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Original poster

Small thing that has improved your day to day life

64 replies

PositivePenny · 02/08/2022 02:52

I’m looking for ideas on how to improve my day to day life. Although there is nothing particularly wrong at the moment, if anything I’ve entered the phase where life is pretty good (established career, dc grown up, no major worries). I feel like I can improve still; I don’t eat particularly well, very rarely exercise, house could be more organised and cleaner, I could take better care of myself - there’s always something that could be better!

What small thing do you do that just makes you feel like you have your life together or makes you happy when you’ve done it?

OP posts:
netflixandnaps · 02/08/2022 02:52

Meditate!!!!

PrincessFluffyPants · 02/08/2022 02:57

I trained myself (slowly!) to wake up half an hour earlier. It gives me a little bit of extra time to wash hair/load dishwasher/clean kitchen/self care/whatever before I go to work. Returning home to a clean, fresh smelling kitchen is a real boost, as is sometimes getting a compliment from a work colleague because I "look nice today".

Original poster
PositivePenny · 02/08/2022 02:58

netflixandnaps Ooo I’ve never thought of meditating! Is there an app or anything that you’d recommend? I’m not sure how to even start but I do like that idea.

OP posts:
TowerStork · 02/08/2022 03:12

@PrincessFluffyPants this is a good idea. For me, getting up earlier is all about training yourself to go to sleep earlier the night before but it makes a huge difference.

Theoldwoman · 02/08/2022 03:14

Meditate (calm app)
Walk the dog
Started getting Hello Fresh during Covid and now eat so much better
Podcasts

Chillywilly93 · 02/08/2022 03:55

I like writing down my thoughts for the day and messaging someone I haven't spoken to for a while

sashh · 02/08/2022 04:31

Watching the wildlife.

I'm on a council estate in Wolverhampton so you wouldn't think there was much wildlife but you'd be wrong.

The tree at the front is at least partially occupied by two squirrels, I call them Squiz and Squizette.

Also at the front the Magpies who are teaching their fledglings how to Magpie, and telling them off when they get things wrong.

I quite often see a fox just after it has got light and sometimes I see a couple of others.

At the back I get Hedgehogs.

I'm not actually doing anything but they give me a feeling pf peace and Squizette has stopped running away when I throw the odd nut out.

Lightning020 · 02/08/2022 04:54

Keeping my friendship small.

Staying away from drama and stress.

FiddleMyFig · 02/08/2022 06:08

Having good boundaries.

PermanentTemporary · 02/08/2022 06:11

Joining a walking group. We did a long bluebell walk in 2019 that I will never forget. Before I joined, ten miles was a BIG walk to me, now it's completely normal and I often do 12-15 miles.

anotherscroller · 02/08/2022 06:15

Clearing up while you cook. Making sure washing up after the meal is just putting the plates in the dishwasher and washing the pans the food was in,

DogsAndGin · 02/08/2022 06:24

A completely clean kitchen after every meal.
Gousto boxes.
Smol laundry and dishwasher tabs.
Having a ruthless declutter - not just once a year, but as an attitude all the time.

ChristinePerfect · 02/08/2022 06:40

I have a magnetic planner on the front of the fridge and write my weekly meal plan on it. Actually thinking up the meal plan is one of my least favourite tasks but it's definitely saved me money and helped me to lose weight.
I bought a decent set of kitchen knives and some ProCook pans, plus some measuring spoons and cups, preparing and cooking is that bit easier now.
If I'm doing something with a lot of prep then I make sure to put some music on too.

Since changing my diet and losing weight I feel so much better physically and mentally, so the small changes in the kitchen have lead to much bigger changes overall. I've got heaps more energy, and get up earlier to make a head start on things so that has a knock-on effect for the rest of the day.

LoveInNashville · 02/08/2022 06:40

I’d say meditating as well, it’s been really good for my mental health and just dealing with life, realising that not every worry or thought needs to be given attention.

Arnaquer · 02/08/2022 06:47

An air fryer

carefullycourageous · 02/08/2022 06:51

Once you get to the comfortable stage of life I think the best thing is to do something for someone else - any kind of volunteering - as helping others is shown to have a very large impact on feeling good about yourself and life in general. It can lead to new skills, new friendships, new interests but also a sense of connectedness which can be hard to find once we are in our little family/home bubbles.

misskatamari · 02/08/2022 06:51

I journal and meditate which has helped me immensely over the last year. I use a technique called journalspeak (Nicole Sachs' method, she's got a great podcast), and for meditation I love insight timer. It's free and you can literally find a meditation for however you feel/what you want at the time. So guided, visualisations, just music/sounds. Brilliant app.

Doing Pilates has helped me a lot too. When I practice weekly I feel so much stronger.

And listening to myself, and meeting myself with compassion. It's okay to rest, it's okay to muddle along sometimes. I've gotten lots better at not beating myself up for things and my inner critic has dialled down a lot

mrpopperspenguinbiscuits · 02/08/2022 07:16

I need this thread. I’m trying to do my “3 things I’m grateful for” each day but need more suggestions. Keep them coming!

Sammysquiz · 02/08/2022 07:19

@sashh we have a squirrel called Squiz too! It’s developed into Sammy Squiz, and that’s what my username is from 😆

my Squiz is yet to find his Squizette though!

OP - mine is to hit 8,000 steps a day. I find it more manageable than the traditional 10,000.

goldfinchonthelawn · 02/08/2022 07:24

5 minute room-rescues (flylady.) To stop the house getting disorganised you set a timer for five minutes and tidy one room. It is astonishing how much better a room looks in just five minutes: coats, bags shoes all put away, old papers chucked out, stray cups in dishwasher or sink, quick wipe of surfaces. It's very satisfying to see that your home looks well cared for and it only took you five mins. Do it in each room of the house. 5 mins in the bathroom means taps and mirrors sparkle, towels are changed, empty bottles and tubes chucked out, loo given a quick scrub. It doesn't replace a proper clean but it's a brilliant mid-week system.

My other one is a morning ritual: brew fresh coffee, put out bird seed, put on piano music if I want calm or rock music if I want energy, and sip coffee while watching the birds for 10 minutes. Lovely start to the day.

glamourousindierockandroll · 02/08/2022 07:27

I love getting up at 5am. Struggling at the moment because my diet is shit which makes me lethargic, but being downstairs for some peace and quiet with a coffee before the kids wake up is just lovely.

BarrelOfOtters2 · 02/08/2022 07:30

I love that early bit of the day. It helps so much that bitof time to myself. I used to walk for 40 minutes every morning. A nice route. Going back to that would be a big benefit for me.

MayMi · 02/08/2022 07:34

I wash the dishes before I leave the house and tidy/clean before I go to bed. It's really nice to have things fresh and ready the next day.

dalisdrippingclock · 02/08/2022 07:38

misskatamari · 02/08/2022 06:51

I journal and meditate which has helped me immensely over the last year. I use a technique called journalspeak (Nicole Sachs' method, she's got a great podcast), and for meditation I love insight timer. It's free and you can literally find a meditation for however you feel/what you want at the time. So guided, visualisations, just music/sounds. Brilliant app.

Doing Pilates has helped me a lot too. When I practice weekly I feel so much stronger.

And listening to myself, and meeting myself with compassion. It's okay to rest, it's okay to muddle along sometimes. I've gotten lots better at not beating myself up for things and my inner critic has dialled down a lot

Thank you, some great suggestions here, I'm off to Google journalspeak and download Insight Timer.

lightisnotwhite · 02/08/2022 07:41

Without making it always look like a junk yard ( one weekend a month) I will leave a pile of free stuff for people to have Got rid of so much clutter that the charity shop wouldn’t be interested in.