Page 15 | What is a cheap/ simple/ uncomplicated habit (or thing) that you started following (or bought) that dramatically changed your life for the better...

Bookbooks · 2023-04-14T17:04:25+00:00

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

Moredarkchocolateplease · 16/04/2023 21:03

@Iamnotaloggrip yes I used to eat the 85% aldi like it was going out of fashion, but now I've gone onto the 90% it's hard to go back.

I especially like eating it after I've cleaned my teeth. It's a bitter thing 🤦🏼‍♀️

And ditto. I don't like sugary biscuits or sweets or puddings. I've been known to take the dark chocolate in my handbag on holiday...

@MyFaceIsAnAONB is that Tesco own? I bought their 85% during lockdown when we had food deliveries and weren't going to aldi, it was OK ish.

Moredarkchocolateplease · 16/04/2023 21:05

@AnythingToSay if I don't buy it, I get in the car and go to the coop and buy substandard 85% choc and don't enjoy it as much.

I've tried!

I am however going to take the tips from this thread about drinking water before anything else in the mornings.

beachruns · 16/04/2023 21:14

As a chocolate addict I can confirm that it’s not as easy as not buying it.

I’ve cut down, done all the substitutes but nothing really cuts it.

I could also leave haribo, white chocolate etc untouched oh and hersheys. Something about good milk chocolate makes it a real ‘thing’ for me.

stardust777 · 16/04/2023 21:59

Buying a budget water filter - finding myself upping my water intake because the water tastes better

Adding a grated courgette to my bolognese - much easier to digest than before

A short walk before work, if I'm working from home - nice to get a vitamin d hit first thing!

Angelil · 17/04/2023 00:48

Yoga and Pilates once a week each…AMAZING for your pelvic floor. I recommend classes with a teacher initially so you can be sure you are doing it correctly but you could always switch to free YouTube classes thereafter.

ideally incorporate one weekly HIIT session as well. FitnessBlender on YouTube is very good.

if you can’t manage that (and even if you can!), always walk, cycle and take public transport before using a car.

Daily Vitamin C and collagen supplements for anti-ageing. I am 37 but am regularly told I look younger. Also SPF daily and don’t forget to moisturise your neck and hands (these are the giveaways that betray your real age even if your face looks great!).

Fizzy water to fill you up between meals. Buy a Sodastream and use that rather than buying in bottled water though.

Tracking activity, food/water intake and sleep using a Fitbit.

Reading every night before bed.

Duolingo and Wordle daily.

No screens for the little ones before 5pm, especially at weekends.

Angelil · 17/04/2023 19:58

OH and DVDs (v cheap from charity shops) instead of YouTube for the kids.

StormzyinaTCup · 17/04/2023 20:37

Just popping back to say that off the back of this thread I dusted off my weights yesterday and found a 20min YouTube workout. Felt quite pleased with myself afterwards but am certainly feeling it in my legs and arms today. Will be persevering with this but may also look at something a bit less strenuous such as a pp who mentioned jigsaws😊.

I can also recommend YouTube for learning new skills (you are never to old to learn👍), over the years I have learnt to knit, code a website for a friend and am now trying to learn to play the piano using DC keyboard that has been sitting in the loft. The good thing is you can take as long and do as little or as much as you like to fit in around the usual work/family commitments.

Angelil · 17/04/2023 20:44

And finally…MOONCUP. Saves loads of money in the long run and reduces cramps as well as helping you to do your bit for the environment 👍🏻

AngryBirdsNoMore · 17/04/2023 23:26

Angelil · 17/04/2023 19:58

OH and DVDs (v cheap from charity shops) instead of YouTube for the kids.

How does this improve your life?

yes to mooncup @Angelil. I also use reusable pads for days at the end of the month or days when I’d prefer a pad to a cup. I get mine from Cheeky Wipes. I find them much softer and more comfortable than disposable pads and they don’t itch like disposable pads do (in my experience)

Angelil · 17/04/2023 23:37

AngryBirdsNoMore · 17/04/2023 23:26

How does this improve your life?

yes to mooncup @Angelil. I also use reusable pads for days at the end of the month or days when I’d prefer a pad to a cup. I get mine from Cheeky Wipes. I find them much softer and more comfortable than disposable pads and they don’t itch like disposable pads do (in my experience)

Show quote history

We use reusable wipes on the children too. Much better for soaking up the mess as opposed to spreading it around; better for the environment and our wallets; and kinder to their skin too.

TBH I would have thought it was obvious why no YouTube for the children improves my life, but here it is:
It basically gives you happier, less addicted, less stressed children thanks to no sodding autoplay, higher-quality programming that you have chosen (as opposed to them being sucked down an internet rabbithole), and more control over the time they spend engaging with media as each episode of whatever (or even a whole film) has a clearly defined narrative (with a beginning, middle and end) and time frame (each episode or even the whole DVD only lasts X minutes and then it stops). It also takes them longer to learn how to use it themselves (as opposed to a phone or tablet) so again you keep control (which is key to parenting, especially with very young children). Given these limited parameters, and obviously no YT out and about, we engage with each other more as well. Worth it 100%.

Original poster

Bookbooks · 18/04/2023 05:25

@StormzyinaTCup well done! 👏

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Original poster

Bookbooks · 18/04/2023 05:28

@Angelil I agree. Unrestricted Youtube usage is horrible for anyone, let alone children.
You mean no screen time after 5 pm not before 5 pm?

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Original poster

Bookbooks · 18/04/2023 05:32

@ThreeRingCircus that sounds lovely. I love warching birds in my garden. Pure pleasure.

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Bookbooks · 18/04/2023 05:39

@beachruns @Moredarkchocolateplease @AnythingToSay @Iamnotaloggrip @MyFaceIsAnAONB
Another chocolate llllover here.

You might find this distinction helpful: moderators vs abstainers.

You’re a moderator if you…
– find that occasional indulgence heightens your pleasure–and strengthens your resolve
– get panicky at the thought of “never” getting or doing something

You’re an abstainer if you…
– have trouble stopping something once you’ve started
– aren’t tempted by things that you’ve decided are off-limits

gretchenrubin.com/articles/abstainer-vs-moderator/

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Original poster

Bookbooks · 18/04/2023 05:42

Thank you everyone for sharing what transformed your life. I am loving reading all what you're saying. Keep them coming!

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Moredarkchocolateplease · 18/04/2023 06:29

StormzyinaTCup · 17/04/2023 20:37

Just popping back to say that off the back of this thread I dusted off my weights yesterday and found a 20min YouTube workout. Felt quite pleased with myself afterwards but am certainly feeling it in my legs and arms today. Will be persevering with this but may also look at something a bit less strenuous such as a pp who mentioned jigsaws😊.

I can also recommend YouTube for learning new skills (you are never to old to learn👍), over the years I have learnt to knit, code a website for a friend and am now trying to learn to play the piano using DC keyboard that has been sitting in the loft. The good thing is you can take as long and do as little or as much as you like to fit in around the usual work/family commitments.

I learnt how to gut and clean a fish using YouTube last year! Agree it can be a force for good. ( it's very easy should anyone need to know, but VERY messy)

@Bookbooks I am a moderator. I eat my chocolate little and often through the day. But get very panicky if I think I've run out and if Waitrose are out of stock 😂

Original poster

Bookbooks · 18/04/2023 06:45

@Moredarkchocolateplease 😂don't you think there's a contradiction here: little and often? Lol. I hear you though.

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Moredarkchocolateplease · 18/04/2023 07:31

@Bookbooks ha ha you're right there!

I haven't so far had any chocolate today. Yesterday I had it before my overnight oats 😂🍫

Angelil · 18/04/2023 07:34

Bookbooks · 18/04/2023 05:28

@Angelil I agree. Unrestricted Youtube usage is horrible for anyone, let alone children.
You mean no screen time after 5 pm not before 5 pm?

No, before. Our eldest is 4 and so has school followed by after school club. He is allowed TV when he gets home at 5. Not before/at breakfast time or anything.
Similarly at the weekends he doesn’t have any TV in the morning at all. We are out for 2-3 hours in the morning then come back and have lunch. Depending on the day/activity he might have a bit of TV before/after lunch so it’s not super strict in that sense TBF. Then back outside again for another 2-3 hours. Even if back before 5pm we don’t usually switch on the TV before then. Dinner is at 7 and bedtime is at 8 so it makes sense for us.

Angelil · 18/04/2023 07:36

And TBH I wouldn’t only say unrestricted YT is horrible for kids…almost any YT is. Most of what kids watch on YT is utter crap. My son is very occasionally allowed Brightly Storytime, Cosmic Yoga or Words and Pictures but I think I could count the number of times he has accessed these on one hand.

Dishwashy · 18/04/2023 08:54

@Angelil ah your kids are still tiny. Yes mine didn't have YouTube until they were much older than 4 but it has its place with older children. Chess, spin bowling technique, building machines in Minecraft (object oriented programming) are all things my child has learned tonnes about from YT. All chosen and found by him, not me. I think you're being far too quick to judge.

OP thanks for this thread, it's been really interesting. My contribution is reading & watch lists. I'm a pretty failed Bullet Journaller but one thing I have stuck to is keeping lists of:

books I have read
books I want to read
TV/films I want to watch.

Various TV apps all have their own watchlists but putting it all together in one place is easier for me to use and remember. It's also lovely to look back on the year and see that the reading I've done has added up.

MrsRinaDecker · 18/04/2023 09:42

Interesting about moderators vs abstainers.. I’m definitely the former (I got a really nice box of Hotel Chocolate for Mother’s Day and happily ate them one per day, but would have struggled to give up chocolate for lent). Ds on the other hand is definitely the latter (and finds me very weird in that respect!)

RememberImAWomble · 18/04/2023 09:46

I've thought of another three!

Nightly vitamin E capsules, I think it really promotes skin repair (including surgery scarring) and it seems to have also made my nails way stronger too.
Dried figs to help me cut down on snacking, especially on chocolate and sweet treats (I think I'm an abstainer with pronounced moderator tendencies, or possibly just very easily tempted)
Korean ginseng each morning to help with energy levels and focus

Angelil · 18/04/2023 12:05

Dishwashy · 18/04/2023 08:54

@Angelil ah your kids are still tiny. Yes mine didn't have YouTube until they were much older than 4 but it has its place with older children. Chess, spin bowling technique, building machines in Minecraft (object oriented programming) are all things my child has learned tonnes about from YT. All chosen and found by him, not me. I think you're being far too quick to judge.

OP thanks for this thread, it's been really interesting. My contribution is reading & watch lists. I'm a pretty failed Bullet Journaller but one thing I have stuck to is keeping lists of:

books I have read
books I want to read
TV/films I want to watch.

Various TV apps all have their own watchlists but putting it all together in one place is easier for me to use and remember. It's also lovely to look back on the year and see that the reading I've done has added up.

I’m a secondary school teacher and have seen the consequences of overdependence on technology, including YT. So overly cautious, possibly, but quick to judge? Absolutely not.

Rae36 · 18/04/2023 17:06

A proper desktop Sellotape holder thing, no idea what their real name is. Sellotape dispenser? A proper heavy one that holds a full size roll of tape. You can cut the tape with one hand while holding your parcel together with the other hand. No messing around with teeth or scissors. I've just wrapped a birthday present today and appreciated ours yet again.