Things you have done to make your life better/calmer

[PersephoneParlormaid]

Ive just been reading a post where someone is talking about doing things, or stopping things, to make life easier and calmer, so I thought I’d ask what you have done to hopefully help and inspire others.
For me the loft being jammed packed was really weighing on my mind and causing low level stress for years. So a couple of years ago, in the spring when it’s cooler/warmer, I committed to cleaning it out. It was hard work but I was ruthless, and all that’s up there now is the kids toys and Xmas decorations. I can’t tell you how much happier it’s made me feel getting it done. I think it was reading about Swedish death cleaning that inspired me.
Another thing I do is regularly unsubscribe to emails, especially after Xmas. I couldn’t see the things I needed to see for all the crap in there.
Then I stopped sending Xmas cards. It surprising how many less you get when you don’t send them, so I assume those people didn’t want to send them to me eitner.
And I gave up drinking. It was affecting my sleep and making me so tired the day after. I honestly don’t miss it.
Finally, I say no. If I’m asked to do something I often say no straightaway and then think about it. If I decide to then do it that’s fine. Having a clear calendar with empty days to do nothing is bliss in my book.

Batch cooking & a cleaner if possible.

Eek - that's still a lot of money!

Do a Phoebe Buffay. "I wish I could but I don't want to."

My cousin struggled with this and was getting burnt out. I suggested she put "kmm" in her diary every week. It could be moved to another date if she had a unmissable event but couldn't be left out of a seven day period. When someone asked her to do something she said she'd check her diary and she was busy or could be busy! 'kmm' stands for keeping my marbles.

Thought of another one. I received a beautiful burgundy leather zipped pouch from Aspinal for my birthday. It measured roughly 7 x 5 inches. I wasn't really sure what to do with it?

But now I keep it stocked with lip balm, small packet of tissues, little pen, paracetamol and a little tube of hand cream. I just transfer it into whichever handbag I'm using and it's so useful.

‘I’m going to bed early with a good book.’
’Bob and I are having a date night.’
’Grouting the bathroom.’
’Falling asleep on the sofa at 8pm.’

Part of my declutterring is that whenever my 18 year old visits and then goes back I clean the room/ bedding and put a bag of what I would consider junk under his desk in a bag for life. Then when he comes back the next time I cook him a meal, chat to him and then bring out the bag of things for him to go through. 90% of it he then doesn’t want so I can take it to charity when he goes back again. I want him to feel welcome and I love him visiting but I don’t want years worth of rubbish being hoarded in his room as then there is nowhere to put things when he does want to visit with a bag full of stuff. This will be an ongoing process. It’s a tiny room but we have made it nice with photos on the walls etc and I’ve decorated it for him.
it might sound like a small thing but it means his room is nice and welcoming and not a cluttered tip.

I started listening to bedtime stories and fall asleep within minutes.

@Daisy12Maisie that's a really good idea, going to do that with my son too.

For when even Radio 3 is too hectic!

One thing I’ve done which has made life easier is to get a style and colour analysis. I now know I’m an ‘Autumn Pear’ and dress accordingly. It’s a lot easier when buying clothes or wearing clothes knowing what suits you. Although the downside is, that with the added confidence, I’m more likely to buy more as I enjoy clothes more!

(Ps. I’m not a stick thin model either, but size 14 (top) and 18 (trousers) ).

Getting a dog who gives me so much love as well as exercise in fresh air.

Massively reducing contact with in laws and toxic members of my own family.

Spending more time with good friends and saying no to anything that means I have to spend time with people whose company I don’t enjoy.

Being strict with my working hours and never working beyond my 9-5 unless absolutely necessary (still struggling with that one).

Letting things go (too many to list, but for instance not dwelling on past injustices or feeling obliged to do things such as cleaning, cooking or shopping when there are other adult members of the household who can do this).

Just generally doing much less for other people or being a people pleaser.

What's an 'Autumn Pear'? I get the pear shape ref.

I have a similar sized pouch and I keep enough supplies for two/three days of my period in it. I can just put it in my handbag a day or two before I’m due and re-fill and transfer as needed.

I have a larger one that I keep stocked with enough for an unusually long/heavy period, and that’s available to grab if I’m going away for a few days - I started that when I had to make frequent urgent trips to elderly parents and was never sure how long I’d be staying, so it was great to know I had more than enough supplies pre-packed.

I also have a wash bag with mini sized toiletries, everything I could need for a few days, including face wash, moisturiser, serum, spf, shower gel, toothpaste and toothbrush, floss, shampoo and conditioner, mini perfume, mini de tangling brush etc. Makes packing for overnights or longer trips very easy and I re-fill once I’m home. Obviously if flying with only cabin baggage this doesn’t work, but for national travel it’s great. No chance of forgetting some essentials.

autumn colours

Everyone suits a certain range of colours. I’m an Autumn, so colours such as rust, burnt orange, mustardy-yellow, berry/wine etc suit me, but black, pastel colours etc look wrong on me.

(If you go into more detail, you can have ‘warm’ or ‘cool’ subsets within each season)

See chart

Oh I see @Silverbirchleaf. I Googled it but could only find recipes for pies & stuff!

More reading, less SM. I try to get in an hour's reading before bed. My eyes less fatigued than they had been feeling.

@Silverbirchleafdid you go to someone in person for this? I’d love mine doing.

You can go to a consultation- https://www.colourmebeautiful.co.uk/

I had my done eons ago. I did my nieces colours last week via AI. Went shopping for a few bits for her and she’s been living in them since.

Does make a difference. If you get the right tones it can really make you look much better.

Got a cleaner just 2 hours each week and a garden helper for 2 hours each week to cut grass and keep garden tidy. It took a lot of pressure off of DH and me.

Less clutter and i mean everything. I ask myself if I need this or want this, and then decide.

Cleaner once every 2 weeks to deep clean everything.

Keeping some weekends free to do things that may pop up and if I feel like it, we do them.

Making sleep a priority. Cannot tell you how its changed me as a person.

Not being available to everyone. I really keep my energy reserved/protected.

I had my colours done about 10 years ago, it also included a style consultation which was great and really helped me define style. I do still succumb to black but know I can't do it head to toe.

Can confirm. Did this about 30 years ago, was transformational and has informed my clothes buying ever since. It’s not even so much about colours as much as tones. I’m a soft autumn. I can wear many colours as long as they’re soft, warm, and deep. Coral, not pastel pink. Denim blues, not pale. Olive and khaki, not mint green. Rusty reds, chocolate, mustard. Charcoal more flattering than black etc

Is there a way to do colours for free online - though i suspect i know im a cool winter