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Original poster

How have you changed your life

93 replies

OrangeBananaFish · 31/10/2021 13:00

I'm stuck in a rut and very unhappy with life right now. I know I need some sort of overhaul, something to change, but what?

10 years ago we moved house from one area to another 50 miles away and that isn't an option right now (kids settled plus I like living here). I'm not wanting to leave DH and currently in a FT job so not sure how to go about changing things that way (not sure what I want to do and retraining really isn't an option - no money)

So I'm asking you in what ways have you changed your life for the better? From the big to the small.

Please no advice, just experiences.

OP posts:
StCharlotte · 31/10/2021 15:26

Joined the WI. It's an evening group and is quite "young" - I'm one of the older ones in my 50s.

LucentBlade · 31/10/2021 15:55

I retrained and went to University as a mature student I was 28, had been nursing for five years. It meant a move of a couple of hundred miles. I also relocated again at 31 after meeting DH and getting engaged after only six months.

Helped set up a charity, political activist. These are the big things.

Small things tried lots of different hobbies, watercolours, pottery, sports and other stuff. Tried them at all ages. My health is not so great now but I still went to an art and also a writers group for a few months. I just bought a full size retro video game machine that has all the games form my childhood on, we have a lot of fun playing on it.

needtogetfit21 · 31/10/2021 17:06

@madmomma

Followed a yearning I'd always had to build on the seed of a Christian faith. That's the biggest life-changer for me. Other pivotal changes I've made over my life are getting psychotherapy (many years ago when you could get it on the nhs), starting HRT, starting a bullet Journalling habit, and there are a couple of authors who I would say have had such a profound effect as to be life changing for me too.
Would you mind sharing the authors names please?
Moonshine5 · 31/10/2021 17:09

What great ideas, thanks everyone

BurnedToast · 31/10/2021 17:18

I love this thread. I've been thinking of making some changes. @GreekGod, how did you lose the weight?

LtGreggs · 31/10/2021 17:25

I'm another one that took up running. I also really take time to 'look about me' and notice stuff while I'm out & about running. I like to have a couple of worth-keeping photos from each run, and I really enjoy scrolling back through them. So, running + smartphone photography 😁

madmomma · 31/10/2021 17:47

needtogetfit21 sure: C. S. Lewis (his non-fiction), Henri Nouwen, Robert Barron, Jordan Peterson

Words · 31/10/2021 18:01

Lost weight, and now benefitting from pandemic-enforced home working which has now become the norm.

Absolutely life changing for this introvert. Stress -free working environment, working hours to suit, within reason, three hours of commuting time per day reclaimed and now used to exercise, relax, and cook healthily from scratch.

Realise how much of my life was spent in a constant state of stress, induced by packed trains and hideous open plan office working.

Words · 31/10/2021 18:04

Oh and Pilates ( reformer). Love it.

GreekGod · 31/10/2021 18:06

@BurnedToast

As the Crossfit gym opened at the end of our road (didn't have a clue what crossfit was before i walked in) , I ate what the Crossfit coaches recommended which was Paleo. So, all natural stuff, eggs, meat, veg, fruits, nuts, seeds etc anything not processed and i included diary sometimes as well. I think it worked only because i was prepared mentally to make the change and stop eating the processed rubbish i ate before. Disappeared upside to my bedroom whenever DH and kids brought take away meals - did that for 3 months and the weight just fell off. Didn't even miss it - felt good I was doing something without them all and doing something for me. Was really focussed though. Now, I have the odd binge when its that time of the month but quickly go back to paleo eating which is easy for me as I follow a mediterranean diet anyway. Have kept the weight off - no going back.

bluejelly · 31/10/2021 18:09

Meditation via the Headspace app. It's subtle, but it has improved my base level of happiness/contentment hugely.

Original poster
OrangeBananaFish · 31/10/2021 18:17

If you are not happy with your life I say do something about it or nothing will change !!!

Totally agree, just trying to figure out what hence the thread.
I saw (another) meme once that said if you are not happy where you are then move, you are not a tree.

OP posts:
Butternutsqoosh · 31/10/2021 18:19

What an inspiring thread Star

FoamyBanana · 31/10/2021 18:54

In the last 18 months I have started HRT, quit my job and lost 3 stone.

In the past when I have felt the need for change I have decluttered my entire house, redecorated everything, moved furniture, labelled all my stuff and moved furniture around etc. I get the urge for big change pretty regularly but find that I can change my environment a bit and the feeling goes off for a while. I think for me it's about feeling in control and that life isn't just happening to me.

I think if I didn't have kids I'd make much bigger changes but I'm limited by needing to stay in one place for them and for my mum who is getting older.

Original poster
OrangeBananaFish · 31/10/2021 19:16

@FoamyBanana

In the last 18 months I have started HRT, quit my job and lost 3 stone.

In the past when I have felt the need for change I have decluttered my entire house, redecorated everything, moved furniture, labelled all my stuff and moved furniture around etc. I get the urge for big change pretty regularly but find that I can change my environment a bit and the feeling goes off for a while. I think for me it's about feeling in control and that life isn't just happening to me.

I think if I didn't have kids I'd make much bigger changes but I'm limited by needing to stay in one place for them and for my mum who is getting older.

Ooh this is very interesting.

Whilst I would love to quit my job tomorrow and do something completely different I'm just not sure what and wonder if its just that its a grass is greener type thing. Also with no recent experience doing anything other than office work I'd need to retrain, but I have no money for that nor would I get any help with that as A. I already have a job so the government don't need to help me get back into work and B. I already have a degree (with a student loan) so Uni isn't an option.

However, the declutter idea is appealing. We have so much rubbish in our house. I suppose its just figuring out what to do with all the stuff. Sell it, donate it, chuck it plus actually doing it. There's only so many times I want to go to the same household recycling or charity shop within a period of time.

OP posts:
sociallydistained · 31/10/2021 19:21

@Butternutsqoosh

What an inspiring thread Star
I agree!
needtogetfit21 · 31/10/2021 19:59

@madmomma

needtogetfit21 sure: C. S. Lewis (his non-fiction), Henri Nouwen, Robert Barron, Jordan Peterson
Thanks'
Meduse · 31/10/2021 20:23

I read “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin-life changing!!

Thecurtainsofdestiny · 31/10/2021 21:50

Pilates.

Accepted that I am not solely responsible for the happiness of other adults.

Duolingo

Jae132l · 31/10/2021 22:21

Started a masters degree in a subject which really interested me. Started reading lots of self development books and listening to motivational youtube speakers. Search for Tony Robbins - best person to seek advice from on finding your passions in life

AnaViaSalamanca · 31/10/2021 22:28

Got back to a meditation habit of 10min a day

Religiously took supplements and tried many different ones to find what works for me

Read a couple of life changing books

Set quarterly goals and monthly themes/challenges to make life fun (eg Sept was about finding a good scented candle, October was about including 30 different vegetables in my diet, Nov is about doing 20 workouts, etc)

Limited social media use - deleted twitter altogether

Phased out toxic friends/acquaintances and frenemies out. Pandemic has really helped with this actually

needtogetfit21 · 31/10/2021 23:01

@Thecurtainsofdestiny

Pilates.

Accepted that I am not solely responsible for the happiness of other adults.

Duolingo

Can I ask how you started with Pilates? As in how frequently please. I love it but can only attend one 1hr class a week. Today I managed a 10 min YouTube video but it was still a bit stressful with young dc. I feel like one class a week is just not going to benefit so I don't bother with it but I could really do with building core strength
spotcheck · 31/10/2021 23:04

@Bathtoy

I quit my job and emigrated.
Ooooooo 💐
Name7557 · 01/11/2021 00:15

Watching for inspiration.

After 15 years in the corporate world I am beginning to resent it. Just got a big pay rise and it doesn’t feel worth it and actually feel trapped by it (how else would I earn even close to that?) and I too fell into my career and it’s all I’ve ever known.

Good luck op. It’s really not easy to get out of a rut!

SkiingIsHeaven · 01/11/2021 01:01

Stopped worrying about what the school mum's thought of me and stopped being upset for being left out of get togethers that they were having.

So much happier now.