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?

What a great thread

Most of these mentioned before but:

Regular serious exercise

Cat

Cleaner

Food shop delivered

iPad. I remember saying what would I need that for… I’m on it all the time 😳

Netflix & other paid tv (resisted till lockdown… can’t go back)

Getting two of things that are constantly in use (kitchen scissors, peeler, favourite clothes items)

Realising I could let my kids ditch homework or activities sometimes and the world wouldn’t end

Highlights

Eyebrow pencil

Moving to Scotland!

I want a magical room of invisibility where I can have two of everything important. Appliances being a major feature lol.

Being mindful of the attitude, 'if it doesn't work out, he's / it's not right for me' / 'if he / it doesn't love me then we are not compatible with each other' in my current, newish on--off relationship. Rather than chasing / being anxious or panic stricken, trying to be more accepting leaves me feeling centred and calm and as though I can handle whatever comes next. It is something many people master when young but it has taken me a long time.

Spotify. The algorithms regularly deliver new music that I love.

Getting out of mainstream teaching (a core subject... five years ago) was massive. Sorry to be blunt, but really... Fuck that shit.

Shaping a little garden and watching it grow is more pleasurable than I imagined.

Watching less television.

Decluttering

HRT
getting an Eufy
weekly recipe food delivery
leaving the corporate world-so much bullshit in my department
Getting lots of sleep
restricting snacking in between meals resulting in half stone weight loss

HRT
Becoming very strict and honest with myself about the kind of man I wanted in my life
Alcohol no more than once a week
Drinking loads of water
Yoga five times a week
In bed before 11pm on work days
Going part time BEST MOVE EVER
Allowing myself to rest when I feel tired
Park Run

Which area?

Getting divorced!! It really was a new life and I should have done it years ago. I feel I wasted at least 20 of tge 40+ years but am going to make up for it now. I'm retired now and making the most of life while I can. I would advise anyone in an unhappy, unhealthy relationship to get out sooner rather than later, life is too short.

Mounjaro I can’t not put in words the difference I feel and now eat well

Raising my bar (which has kept me single but that’s ok)

Great thread I'm glad it's back ❤️... I also have a few of things in use in the kitchen, eg several pairs of scissors and several peelers and garlic crushers.

For the dc, buying about 4 de tangle brushes so we can almost always put our hands on one!
One lives in the car.

Loads of hair bands.

Going away tooth brushes that cost a pound and can be chucked.
Our cat 😻😻🐈 omg how did we live without her. She's amazing.

Citalopram
Automatic car (less pain with neck/shoulder issues)
WFH mainly instead of 2 hour drive to work and 2 hour drive home

And it couldn't have happened sooner, obviously, but my children getting older and more independent, particularly now my DD1 can drive, has made life as a single parent much easier.

d-mannose. Take it every day several times a day and uti symptoms are gone or remain very low level.

Polyamoury

Mounjaro

3 day work week

Going into the office which is a ten minute walk away.

Pillow spray

Charcuterie for dinner

Laser hair removal

Magnesium 550mg

Weight lifting

Much less alcohol

Quality friendships

Being able to put my phone down and read books again.

Bought a caravan right by the sea. Now my city kids get to run free around the sand dunes all summer and I get fresh sea air as much as possible, it's blissful. It lifts my mood, improves my fitness, and means we spend proper family time together rather than everyone in their own rooms at home. I waited about 10 years to do this and wish I had done it sooner!

On a more day to day basis, I started weight lifting, and although I'm not lifting heavy weights, my shape has changed a lot in 6 months and I feel stronger

HRT
Gave up alcohol for a year now drink much less
Eating more protein
Rebel Finance School
Thermomix
Sam Bunting face stuff

Giving up alcohol

Vitamin D

Cold water swimming

Also, really good kitchen scissors, I use them for everything

Weight loss surgery - 6st gone forever. Healthy BMI, whole new wardrobe.

Adult braces
Quitting Facebook

I would love to quit alcohol

Yoga after running is my fave, 10 minutes post run stretch is ideal and stops me getting injured. Loads of 10 minutes post run vids on you tube.