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?

a silly one....putting half steps outside the garden doors.....I have got trashed knees and the difference was amazing.

Getting a dog.
Starting dog agility training.
Finding comfy bras.
Sitting on a cushion in the car when driving.
Getting better sleep with a complex pillow/ cushion system around my head and neck.
It's all about the cushions!

Stopping drinking

Joining a running club

Empty inbox

Not trying to control anyone but myself

Not taking on anything that doesn't fit with my values, unless it's a compassionate thing to do, within my current energy levels

Getting married. I couldn't have done it any sooner though as DH was married to someone else, and he is 7 years younger than me so he would have been a teenager!

Having a sunroom with a heated floor. We love to lounge in there year-round. The cats love it too.

My iPhone and iPad. So easy to download audio books and Kindle books from the library.

Getting a car with heated seats and heated steering wheel and a moon roof.

Finding Jesus - makes life so good (not easier but more hopeful, joyful and deep down peace).
HRT and testosterone has been a game changer
Exercise, I've caught the bug and love my new body

A dishwasher. (And only buy kitchenalia that is dishwasher safe). I can just bring everything in and wipe work tops.

At the height of pandemic I was struggling and housework defeated me. Now I can clean up in 5 minutes and it makes my mind clear too.

Botox. My divorce. Giving no fucks.

Running. So simple, free, takes as long as you want it to, and so good for body and mind.

Leaving dh 😬
joining the gym

Leaving teaching - I am so much more respected and valued in my new job and it has done wonders for my well-being and consequently that of my family.

Moving to the countryside - I bloody love everything about it.

Getting my 2 dogs. I now prioritise walking over most other things, and adore my 2 hours a day just stomping through fields. It is the best "reset" button.

Stopping trying to work out what I did to upset family members and maintaining enough low contact to stop any comments but protecting myself from yet more hurt. I've had to accept that my Mum and Sister aren't who I want them to be, but are who they are. And that I'm never going to be part of their circle of 2. I wish I'd accepted this many many years ago, I'd have saved myself so much heartache.

Yoga
Meditation
Mindfulness

Going back to college to get a job i love.
Having a baby.
Reducing my hours at work from 39 to 28 a week.
Building a campervan.
Getting a dog.

Not watching much current tv and picking up a book instead
I like this one OP and it's something I've been telling myself I'll do for a long time now.

" realised it was the link to my back ache and plantar fasciitis"

Could you say more about this bit please @MarthanotMarfa ?

@summercotton me too!!! I became a Christian in 2019 and I'm like a different person. My life has changed immeasurably for the better, and while its not easier in some ways, it's the best thing that has ever happened to me!

Saving money. Getting an allotment. Getting a bigger tent for camping for 2 of us rather than squeezing into a 2 man, feels like luxury!

This is a lovely thread 😊

For me:

Walking outside every day, rain or shine
Giving up alcohol
Accepting that it's absolutely fine to be an introvert

Oh and on a practical note, getting a king size bed!

Another vote for getting a dog.

Pilates - it has taught me so much about using my body better. My chronic neck pain is gone. I have a disability, and Pilates has helped massively with strengthening muscles so that my mobility is less affected.

Really good espresso machine, the sort you get in cafes, only smaller. Not bean to cup - the coffee from those always tastes rank to me.

Octavia
Victoria
Thomasina
Magdalena
Francesca - not 4 syllables but a longer name
Evangeline
Gloriana
Angelica
Annabella

I had a baby, this created a whole spiral of life events that have just made my life completely night and day from what it was. Obviously the actual baby has been amazing and completely changed my life, heard all the horror stories yet mine has been the complete opposite and it couldn’t have gone better. Secondly, I hated my job so much. I am/was a teacher. Since being off on maternity it has given me a view of the world outside of teaching and made me never want to return to that rat race of daily survival. In my desperation not to return I started up my own business, it has gone from strength to strength and I’m not making double my salary (or more) every month. I’ve been able to afford so many more things I would never have been able to buy had I still been in teaching, or worse still, been surviving on statutory maternity pay (how is that even legal?!)

Moral of the story, life is too short to stay ‘stuck’ in a ‘safe’ job/house/relationship! There’s no point being ‘safe’ and miserable 😅

1. stopped sharing a bedroom with my DH. I truly don’t know why I put up with his snoring for so long.
2. dropped a day at work, started arriving/leaving on time and taking exactly 30 minutes for lunch.

How weird I have just said the same thing 🤣

She’s gorgeous! 😍 is she a Border Collie? 🐾