What improved your quality of life, so much, you wish you did it sooner?

[piddocktrumperiness]

For me it's a few things:
-Learning what past trauma is and how it plays out in relationships
-Learn to say no to things and people and not feel bad about it
-Realising no one really notices or cares what I do or look like; felt liberated to not always wear lots of makeup, dress in a new outfit or have my roots done, or eat out alone, or do anything alone.
-Not watching much current tv and picking up a book instead
-Listening to James O' Brien on LBC ( I know he's not everyone's cup of tea- but I learned alot)
-Waking up v early to have some me time. This was hard as I was a night owl for many years.
-Declutter and only buy when I need something. To be honest this started as I had to downsize to an empty flat after my divorce and am on not much money but it has helped with not worrying about possessions and all the cleaning involved.
-Divorce my ex husband- biggest impact haha

What improved yours?

Dermal fillers.
Self employment.
Staying away from relationships. Single rocks as you can do your own thing.

Quitting alcohol altogether.
Microdiscectomy

Learning to rock climb. More than just a sport, exercise or hobby.

Minimalism

uncomortablydumb53 - I have 2 darling Westies “
Very inspirational thread.

No alcohol. 16 years now. Gives me more time, money, headspace, keeps my weight in check and healthy.

Strength training. I do a whole load of different things - kettlebells, functional fitness, bouldering, Caroline Girvan. Love it all. I’m mid 40’s and fitter than I’ve ever been and it feels great.

Pets - I have a little dog and a cat. They make me laugh multiple time a day every day.

I also left a job which was in a really toxic environment. I was there two years. It was a vipers nest and they tried to convince me it was a vipers nest everywhere. I left and I’ve never worked anywhere like it before or since. I should have left within the first few days of being there.

A hotbin composter. All food waste goes in it (even meat). No more stinky bins and lovely compost for the garden.

Leaving teaching. It never really suited me, was very stressful, and the people I worked with were absolute arseholes. Now I have a lovely part time job and my colleagues are mainly kind and supportive.
Doing yoga daily - helps both my physical and mental health.
Moving out of a big town and into a small village.
What a great idea for a thread OP. Love reading everyone's replies, some very useful suggestions.

How do they work and where do I get one?

And getting a king size bed and separate duvets. My Dh used to annoy me so much (breathing, twitching) , now it’s like I’m miles away in my own separate bed. My quality of sleep has improved 100%.

Leaving teaching.
Taking up tap dancing!

This a million times! We have a king size and separate duvets and it's bliss!

Giving up alcohol - only four and a half months in but I can't imagine how I managed everything on the wine o clock schedule I was on.

Consciously moving away from all the people in my life who took from me rather than gave.

Divorce!

Starting to declutter.

I think the next big move for me will be to give up my phone. I am addicted to it and it doesn't serve me well.

Leaving exP and having my own flat and being in control of my own life and decisions! Still not over the excitement and sense of freedom, even though I’m a single mum and pretty busy and tied down, just being able to do stuff without having to have an argument with a PA twat about every little thing is amazing.

Also standing up to certain family members and not taking their manipulative shit any more, especially my mum. Somehow I just got to the end of my rope with people dicking me about and gave up on trying to keep everyone happy, and now I can make me and my DC the main focus.

Gave up smoking and getting drunk, that was a long time ago now but never being drunk is brilliant. I only ever have one alcoholic drink at any given time/occasion, and I’m happy without. I never have a hangover or worry about what I said. I don’t even think I was an alcoholic, just drank too much because other people did and I always hated feeling drunk.

and for practical things, handheld mini hoover in the kitchen, duac acne cream.

To pick a recent one: Hiring a carpet cleaner and steam-cleaning my carpets and upholstery. The house smells so fresh and DD and I are calmer, happier and inspired to keep cleaning and improving our home!

@Libertybear80 is there a particular 7 minute routine you do please?

5 years of working nights and then I took another job which was on days .. I can't believe how much spare time I seem to have even tho I'm actually working more hours .

Love this thread. I've been meaning to get a hot compost bin but I worry it's another thing I need to keep an eye on.
Love my allotment. Had it 5 years and occasionally I go off it but this year I'm enjoying it again.
Really wish I could afford to go part time. Peri with young kids full time shift working and I feel I'm in the ground already

Peloton

As many have said, great thread! Normally when I see a thread has 10 plus pages, I get bored after first couple, but have genuinely really enjoyed reading these. Some are very inspiring

Mine would be:

Air con in the bedroom
Ice roller for de puffing, headaches and mosquito bites. Multi purpose!
Joining friend app
Moving to the countryside
Reducing alcohol consumption
King sized bed

Getting a rescue dog (nearly 7 weeks ago, so still new) and having to walk twice a day. Best thing ever for my MH while looking after a sick DD.
Decluttering my house. Started about 4 years ago, still ongoing, so uplifting, much clearer mind.
Deleting 'friends' off SM accounts.

@SugarandLime what is friend app please?

@LilythePunk It's basically just an insulated composting bin but because it gets so hot it composts v fast, and it's rodent proof so you can safely put any kind of food in it. V minimal effort needed too, just need to get the balance right between food waste/cardboard etc and give it a stir every so often to get the oxygen moving as if it turns to ananaerobic composting it gets v smelly.

They're not cheap but we've had ours for five years now and use it every day. https://www.hotbincomposting.com/

Thank you!

Free stuff:

• Walking or jogging outside in the fresh air


• Doing a plank every day for a minute and then a side plank on each side for about 50 secs (been doing it for about 6 weeks now and all my back niggles have gone and I have a waist)


• Menstrual cup


• Neoprene lined wellies


• a dog


• Kri Kri fat free greek yoghurt


• a quooker tap - I love it


• linseeds - keeps you regular


• Using a poo stool - gross but true - I use the ikea toilet training step. I think I saw an item on TV years ago