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The Mrs Hinch effect is positive in my opinion

June 3, 2020

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The Mrs Hinch effect is positive in my opinion – a bold statement but continue reading and I’ll explain why

The Mrs Hinch effect

I’m writing this from an age perspective, meaning reflecting on previous times in my life I can compare to the current times of the Mrs Hinch effect. In case any of you don’t know Mrs Hinch is a successsful influencer who shares her passion for cleaning and keeping her house sparkling and tidy.

My mother was houseproud to a point but it was more about the old trend of “keeping up with the Jones’s” – you could say that was an earlier version of the Mrs Hinch effect. In my mum’s case it was more about having the latest on trend decor, clothes, furnishings or accessories. Her cleaning routine was not always her main priority. As someone who can always find positives in any situation at least I developed a good immune system!

As times moved on there was a time when there were many TV programmes showing you how to decorate and revamp your home, the emphasis was on doing it but not on maintaining it.

The Mrs Hinch Effect

My habits

When I was working full time as a senior Neonatal Nurse, working long unsocial shifts I was often too tired and exhausted to do any more than the basics of cleaning that was needed to keep my house tidy.

Since retirement I have become a bit of a cleaning freak. With my new found freedom I watch hours of youtube vloggers who share their tips for keeping a clean and tidy decluttered home. I adopt some of their hints and tips – but don’t get me wrong my house is nice but in no way a show home like some of theirs. The Mrs Hinch effect has gradually crept in, I think I was a bit later than many discovering her. However, she appears to be one of the most famous and influential.

a clean kitchen The Mrs Hinch effect

My kitchen

Why I think it is positive

I think the Mrs Hinch effect is positive as it has created a whole movement of house proud people who are cleaning away merrily. Yes there is still an element of competitiveness and showing off but if it promotes good habits and cleanliness then that is a big yes in my mind. It was horrible growing up as a child with an untidy house that you didn’t want your friends to see.

Possibly there was a time in society where house cleaning and tidyness was low on the agenda of many people who were depressed, anxious and dissatisfied with their lives. The cleaning movement can provide purpose to a persons day and can introduce structure and habits. I’ve certainly found having a good cleaning routine has helped me through this period of lockdown during the coronavirus outbreak.

Helping with anxiety

Mrs Hinch states that she began cleaning to help her deal with anxiety issues and it helped her mood. As I have bought into the Mrs Hinch effect I agree cleaning does help my mood. I have posted before about how the menopause has affected my life, one side effect has been a degree of anxiety that I haven’t suffered with before. Cleaning and decluttering really does make you feel better. It’s so satisfying and occupies you to stop you worrying or overthinking anything. Plus you have a great sense of pride at seeing your home looking good. I found a video on youtube where a psychotherapist has described why cleaning and tidying does help with anxiety.

a cupboard containing cleaning products demonstrating the Mrs Hinch effect

The Mrs Hinch effect – My bathroom cleaning products

Just as a side note many of the products recommended and used by those who have bought into the Mrs Hinch effect have been around for years and were used by my own mum, they’ve just been revamped and rebranded – 2 such are Zoflora and Stardrops. I’m fascinated to see them being touted as the best thing ever as if they’ve just been discovered, I’m sure the company’s are too with their increase in popularity and revenue. This gives me an idea for a new post – my favourite products!

There are many Facebook groups sharing ideasI am a member of one called We Love Mrs Hinch – if its something you’re interested in I suggest you join  in and take a peek as there are many posts by members of how they have decorated or cleaned. Inspirational and the positive thing is that unlike my mum’s day when keeping up with your neighbours was costly – buying the latest decor. These days the Mrs Hinch effect is positive in that many people do fabulous things on a budget from bargain stores like B&M bargains. This reduces the pressure of cost, in fact it’s often the opposite how to improve your home as cheaply as possible.

Thanks for popping by, let me know what you think of the cleaning craze and the Mrs Hinch effect are you a follower or do you find it irritating. I love to read your comments.

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Filed Under: Home Improvements, House and Home, Lifestyle, Retirement, Storage and organisation Tagged With: anxiety, cleaning, decluttering, Menopause, Mrs Hinch, Vloggers, YouTube

A busy October having fun in retirement

November 18, 2018

Life begins in retirement

I had a very busy October and I know I’m it’s already mid November and I’m late in posting, but hey better late than never. Time is flying so fast. This third age of my life is truly the best especially spending quality time with family and friends. When I was working full time as a nurse I was either too busy or too tired to really enjoy my social life.

Where Did I Go in October

The month of October was dominated by Mr Fitz’s 60th birthday, both preparation and celebrations. I had planned a surprise night away for him on the actual night of his Birthday. We are both foodies and Mr Fitz can watch hours of cooking programmes and demonstrations from Celebrity chefs, as well as dining out. With that in mind I had booked a night away at Northcote Manor a Michelin starred hotel and restaurant not too far away.  He hates surprises so closer to the date I did actually tell him where we were going.  We had a lovely stay and fabulous food, very expensive but a one off experience befitting the milestone in life. I will write a full review of this experience in a separate post.

A 60th Birthday Celebration at Northcote Manor in October

A selection of the food on offer at Northcote Manor

Michelin Star Food

We both enjoyed a weekend away in Blackpool with friends at the beginning of October, staying in their static caravan. A great time filled with lots of laughter and a trip to the Blackpool illuminations was enjoyed by us all. I reflected on the Illuminations as part of my Blogtober18 series, if you haven’t read it already you can take a look here.

Big wheel on the pier at Blackpool

Blackpool Illuminations

With the christening of Johns great niece Delilah Belle we got to spend some quality family time with Johns close and extended family. It was as few days before his birthday so they presented him with gifts and sang Happy Birthday to him. After years of missing out on many family celebrations due to the unsocial hours and shifts that are required as a nurse, in retirement I fully appreciate how precious days like this are.

Mr Fitz Receiving gifts for his 60th birthday

Family time

After football and blogging my other passion is for entering competitions. I have like minded friends and we all share our winning prizes and experiences amongst ourselves and our friends and families. My lovely friend Juliet won a trip to meet Jamie Oliver in London.  It was a promotion in collaboration with Hotpoint and Jamie Oliver to reduce foo wastage and to be creative with leftovers. There were 5 winners who had been judged to submit the best ideas for the use of leftovers. The winners and guests were invited to a pop up event in East London. A truly enjoyable day and an opportunity to see Jamie demonstrating his cooking skills at close contact.

Enjoying a celebrity chef experience with Jamie Oliver

Watching Jamie Oliver live

Another of my friends won a meal at Rain Bar in Manchester for 4. This is a gastro pub where the food was really tasty with great service and attention. It also gave myself and my friends the opportunity to get together and plan an upcoming trip to London in December

Rain Bar Manchester serves great food

Lunch at Rain Bar Manchester

What Did I Read in October

I’m ashamed to say I am still on the same book from the Village series that I was reading last month – I’ve barely picked my kindle up and I need to read more to help me unwind at the end of the day.

What I watched on TV in October

I completed watching the series on Sky Witness The Truth About the Harry Quebert Story, I mentioned this last month. It was quite a slow moving who dunnit but I enjoyed it, lots of twist and turns.

I’ve been catching up on an older TV series, A Place To Call Home and watching in snatches. I find this a really relaxing storyline and series. It’s set in Australia an tells the story of a family throughout the years.

Naturally there has been wall to wall football being watched here!

I didn’t get to watch any specific films apart from dipping into the many Christmas movies being continuously shown on Sky. By the time Christmas arrives I will have possibly seen snippets of them all. These are great movies to have on in the background while I work, particularly photographing and listing stock for my Ebay shop.

Home Improvements

If you have read earlier posts about our house purchase partially funded from my retirement funds, you may know that I so love this dream house and this is the most enjoyable part of my retirement. I love spending as much time as possible inside working from home. When we moved in it had been repainted throughout and re carpeted in neutral tones. Over the three years we have lived here we have gradually made changes and put our personal stamp on it. We had wooden flooring in our previous home and loved the look and clean feel of it. But as the carpet was newly fitted when we moved in changing it immediately seemed inappropriate. This month though we thought 3 years was a respectable length of time to change it and we had wooden flooring fitted through the lounge and dining room. Due to my menopausal brain fog I have become really indecisive and struggle to choose decor etc. Thankfully Mr Fitz is able to make good choices and where once I made the main decisions I am happy for him to take the lead. He chose a dark colour which I possibly wouldn’t have chosen myself, possibly because I make ‘safe’ choices and he is happy to be out there sometimes. I am happy with his choice and love the new look.

A change of flooring can transform a room

November goals

To continue at the gym and attend yoga classes hoping this results in weight loss.

I am going to aim to eat a low carb diet 90% of the time to reverse the state of insulin resistance that I appear to be in, caused by my lovely constant companion that is the menopause. I am watching a series of videos from a nutritionist in America Dr Becky Gillaspy,  as I have a Masters Degree in Health Studies, I know that what she talks about makes sense.

 

Procrastination

Oh and yes my accounts have still not been submitted – I need to pull my finger out!

Finally I am planning to redecorate my 2nd bedroom, including a full declutter. I will post about this when the project is complete.

How is your November progressing? How you’re all moving forward, my favourite saying at the moment is from Emma Drew of Emma Drew info who is helping me with my blogging journey, and that is we should strive at all times for progress not perfection! So true. I am prone to getting lost in the minutiae of details to be perfect that I end up making no progress at all.

Let me know if you have any similar experiences to any of my recent ones? I love to hear from you and receive inspiration

Comment or email me 

Also I would love you to subscribe and share if you wish to hear more about my retirement life and having fun after 50.

Thanks for reading, it’s always appreciated

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Filed Under: Food and Eating Out, Health and Wellbeing, Home Improvements, House and Home, Lifestyle, Retirement

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I’m Elaine a Neonatal Nurse who retired from the NHS at age 55. I’m loving the 3rd age of my life – Retirement is the best job I ever had. Being married for 35 years I am lucky to have someone to share life with.

I’m a foodie who enjoys travel, football and my home.

I love to share over 50’s lifestyle tips including age appropriate beauty reviews, coping with the trials and tribulations of the Menopause, weight gain around the middle, fashion, travel and food including recipes and restaurant reviews.

I want to challenge the myth that life ends at retirement.

Feel free to get in touch earlyretirementrocks@gmail.com

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