8:09 am
I always need to have my closet door in my bedroom closed and some form of white noise going. The white noise app on my iPhone has been my savior when I travel!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 8:10 am
I’m the same with the closet doors — especially the closet in our bedroom. I also have to walk around the house before I leave for work and check that everything is turned off. Oven? Coffeemaker? Flat iron?
It’s a little OCD, I’ll admit.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 8:11 am
I cannot sleep without the fan on — no matter how cold it is or if I am sick, etc. And it has to be on number 2 and pointed directly at me.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 8:14 am
Well I can’t say closet doors or mirrors bother me
but…my weird habit involves the covers and pillows. I have to have at least 3 pillows around me and all the covers on so that normally means we have the fan on in the middle of winter!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 8:17 am
I know I have some weird habits, but I just can’t think of any right now.
Have a great day
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 8:19 am
I think that you should practice yoga when you want to. It kind of defeats the purpose if you are making yourself practice. Yoga has many benefits and I think that if you focus on the movement and breathing you will learn to love it and crave it constantly.
Amazing oats!! Two packets of barney butter? YUM!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 8:31 am
Funny question- people’s bedtime tendencies are interesting! I check the door more than once to make sure that it’s bolted. I always check my alarm clock more than once, even though I set my phone alarm as well!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 8:32 am
I like to have the closets closed before bed as well. I just feel more at ease when everything is in its place (including closet doors!).
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 8:33 am
I don’t really have any habits, but my husband does! Everynight before bed he says to our dog, “Goodnight Dexter, Goodnight buddy”. He can’t go to bed without saying it. It’s hilarious. He’s tried before but he always ends up spitting it out! Cracks me up everytime!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 8:36 am
Oh gosh, not weird at all. I like things closed and in order too. Weird habit for me would be that I have to triple check my heated eyelash curler is off three times before I leave the house. either a weird habit or my only symptom of obsessive compulsive behaviour I guess
I also have to sleep with the window open so I can hear the traffic outdoors and so I feel like I get air. If it’s closed I feel suffocated. My boyfriend is presently having to wear socks to bed to stop freezing to death, bless him.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 8:57 am
i guess i’m weird in that I don’t have a weird ritual! I’m just a slob in general, so oranization stuff doesn’t bother me — nothing that can’t wait until “tomorrow”
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:00 am
your closet ritual isn’t that weird! I typically do the same thing. It’s something about the darkness of an open closet door that freaks me out. I don’t do it every night, but if I notice a door is open, I close it.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:00 am
I guess my weird habit–I classify it as ‘responsible,’ personally
–is doublechecking that everything that belongs in my wallet, is in my wallet before I go to bed. I don’t really know anyone else who does this. My fiance always jokes about how long it takes me to actually get in bed. Between taking out my contact lenses, moisturizing my face and hands, checking my wallet, etc., it can easily take me half an hour.
Your iced coffee sounds so good. How glad am I that iced coffee is really starting to appeal to me now that the weather is getting warmer again?!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:00 am
I am the same way with the closets. I can not sleep if they are open. Totally weird
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:02 am
I’m the same way with closets except they have to be open! When I was little, I always checked for monsters and left the doors open afterwards so I could verify that the closets were monster-free!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Oh, forgot to added…practicing yoga once a week is great! As long as you enjoyed your practice and felt you gleaned something positive from it, then you’re well on your way to being successful with the Yoga Challenge. In my opinion, when it comes to yoga (or, really, any other form of exercise), success is all in how you define it.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:07 am
I have to sleep with a fan on, even in the winter. I think it drowns out all of the little noises in my old apartment!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:11 am
I always have to get ready in the morning in this order: put in my contacts, wash my face, then brush my teeth. It throws me off if I do it in another order!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:11 am
Can you buy the BB packets at the grocery store? I am looking for portable PB to take on vacation with me. As for yoga, one day is better than none, right?! And similar to Sophie, my weird habit is that I have to sleep with a fan on or else I get no sleep at all.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:14 am
I don’t think I have any weird bed time habits except that I like my pillow and sheets to be cool when I get into bed. Even in the winter time I don’t like getting into a warm bed.
I think that practicing yoga once last week is better than none! If you enjoyed it then you are on the right track!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:16 am
I think it’s those little ‘quirks’ that make people endearing. I also didn’t make it to yoga all of last week and definitely feel the worse off for it.. hopefully tonight. Have a great day!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:23 am
I am weird that way too about the closets. I also quadruple check doors to make sure they are locked. Seriously, even if I know I have checked them…I do it again! I used my last packet of Barney Butter on Friday night on my dessert oats. It was a bonus treat since I found it in the pantry (I thought I was all out). Have a great day!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:23 am
I know you are not supposed to do this, but I love falling asleep with music or the TV on. I’ve been doing it since high school and it feels greaaaat!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:23 am
I line up all my morning beauty products in a row before I begin: Cleanser, toner, deoderant, eye cream, moisturizer. Then, when i’m done, I put them back in the medicine cabinent in that same order!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:24 am
I have a habit of eating about a cup or so of cereal every night while reading in bed. It drives my husband nuts – all that crunching! I need to cut it out though because its something I tend to do whether I’m hungry or not… I guess I just like to keep my mouth busy!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:27 am
I do the closet thing too! Now I really just do it in my bedroom…our downstairs closet is always closed and I don’t think my roommates would appreciate me barging into their rooms to shut their closets!
I used to have a bedroom with a closet with no door! It definitely interfered with my sleep.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:29 am
@Jessica @ How Sweet It Is: Me too!!! I can’t sleep without any covers!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:33 am
haha, I hear ya with the closet doors… but I have to have them open cause then I can “see” that there isn’t anything hiding in there! And I have to sleep with covers and no limbs hanging over the edge of the bed…. stupid….I know haha
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:41 am
Hey Tina – I’m so glad you have the closet thing too!! My husband laughs so hard (he doesn’t get it…) because even if I’m all comfy in bed already and see that the closet door is open, I have to get up, close it, and crawl back in. Phew – maybe it’s not weird after all
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:42 am
Monsters totally live in the closet, therefore the closet doors MUST be shut tight before bed. You know, so they don’t get me.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:58 am
I always close the closet door before I go to sleep! (The one in my room anyways).
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:59 am
Not only do closet doors have to be closed but also cabinets. My husband will get a dish out of the cabinet and not close it. It drives me nuts!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 10:01 am
If I am in the bathroom the shower curtain must be open.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 10:04 am
I do the same thing!!! I even make my husband get out of bed and close the bedroom closet if he leaves it open after I go to bed.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 10:07 am
I have the same habit. I hate open closet doors! Same reason!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 10:13 am
After I turn the shower off, I always stick my foot under the bath faucet so that bit of water that comes out runs over it. No idea why I do it, but it’s a pretty weird ritual!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 10:26 am
I leave the closet doors slightly open sometimes just to drive PB crazy. He can NOT go to sleep if they are ajar!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Everybody has their OCD. I can’t sleep without staring at the stove knobs for a couple of minutes (to make sure there’s no fire)
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 10:29 am
i’m completely with you…i like to have all of the internal doors (pantry, closets, cabinets) closed when i go to bed at night! that’s so funny, i never realized that i did it, but i do check all the rooms to make sure they’re closed before hitting the sack
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Where do you buy your Barney Butter?
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Not weird at all. I’m the same way. My bf always closes all the doors before we sleep now because he knows I can’t sleep if they’re not closed – that would include the door to my room, the closet door and the bathroom (inside my room).
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 10:58 am
I have a weird sleeping habit that may go back to my monster under the bed days…I can’t let my feet hang out of the covers at all. Even if I’m burning hot, I’ll still keep a least a little sheet over them!
Ps- I love those straws you use for your iced coffee, where did you get them?
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:07 am
@Melissa: @Kait: Check my FAQs!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:10 am
Ohh I have many weird habits. The one that makes my husband laugh the most is this thing I do with my blanket. I always buy blankets with the ribbon around the edges because I have a strange obsession with running my fingers over the ribbon. My husband catches me doing it every night before we go to bed – I think it’s just b/c it cool and smooth and it relaxes me before bed. My mom tells me I’ve done this since I was a little girl – hence we have tons of “ribbon blankets” around my parent’s house. Very weird.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:10 am
i HAVE to have the closets in my bedroom closed, too! how else will you keep the monsters away???
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:18 am
Apparently this is a pretty common thing because I am like that too, my boyfriend laughs because even when we’ve just laid down I’ll get up to close all the doors. Also have to have some sort of noise either TV or music playing & have to have at least one blanket. I guess I’m not that weird since other people have the same things
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:19 am
I do that too! I’m glad I’m not the only one
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:23 am
I’ve been trying to think if I have a weird ritual or not but I guess I don’t. I’m just anal in general.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:24 am
Well I have a similar one- I have to close all of my drawers in my dresser- I hate when they’re open with my clothes poking out before I go to sleep. Oh, and I usually have to have an empty sink (or at least empty of my OWN dishes) before bed.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:31 am
I have lots of strange habits, most of them related to cleaning. The biggest one is that I CANNOT sleep if there are dishes in my sink or if the kitchen is dirty.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:31 am
i absolutely cannot sleep with the closet door open. it freaks me out.
@ caitlin, that’s hilariously bizzare.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:34 am
I can’t sleep with our bedroom door closed. I also sleep much better if the dishwasher is empty, but I’m sort of a neat freak. I also MUST have covers on at all times, even in the summer.
I’m glad to know so many of us have these types of quirks.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Cute bowl. I need to shape up with the Yoga challenge. For some reason, I find it hard to start. Wish I had a yoga guru around to teach me some basics!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Closing the closets isn’t that weird, who wants to wake up and look into that scary black space???
I sometimes check the doors before bedtime to make sure they’re locked (even though I know they are).
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:59 am
I have to pull the sheets tight, especially the bottom sheet, I hate sleeping on wrinkles! And I have to have the top sheet and covers even (equal for my husband and I)…kinda drives him crazy, but since he is usually the first in bed, he is used to it now and even lifts his hands up so I can adjust the top covers once I get in bed…what a guy
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
I can not get into a bed that is unmade. So even if I am short on time and don’t make my bed in the morning I have to make it up before I get into for bed. My husband thinks it is the weirdest thing but for some reason gettng into an umade bed makes me feel dirty….
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
you’re so cute about the closets!!!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
I always make sure my bedroom closet is closed before I go to sleep. I’m also a little OCD about making sure doors are locked and the stove and oven are turned off. They are just little things that I check that put me at ease.
And you’re not weird!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
We need our bedroom door shut, it’s weird. And even though I live in a REALLY safe neighborhood (and across the street from a sheriff!) I always close the garage when I’m in back gardening or something. I’m always weirded out thinking someone could’ve slipped into the house, an unlocked car, or hidden in my garage while I was away!!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
This isn’t really a ritual, but I have to leave my socks on when I get in bed, and then I love taking them off once I’m already in bed and under the covers. Weird, I know!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
The closet doors in my bedroom need to be closed before I sleep! I can completely relate.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
I like having a really clean kitchen when I go to bed – I don’t know why! Maybe because I like to come down to a fresh, clean kitchen in the morning when I go to make my tea.
When I lived at home, I always had to have closets shut. I think that went back to when I watched Pet Cemetery with my dog in the basement when I was young (I know – how bad is that??) and was freaked out that creatures were hiding everywhere!
K
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I am like Joelle, I HATE seeing clothes poking out of our dresser drawers, I can’t sleep if they aren’t closed properly. The other thing I can’t stand is eating in dim lighting. We often eat dinner in bed (lazy and our big TV is in our bedroom) and I insist that we have all the lights on in our room.
When I lived alone I would open every door and look under my couch, bed, behind shower curtain, etc, to make sure I was alone when I got home or before going to bed. That’s a little OCD!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
I have been following your blog for awhile and I’m loving it!
Before I go to bed I always have to have a snack. I always crave something carby like oatmeal, tortilla’s, or toast. I think its a comfort thing.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
The closet doors in the room I am sleeping in have to be closed, too. No matter where I am. I also double check (sometimes triple!) to make sure all the doors are locked.
I am glad I am not the only one!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
I used to close my closet at bedtime too! Where I live now though, I actually have a walk in closet that I need to go through to reach the bathroom, so I don’t bother closing that door anymore.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
I have to be really careful with weird rituals like that, because it can edge into bad obsessive compulsive behaviour. I used to ahve to check all the taps, but told myself that it was more important to not get out of control than lose some water overnight…. But I’m glad yours isn’t scaryish like that!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
The thought of leaving a drawer or cupboard door open is too weird. No matter what time of day, I always have them shut. And if I had lit a candle earlier, I’ll lie in bed and wonder if I remembered to blow it out. Candles are dangerous if you do forget about them, so I typically use flameless ones now. One less thing to worry about!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
I like the idea of oats in a mug with a nice handle.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Oh, yeah, I’m with you on closing the closet doors. I think it’s to keep the boogey man in the closet!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
i always do the closet thing in my bedroom too. i guess i’ve woken up too many times when the door’s been open and thought my robes and clothes were people! i can be such a baby sometimes!
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
I think you checking the closets is pretty cute actually… Makin sure there are no monsters ! hehe I always think I forgot to shut the garage door when I leave the house… My husband can attest to the fact that I have gotten to the drive way of our complex many a time and turned back just to make sure it was shut. My defense is that I’ve got my beloved Trek is in there and would be heart broken if it was stolen… I will also add that on Halloween night we forgot to shut the garage & my bike, car, tools & TWO cases of beer were all where I left them in the morning. ;P I guess I’m paranoid.
on Mar 8th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
I have to make my lunch, set the coffee maker, repack my gym bag and put out my clothes for the next day as soon as I come home from work… even before I make dinner or I feel stressed out.
on Mar 9th, 2010 at 3:43 am
I have to drink a full glass of water before bed or else I can’t sleep! For some reason the thought of going 6+ hours without water makes me feel so parched.
on Mar 9th, 2010 at 9:33 am
I also can’t sleep with the closet doors open! Thankfully, my apartment is small enough that it doesn’t take long to shut them all – it stresses me out if I can see all the junk inside my closets right before I got to bed.
on Mar 9th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
I am the same way with opening and shutting closets! UGH! I can’t sleep without closing them.
on Mar 11th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Whenever I travel, I have to tuck in downy sheets under the hotel bedsheets, how weird is that?