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Things you have done to make your life better/calmer

428 replies

PersephoneParlormaid · 09/01/2026 06:55

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.

OP posts:
Mothership4two · 16/01/2026 09:57

30ish years ago there were several books about working out your season/colours @Minorie . I think I had one called Colour Me Beautiful - but there were others around at the same time. I'll bet there are loads available second-hand and I imagine they'll be cheap. They'll be outdated but you woulld be able to work out what your 'season' is and get the gist of how to use it on current styles.

Supple · 16/01/2026 10:56

Minorie · 16/01/2026 09:45

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

Photo into AI of your choice - chatgpt

AgedWalrus · 16/01/2026 11:25

cinnamongirl123 · 13/01/2026 17:19

@PersephoneParlormaid& @AgedWalrus
Here are the main one-size clothing shops that I like. I have found many stylish, comfortable & affordable items. I hate having to decide what size clothing fits, having only one size makes my life much easier!
Meek Boutique: https://themeekboutique.co.uk/
Style Attic: https://thestyleattic.co.uk/
Moo Bou: https://moobou.co.uk/
Blush Boutique: https://www.blushboutiqueessex.co.uk/
Laundry B: https://www.laundryb.com/
Kit & Kaboodal: https://www.kitandkaboodal.com/
Bows Boutique: https://bowsboutiques.com/

(Note that I think none have free returns. If I need to return, normally I send by Royal Mail app, a QR code that my local Post Office prints, costs about £3.80.)

@cinnamongirl123 Thanks so much for these links. I spent a happy evening scrolling through. First thing that thrilled me to bits was that on the meek boutique site I found a dress that I had already bought in two colourways from a tiny shop local to me. So I feel I can trust this site to have other things I might like.

Plus I bought trousers, again two colours, in a sale on the style attic site. They have just arrived and are perfect. Exactly fit the gap in my wardrobe I have been wanting to fill but couldn't face searching for online or or off with all the attendant potential hassle as I am not a standard size. I am off to the site to see if I want more colours while they are on sale.

TreesAtSea · 16/01/2026 15:18

@Minorie There are a number of apps available. I used a pretty basic one called Show My Colors which just asks a few questions. There's a paid version that offers more features. Whether that includes the option to upload a photo for hopefully more accurate results, I don't know.
Like you, I was already fairly sure what I would come out as (I knew for sure that I had fairly warm colouring) But it was useful to see the different colour palettes it suggested. As PP said, it's often the case that the right tone of any colour will suit you, though there are certainly colours that suit me far better than others, whatever tones I might try. I still don't really suit blues/greens/purples, for example.

ICanSpellConfusionWithaK · 16/01/2026 19:25

I thought I’d be a cool winter and according to AI I am a soft summer. Who knew.

godmum56 · 16/01/2026 19:32

ICanSpellConfusionWithaK · 16/01/2026 19:25

I thought I’d be a cool winter and according to AI I am a soft summer. Who knew.

I did the AI thing and got light summer, but my go to for compliments colours are warm winter.....go figure

TheMentalMentalLoad · 16/01/2026 20:21

I am seriously considering getting my colours done. It will probably mean I get rid of most of my clothes though.

minnowonthesay · 16/01/2026 21:53

I love Mou Bou and The Style Attic too @AgedWalrus I also shop for one size clothing on Studio 12, Manamou Boutique and No Angel.

echt · 16/01/2026 22:09

For a long while I had the habit of falling asleep on the sofa and waking up about 1.00.a.m. This meant doing the final (sketchy) tidy up of the living room and kitchen before going to bed to a piss-poor make-up removal (if that), and leaving clothes on the chair in my bedroom instead of hung up in the wardrobe.

None of this impinged on anyone but me as I live on my own, but it felt like eating baked beans out of the tin.

I realise I make it sound as if I live in a filthy hovel, far from it, I just like order.

Now I set an alarm for 10.00. against this and have the time to put the house properly to rights before going to bed. This is calming in itself.

MrsBobtonTrent · 16/01/2026 22:31

Very tempted to get my colours done. DC tried with two different AIs and got two different results for me. Maybe will give a real person a go!

But how on earth does "one size clothing" work?

AgedWalrus · 16/01/2026 23:30

minnowonthesay · 16/01/2026 21:53

I love Mou Bou and The Style Attic too @AgedWalrus I also shop for one size clothing on Studio 12, Manamou Boutique and No Angel.

Thanks for these, looking forward to exploring them. I feel like I’ve got a whole new lease of clothes shopping life. 🙃

snowgirl1 · 17/01/2026 01:35

No longer hand-wash anything
No longer wash pots by hand - they go in the dishwasher , soaking overnight first if needed.

Womaninhouse17 · 17/01/2026 08:04

MrsBobtonTrent · 16/01/2026 22:31

Very tempted to get my colours done. DC tried with two different AIs and got two different results for me. Maybe will give a real person a go!

But how on earth does "one size clothing" work?

I looked at the links and it just seemed to be oversized everything and elastic waists. I wasn't tempted.

AgedWalrus · 17/01/2026 10:14

@MrsBobtonTrent
how on earth does "one size clothing" work?

They tend to be the more loose fitting styles and stretchy fabric or elastic may be involved. This doesn't mean they are just baggy and stretchy. They may also just have small/medium/large options or cover several sizes in each fitting.

Think also things like caftans, kimonos, ponchos.

I put 'one size clothing' into a search engine and got these two sites which I don't think have been mentioned so far. I'm not suggesting you will like the clothes, it just gives examples of a wide range of one size or multi size clothes..

Queen of Fashion

Emporium Boutique

Laundryb one size

There are also lagenlook styles, but I find them too baggy for me, mostly I get swamped.

Lagenlook Clothing

Reading @cinnamongirl123 's post was a bit of an epiphany for me. I realised that often purchases I like and wear often are one size/free size or multi size and I might have more success and far less hassle buying things online if I just went for these options. Makes life so much simpler and more flexible if my size varies. 😁

darkmoondarksun · 21/01/2026 11:44

echt · 16/01/2026 22:09

For a long while I had the habit of falling asleep on the sofa and waking up about 1.00.a.m. This meant doing the final (sketchy) tidy up of the living room and kitchen before going to bed to a piss-poor make-up removal (if that), and leaving clothes on the chair in my bedroom instead of hung up in the wardrobe.

None of this impinged on anyone but me as I live on my own, but it felt like eating baked beans out of the tin.

I realise I make it sound as if I live in a filthy hovel, far from it, I just like order.

Now I set an alarm for 10.00. against this and have the time to put the house properly to rights before going to bed. This is calming in itself.

THIS ///\ 110%

@echt I was the same .. dropping clothes on the floor before falling into bed and then picking them up the next day to wear straight from the floor, half a make up removing routine at night .. if that. I feel SOO much better for hanging my clothes up at night, taking my make-up off properly and doing skin care before bed. I was a proper slob .. or so it felt

Jamfirstest · 21/01/2026 12:51

Joining

Silverbirchleaf · 21/01/2026 14:34

TheMentalMentalLoad · 15/01/2026 21:00

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

No online. I had to fill in a questionnaire, send some photographs and got sent my analysis.

I used ‘Style by Suzie’, but also follow Emily Innes who dues something similar.

https://styledbysusie.co.uk

https://www.stylemehappy.co.uk

Award Winning Personal Styling - Styled By Susie

Styled By Susie is a friendly and affordable personal styling service, helping women with their confidence by dressing for their body shape and colouring.

https://styledbysusie.co.uk

Irememberwhenitwasallfieldsroundhere · 22/01/2026 10:20

I cooked some muffins yesterday and the muffin tin was terrible when they came out of the oven. I soaked them overnight but the mixture was still really stuck on.

So I threw them away and ordered new muffin trays this morning. It made me really happy!

YourDearDreamer · 22/01/2026 20:57

Thank you!!! I was wanting 1 but didnt know which one as there are so many onnthe market. Your link does work and it has very good reviews.

Alcoholrecovery · 22/01/2026 21:04

Join a gym and go swimming in the evenings. It’s great to get the time to myself

mounjaro to lose weight

spending money on theatre trips

FizzPlease · 22/01/2026 21:13

Stopped drinking. 1 year sober. Best thing I have ever done for myself.

dogsarebetterthanppl · 23/01/2026 02:29

FizzPlease · 22/01/2026 21:13

Stopped drinking. 1 year sober. Best thing I have ever done for myself.

i was never a great drinker but when i did, i went too far. finally gave up in october after drinking too many cocktails at a halloween party, i won't go into details because i want to curl into a ball and die at the memory but lets just say it was a grand finale. so glad i did, i will never be drunk again and think the world would be a much better place if everyone made the same decision.

xSideshowAuntSallyXx · 23/01/2026 08:02

dogsarebetterthanppl · 23/01/2026 02:29

i was never a great drinker but when i did, i went too far. finally gave up in october after drinking too many cocktails at a halloween party, i won't go into details because i want to curl into a ball and die at the memory but lets just say it was a grand finale. so glad i did, i will never be drunk again and think the world would be a much better place if everyone made the same decision.

I rarely drink either. Stopped for a whole year in 2024, had 3 bottles of beer one evening last year and suffered a bloody hangover the next day. Had a gin another time and came out in a rash. Apparently my tolerance for alcohol has completely gone. I now also don't like the taste.

I drive when I go out now, saves the explanation as to why I'm not drinking.

3luckystars · 23/01/2026 13:41

dogsarebetterthanppl · 23/01/2026 02:29

i was never a great drinker but when i did, i went too far. finally gave up in october after drinking too many cocktails at a halloween party, i won't go into details because i want to curl into a ball and die at the memory but lets just say it was a grand finale. so glad i did, i will never be drunk again and think the world would be a much better place if everyone made the same decision.

I am the same, I go too far, and the embarrassment will hopefully keep me from doing it again.