1. Check Clothes

Having a full length mirror in the house is beyond helpful. It gives you a view of your entire outfit, so you can easily see if everything is in place. Make sure that there’s no animal fur or dust bunnies stuck to your clothes. Check to make sure there are no food stains or drops of toothpaste on you. It sounds obvious, but one of the most important things to do before you leave the house is to give yourself a quick once-over.

2. Check Phone and Email

There could be a last minute change of plans that you don’t know about. Before you leave the house, make sure that your boss didn’t contact you to say that the meeting was postponed. In this age of technology, information can be relayed instantly, and most take advantage of that. It doesn’t take long to check your messages, so there’s no reason to avoid doing so.

3. Check Bag

You know what you’ll need throughout the day, so make sure that you have it. If you’ve been switching your pocketbooks lately, it’s easy to leave your items in the wrong bag. Before you step out the door, make a mental checklist of all of your important possessions. As long as you have them all, you’re good to go.

4. Check Electronics

You don’t want your home to burn down while you’re away, so make sure that the oven is off. If you used a hair straightener or blow dryer, make sure that they’re unplugged. While you’re at it, turn off any lights in the house, unless someone else is home. You don’t want to leave them in the dark.

5. Check Face

If you’re wearing foundation, make sure that it’s rubbed in properly. You don’t want to leave streaks on your face or neck. If you just ate, check those pearly whites to make sure that nothing is sticking in between them. This is a simple precaution to take, just like when you checked your clothes. If everything’s good, then you’re ready to go.

6. Check Doors

Before you leave the house, lock all doors and windows. You wouldn’t want a thief to take off with all of your jewelry, would you? Checking your locks takes a few seconds, but it can save you a lifetime of trouble. Why risk it?

7. Check on Pets

If you have any pets, make sure that their water dish is full. Give them any food they need and let them go to the bathroom, if you’re going to be gone for a while. They’re going to miss you while you’re gone, so you should at least make sure that they have everything that they need. You wouldn't want to make them sad.

You should never leave your house without checking off all of the items listed above. If you skip one, it could end in disaster. What else do you always do before leaving for the day?