What is a cheap/ simple/ uncomplicated habit (or thing) that you started following (or bought) that dramatically changed your life for the better...

[Bookbooks]

That's it really.
Same if you had the same effect with abandoning a habit or a thing.
Looking for inspiration.

Intermittent fasting. Specifically OMAD. One meal a day .....which for me is always a lovely dinner. Only practiced on week days so DC is none the wiser. And we eat normally together at weekends. I feel much less sluggish on work days not having had stodgy breakfast or lunch. More mentally agile. Apparently this is a well known side effect. Instead I stick to the coffees and herbal teas. I’m totally used to it now. And it cuts out mindless snacking. Also has helped me shed my menopausal spread which had been getting worse. I’ve also saved a shedload of cash on workday lunches and now only eat lunch if I’m going out for planned lunch with a colleague so it’s a treat instead of an everyday thing.
Getting a gousto subscription also revived my joy of cooking and has introduced us as a family to some lovely new recipes.

I kind of half make it so the cover is half folded back so air can circulate, but sheets straightened and pillows plumped.

Took up free- motion machine embroidery. I can disappear into a project for hours. Frees my mind, relaxes me and brings enormous pleasure. Have met like-minded people through doing it.

My DH ruthlessly enforced, with agreement, all shoes and coats off at the porch and hung up. Teens and I do it automatically now. It makes the house much tidier.

@Buttalapasta it is good. I’ve got dumbbells but equally you can use things around the home eg can of tomatoes, bottles of water etc. I didn’t use anything to start with but now have 5kg weights.
The food part of it is very compatible with family life - you are given an online recipe collection but most are familiar. It’s mostly to do with building muscle by upping protein and so that you feel full, also upping vegetable intake and reducing carbs. If you sign up for her weekly newsletter or follow on Instagram there will be a discount code published soon.

Such a useful thread OP, thank you.

But for those making the bed as soon as they get up, that's really unhygienic - let it air for at least half an hour!

• Eating oats for breakfast, any form. It was the only common denominator between all relatively healthy over 90 year olds in a National care/nursing home questionnaire.
• Facebook market place. If I need something..chair, baby items, pet stuff i check there first 9/10 it’s there and 2/3 cheaper! I recently had 2 ikea items I needed got them both brand new! from local sellers on Facebook market place saved £197 on shop cost and units are already built!!!! I also sell or offer free things I’m getting rid of.
• De clutter once a month. At least 3 items I don’t need or want.
• Sunday night week coming plan, it’s changed our productivity as a family.

Why gluten free though? Absolutely no benefit whatsoever unless you are gluten intolerant

Electric blanket (I suffer with cold extremities)

Heated throw to take with me when on UK holidays/visiting family who don't believe in heating! I put it on the bed under the duvet. Bliss. No longer have to go to bed in my woolly hat because it's 11 degrees.

Apple Watch - love it, motivates me to move more. Also just very useful to track my cycle rides (which I'm working on doing more of)

Exercise bike in my office, try to do even just 15 mins a day between meetings

600 thread cotton bedding. Feels amazing. Lasts really well.

Silk eye mask.

I wanted panelled walls. I couldn’t afford to pay someone to panel them. I still wanted panelled walls. I watched 16 YouTube videos and got everything I needed from BNQ, Facebook market place and pound shops. Cost £90 all in including paint. (15ft wall) I did it! just needs sanding and painting now
not only have I done it but I feel like I can do other stuff too!

My inversion table, had it 10 years and only use as a last resort, but it can be the difference between being mobile, or laid up, unable to move and in agony.

Thinking of Evening Me (knackered and post work) whilst Morning Me is still sparking with energy. So doing things like clearing the kitchen sides, leaving the kettle filled and a mug with a tea bag in for when I get in, putting electric blanket and lamp on a timer so bedroom is welcoming, hanging up fresh pyjamas ready to put on straight after a shower - anything that cuts down any thinking or planning that Evening Me needs to do, while Morning Me has the energy and headspace to think of it!

Two things. A notebook with lists.

And a timer. I am a procrastinator-have been all my life. If I have stuff to do now, I do it in strict 20 minute blocks. 20 minutes-then stop and do something else. Another 20 minutes. Then something else (or back to the original thing.) Obviously this doesn't work for everything. But it does for most things. Try it!

@Houseplantmad Thank you!

Best yet, I'm doing that. 😀

Like Vroom, only in reverse.

Evening me thinks of morning me, so everything set up the night before.

Dishwasher emptied, lunch made and in the fridge ready to grab in the morning.

Breakfast set up, bowling etc ready.

It makes my mornings much less stressful and means I don't grab junk to eat because I'm in a hurry.

Overnight oats.. I’m not good in the morning, so prepping breakfast the night before means I’m more likely to eat something healthy.
Returning to studying (currently part time and online, but it feels really good to be using my brain again).

Really great thread, thank you! Some days I feel so out of control but seeing how simple some of these are is great. I'm a slave to my phone and my children are having a worse childhood because of it!

1. Taking vitamin d everyday
2. Getting and dog. Walkies at least one hour everyday - clears my head
3. Seriously cutting down on sugar and eating swedish knäckebröd (ikea) instead of white bread - no sugar cravings and about a stone combined with dog walking

Handbag check the night before: wallet, car keys, door keys, work pass, work keys, diary.

Post: open it, read it, pay it, file it or bin it, as soon as it arrives or as soon as I get in.

Sleep: 10mg of amitryptiline. It also is an anti-histamine so prevents my huge, itchy, mosquito bites.

Joining for tips

Facejoy is the one I'm using

4 pints of fresh cold water spaced throughout the day, everyday. Since January 1st - feel so much better.

@Kate0902900908
well done ! I love Batman standing guard !

for me I’ve been trying to eat oats for breakfast every day
and I have started on vit d, magnesium, vit b complex , and vit c .. early days but trying to be more conscious health wise

some great ideas in this thread

This is a great one