Tips for a simple easy life

[emerald226]

Your tips please

Hope this image shares... I learnt this the hard way but so much better well-being now

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"you coward, you are deliberately not getting out there to see what is there".

Well I think that's socialisation talking, the message we all get all the time that we should be coupled up. In fact being single is a positive choice and a free choice, and you can change your mind about it if you want to – it's not cowardice, but listening to yourself and what you want.

Also have a look at OLD. OMG. I haven't been on any dates. Just seeing what was out there was enough to reassure me I am happier single. OK Mr Perfect might be out there but I know it's highly unlikely I'd find him and I have too much else on my plate to spend my life searching. If I suddenly fall in love with a wonderful man, well then that's what happens (he's still not moving in) but I'm not a coward for not looking! Nor are you.

Don't waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you're ahead, sometimes
you're behind…the race is long, and in the end, it's only with
yourself.… but most of all, wear Sunscreen 🤓

Don't do anything twice that you only need to do once. For example:

• Prepping vegetables for dinner? Do them all while you are stood up in the kitchen, so all you need to do is cook them at the appropriate time.

• Going from one room to another or upstairs? Quick glance around, have you got anything that needs to be taken to the other room; and similarly, when you come back, is there anything you need to bring.

• Buying a card for a relative's birthday? Buy cards for the next three birthdays after that. And if your DH is poor at remembering to buy cards, consider whether he'll remember or buy those yourself too - some battles are not worth fighting. (Cf. a PP who said don't argue about small stuff)

• Batch cook. You don't have to feed the 5,000 but consider making a second meal's worth and freezing that.

Be picky with your clothes, friends and time

Use a journal /filofax type thing - i.e. have everything in one place (diary, calendar, to do lists, important info, plans, thoughts and ideas, and umpteen other things). Regularly getting all that stuff out of your head and onto paper is very liberating and makes you more relaxed and clear-headed.

Yes this is the way to make sure your house is clean and it doesn’t get on top of you!
Monday: kitchen and white vinegar taps/sinks
Tuesday: sweep, mop and hoover
Wednesday: clean bathrooms
Thursday: Kitchen again
Friday: Bedrooms/Offices
Saturdays: Bathroom again + dusting
Sunday: change sheets + hoover

Laundry 3x per week
Washing up and tidying in the kitchen daily

Don’t be dependent on anything: not other people’s views and approval of you and stay clear of unhealthy habits (eg smoking, binge drinking) that costs money and only harm you. Find healthy coping mechanisms.

Practice minimalism and don’t live above your means.

Give toxic people a one way ticket out of your life and protect your energy and your time.

I love this

For me personally, not having children gives me a simple life.
I know most mothers wouldn't trade their families for my simplicity! But I enjoy not having to:

• buy and live with as much 'stuff'
• deal with the logistics (and often politics) of childcare and schooling
• rush around to after school activities and kids' birthday parties
• do as much cooking (and likely wasting food), washing, ironing and cleaning
• rely on others for help - rather, I'm pretty self-sufficient in my own life

Like I say, it's not for everyone, but it certainly brings me a lot of inner peace.

Small house, small mortgage, part time job.

Don't get sucked into thinking there is some kind of "magical" cure or occurence which will likely happen to you which will shortcut the day to day challenges of life - for example the lottery or gambling in general. Life is a marathon not a sprint. I have to regularly stop myself daydreaming about paying off my mortgage early as some kind of fantasy of not having to get up and go to work everyday, even tho I know on some level the routine of work is infact good for me (body and soul) even if it does not feel like that every day.

I actually find life simpler as a couple after being long term single and running a home on my own up until 34yo.

It's so much easier to share the financial, practical and mental load of bills and home improvements and maintenance.

But I understand why it may not be the case for some couples.

Plan rest into your life - I am not available on Sundays, I don’t have plans, I am resting.

Don't bite off more than you can chew - this applies to taking on too much responsibility, making too many plans, buying too-expensive things.

Be ruthlessly organised with your time, but timetable in downtime & funtime and protect this ruthlessly.

Never be in significant relationships with partners with champagne tastes and beer money wages or total tight wads ,who earn well

Don't iron, don't blow dry/straighten your hair, wear less make up, do less cleaning

Get things done when you get them rather than procrastinate (though I'm terrible at this)

Don't make a martyr of yourself

Don't make unnecessary work for yourself

Lower your standards in things like housekeeping

Ask for and accept help

God yes make friends with your face without make-up, and then you're free to go out like that without a care in the world. I enjoy make-up but bollocks to having to put it in every time I go out.

Brilliant

planning ahead, organising! Never ever be scared of saying no! Don’t be a people pleaser, listen to music! And keep well away from negative people

Keep your brain switched on. Better yet, stay single.

Every other thread on Mumsnet begs the question 'Why on earth did you have sex, get in relationship, get married, get pregnant, have a child, no, two, wait, three children with this man?'

Critical thinking, self-reliance and strong boundaries are your greatest assets.

These are fantastic. Practical and profound.

Have a lifestyle you can easily afford, and some money to throw at unexpected problems
Live centrally in walking/biking distance to school/shops/job
Have a cleaner
Keep a calendar and plan ahead to avoid last minute stress
Buy less stuff and go for good quality

Buy clothes that don’t need ironing. I get by without needing to iron too much by drying things on hangers or giving stuff a good shake & folding*
*Kids are grown up. Neither of us works in an office.