Tips for a simple easy life

[emerald226]

Your tips please

Learn that OK is plenty good enough.

Almost all my stress was cause by expectations, of life, myself and others, that were too high or unrealistic.

Only have a relationship and children if you want them with someone who is kind, helpful, supportive with a job is stay single. Work in a job that makes you happy or can at least stand so you don't have to be financially reliant on anyone so you never have guilt for borrowing or stress for going without. Eat well and sleep well so you stay as well as you can and drink lots of water as it's just the best thing to feel better sometimes. Lay off sugar as much as possible. Only be friends with people who are not negative, scroungers or horrible. Cut out those who are, don't worry about offending people, do what's right for you. If you have toxic family only see then when you really have to and when you do be as boring and as quiet as possible so they want to see you less(works trust me). Surround yourself with as much positivity as possible,avoid the news or sad stories and social media as much as you can. Only watch funny or educational programs. All equals to a relatively stress free life and it took me a long time to realise I had to live this way to be happy but I've managed it in the end. Oh and chocolate sometimes helps to 😁

Limit gifts, both giving and receiving.

Delete any app or game that rewards you for logging in every day.

No pets.

Definitely declutter! This is a work in progress for us ever since we downsized but every time I take more bags of stuff to the charity shop, I feel just that little bit freer. Try to get your storage organised, especially if you’re in a newer house as they just don’t have much I find! And lists! I love lists! They really helped me to feel more in control during lockdown & definitely simplify my life. I found listing what was in the freezer really helpful & simplified my shopping. I do a meal plan for the week ahead on a Sunday usually. We don’t always stick to it but it’s helpful & also I avoid top up shops during the week if I ensure we have everything for the recipes I have picked.

Internet supermarket shop.

Slow cooker/air fryer/batch cooking...

An expectation that kids get themselves dressed, bring dirty clothes to a centralised point, tidy up when asked, do simple jobs like emptying or loading the dishwasher.

A peristent, mental note to self that you don't have to do 100% of things to 100% of your ability 100% of the time. Good enough is good enough.

Oh, and if you haven't decluttered for a while, take a week off work and hire a skip. I have done that twice in the last 15 years. It is cathartic.

Trying again

For me personally it was important to have friends, people I could see for a cuppa or they came to me for a cuppa and a chat etc. I too ended up as a single mother to two children when I thought we were going to be a lovely, happy family of four. It didn’t turn out that way and it took a long time to come to terms with it even though I sometimes hated my ex it doesn’t stop the hurt. I’ve been completely man free for at least six years now and I just don’t have the want or need to be in a relationship. Maybe it’s just down to each person’s personality but my biggest factor is that I never want to have sex again (highly sexed ex so I love a sex free life now), zero desire for it. Maybe I need a gay male friend rather than a partner🤔

According to youtube's most popular:

Quit dairy.
Be independently wealthy.
Stop being poor.
Do yoga.
Make all meals into a smoothie.
Become a minimalist and post pictures of your white rooms on social media.
Buy a trending pet.
Practice mindfulness and clean living (trademark)

Sorted!

comparison is the thief of joy

Stop longing for things you can never have.
stay single.
stop giving a shit about what others might think.
stop saying ‘yes’ to things you really want to say ‘no’ too.
keep fit.
Eat a balanced diet.
Throw away the scales 🤣
Stop doing things for people that don’t return the favour.
Always be yourself.

Invest hard, invest early

Reject social media, particularly FB and Insta - soooo much time wasted plus you end up competing your drudgery to someone else’s showreel

grow fruit and vegetables - something rather satisfying about picking your dinner from your garden

remember a job is just a job and they’d most likely replace you in 5 minutes if you died - don’t waste your life if you hate it - find something else to do

bake - relaxing (particularly if doing something where you need to rub butter and flour together) plus yummy cake at the end

never underestimate the power of a good book

reduce alcohol, walk/run

smell your child’s hair - very soothing

Mindfulness and meditation.and not the stigmatized ommmm people pretend it is to belittle it.but true learning how to sit l and be still.and how to not change the shit but be able to cope with it with the techniques.
Find your peace.dont care whether it's trendy or what others think of it.
Be body confident no matter your size shape age.
Don't let social media fool you.peiple post only what they wanr/allow/paid to show you.
Feel loved
Feel supported
Love to cook.
Enjoy just sitting not needing to do.
You need money for all this to be possible so it's a f* joke right now for so many people, sorry!
If I can and want a lie in do it.theres some great pedastiol early risers like to be on.
Give yourself compassion.try to give it others.
If you can have a few days out often where you simply do you.no obligations.
If you have family love them.
Get them to help.
Teach them good meals and cooking from the earliest age.
Talk.
Know people care

Loads of good advice & experiences shared.

Build small moments of self appreciation into your life & cut out making work for yourself.

For me, that’s a commitment to buying good quality fresh foods as routine, never ever shop without a list & always check out the bargain/sell by today counter chiller to stretch what I have for quality bargains. The exception to that rule is fresh fish close to sell by date as the quality nose dives so it is a waste rather than a bargain. Eating well really matters to me, it’s tangible form of self appreciation.

Only buy or shop for something that you need & use promptly, that applies to foods, books, kitchen stuff, clothes - eat it today or next few days, will I read it next? will I wear it within a week? - or something I have already got rid of or will swap out very soon e.g. winter boots or coat.

Such a cliche, but decide on a neutral base colour for clothes, e.g. black or navy, for workwear, coats, jumpers etc so everything goes together reasonably well.

Have an everyday single dinner plate, bowl, side plate, mug, glass & set of cutlery for each person in the house. Don’t keep loads of crockery & cutlery in nearby cupboards in the kitchen as it gets used without thinking, thereby creating a stack of washing up to be done every day. Having one each of everyday item that is washed up by hand & used, rinse & repeat, throughout the day avoids the physical & mental load of servicing the clutter. My only exception is a open jar of cheap teaspoons on the kitchen counter to be used for stirring, tasting, spreading, puddings etc.

Total crap compared to others posts sorry

Each day, list just three things you have to get done - you'll go through them easily and feel good, rather than worrying about all the things you haven't done on a much longer list.

Declutter

Get shopping delivered

Be organised

Don't have kids

Say no

Surround yourself with people who make you feel good. Cut out people who are negative

Don't feel guilty about saying no.

Don't waste your time on negative people. As people say "life is too short " yeah to spend it with dicks.

Allow argumentative people to have the last word and 'win'. Doesn't make any real dìfference but means you can stop engaging with them.

i could have wrote this word for word. Very true

I posted this on a similar thread...

Outer life -
Becoming financially independent,
Living in a nice place in a nice area,
Supportive family/friends,

Inner life -
Having clear boundaries, prioritising serenity, avoiding drama.
Living a simple life with integrity and self reliance.
Finding a sense of purpose and contribution to society,
Gratitude for what you have, and acceptance of things you cannot change.

Don’t put yourself down, these things are important too

Another one has occurred to me, which I do quite regularly. If throwing some money at a problem will solve it, then just get your purse out now.

The phrase I remember is, "sometimes the easiest way to pay for something is with money."

I realise not everyone will be realistically able to do that. But if you can, and it won't break the bank, then just do it.

I've used the tip myself this afternoon. I was worrying about something relating to the holiday I'm going on next Sunday. It was something money could fix. So I spent the money, and now I can enjoy the build up to my trip, without this thing hanging over my head.

Following! What a great thread!