Remaining independent: Tips & tricks for creating good habits

Posted by fiesty76 @fiesty76, Jan 8, 2020

Concerned because a neighbor has called three times in recent months to tell me my garage door had been standing open for several hours and was checking to see if I was ok. While very grateful for the calls and after the 1st call immediately posted a sign on my utility door as a reminder to "close door", two more calls followed that 1st one.

I've lived alone in my home for decades. I'm 76 and still maintain my home and do my own yard work. While I've laughed for years that I have always been a bit scatter brained, I am also fiercely independent and not yet ready to relocate out of state near my daughter and into a sr living establishment.

I'm looking into installing a locking system for my automatic garage door but if I continue to fail to press whatever buttons required to close or engage the system, I will not be able to live alone in this house. Any suggestions or tips on how I can "train" myself to be Sure that garage is firmly down?

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fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Apr 11, 2020

Sue, that is usually the culprit for me as well. Once the garage door is open, I am in and out of the front, side and backyards throughout gardening times. Glad to welcome another to this "preoccupied"? elite group. vbg My front motion detector, like Virgo's, is often triggered by wind or critters too so isn't really a reliable signal. I've mounted neon orange "reminders" on my computer...often the last activity before bedtime; on the lamp table that fronts my back door; and on my pillow each morning to see before crawling into bed at night. And although a real pain, I am starting to train myself to close the garage door after taking anything needed for the yard and then entering the house again from the back. I've also started keeping a house key on a bright key chain inserted in the utility/garage door to remind me to check the garage and keep the that door locked as well.

burfordhugh8102 | @burfordhugh8102 | Apr 12, 2020

HAVE SOME OF THE SAME REMEMBRANCE PROBLEMS. A STRING TIED ON MY FINGER, SEEMS TO DO THE TRICK. Hugh

Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Apr 12, 2020

My first thought and I'm trying to do this myself is to do a walk around the house before bed to check all the doors and windows. Usually if I see a door still unlocked it means that probably I left the garage door open too. I only.store my cars in the garage so typically I close it on the way into the house but I have been known to leave it open when it's gots hot out and let it air out.

fiesty76 | @fiesty76 | Apr 12, 2020

In reply to @burfordhugh8102 "HAVE SOME OF THE SAME REMEMBRANCE PROBLEMS. A STRING TIED ON MY FINGER, SEEMS TO DO..." + (show)

Hi, @burfordhugh8102 A string around the finger is a good idea. Thank you. Toward retirement, I sometimes used a rubber band around my wrist to remind me of a meeting or campus appointment.

robbie1956 | @robbie1956 | May 7, 2020

Hello,

I have been doing that lately....it always happens when I bring in groceries from the front door....what happens is this: when my wife and I get back from grocery shopping, we back the second car (SUV) up into the driveway to unload groceries....we engage the automatic door opener so we can judge how close we come to the garage without hitting the sides that jut out...we then unlock the front door and take them in that way....(we do it like this because there is very little room with the sedan parked in the garage....) unfortunately by doing this, we have recently forgotten to check the garage and close the door again...so, what I’ve been doing is to visually check the front door and open the utility door of the garage and check that the garage door is down also, not just when we go to the store....that way, I can train myself .....I hope my story helps....

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | May 8, 2020

In reply to @robbie1956 "Hello, I have been doing that lately....it always happens when I bring in groceries from the..." + (show)

@robbie1956 I recently found that if I open the blinds on the north wall in master bedroom, I can see the garage door. Window faces north, with really no visual to anyone looking in. Then as dusk falls and I close the blinds, I can look to make sure the door is closed if it was opened during the day. So far, working out well!
Ginger

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | May 8, 2020

@gingerw That works for me too - if I remember to look out! Seriously, my husband installed a light right above the window (outside) that stays on when door is open & it has helped me remember to close the garage. What I can't figure out is, if 2 of us live here and use the garage, why is it my job to make sure it is closed, and my fault if it gets left open?
Sue

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | May 8, 2020

In reply to @sueinmn "@gingerw That works for me too - if I remember to look out! Seriously, my husband..." + (show)

@sueinmn Oh, my, you're "preachin' to the choir"! That and the front gate, or the food dropped on kitchen floor....
Ginger

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 9, 2020

In reply to @gingerw "@sueinmn Oh, my, you're "preachin' to the choir"! That and the front gate, or the food..." + (show)

@sueinmn and @gingerw Boy did you both get my attention (in a good way!!). We have been married 55 years this June and I am still learning from my wife and that's a good thing. I will catch myself placing the blame where it doesn't belong and back peddle very quickly. So, please be gentle...just saying. 🙂

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | May 10, 2020

@fiesty76- Good morning. Although I live with my husband I try and be as independent living with him as I can be. He tends to be smothering at times trying to protect me. I love him for this but it is stifling. It is easier to give in but I don't want him to feel that I am incapable of doing a lot of things myself. I think that it's important for everyone.