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.

Intermittent fasting and caffeine reduction.

Weekly cleaner.

Just bought a second robot vacuum so we will have one upstairs and one downstairs. This one is self-emptying, so even less work.

Iron on the weekend and plan my outfits for the week ahead.

Go to the gym early on the weekend rather than lying in bed scrolling.

Give my family jobs that they own. In theory I should not have to ask/remind them to do it. That part is a work in progress with my teenagers, but one day it will get through to them.

I definitely need to declutter again.

I am toying with either getting a monthly gardener or a robot mower.

Gave up reading/watching most news and current affairs, and discussions thereof. So many awful things happening in the world that I can do nothing at all about, so there's really no point upsetting or depressing myself by dwelling on it.

I still get the general gist of what's going on without having my nose rubbed in it.

Agree - especially with first and last: I did online food shop last week for the first time in decades and it not only freed up my Friday morning from going to then trapsing round supermarket then home and packing all away, but also around £15 off our food bill. Have repeated this week and the same saved (and that’s including the few pounds delivery charge). Now get it delivered at start of week when dd at school and I’m wfh.

I also moved to changing beds every fortnight rather than weekly. Too much effort & time consuming (plus unneeded additional washing to do) if you have multiple large beds to change, to do every week.

if I can afford the extra £ (& I’ve also overhauled our finances late last year into this year) to outsource time-consuming mundanities I will take that time over the money any day. Hope to do more of that going forward!

This maybe our route this year.

Online grocery shopping. Everyone eats slightly differently (2 adults, 2 teens). It's a total pain, but if I can cook one meal that can be adapted that's how I do it.

I'm a massive fan of my calendar on my phone and use it lots:

All appointments go on my phone calendar immediately. With three reminders. Day before, morning of and time I need to leave.

All requests for money for books, trips etc from school are immediately dealt with. Or a calendar reminder if I don't have the funds available immediately.

School trips/school meetings go on the calendar along with the date the email was received so I can quickly find the details.

Very few weekends are booked in advance. I have three things on this year's calendar for our family. I don't want the pressure of thinking every weekend is booked up.

WhatsApp notifications are on silent. That was a game changer for me.

I put reminders on my calendar for stuff for next Xmas.

Distance myself from my abusive mother and ex.
Stayed with 1 child despite everyone telling me he'll be a weirdo.
Cut alcohol

@rookiemere just to say you could try getting carers organised to pop in on your parents now and then.. Explain to them how it's going to help everyone. I found an amazing company last year and couldn't live without them..

Divorce the chaos has gone
Learnt to say no/don’t over book myself
Made my circle smaller quality over quantity
Retrained
Slow mornings work later in the day

Set up a budget spreadsheet, every time I go shopping I get a receipt so that when I get home I can record it on the spreadsheet (I record what I've bought too), I tick the receipt when done, they go into a pot until the end of the month. I've done this for 2 years now.

It was a real eye opener when I realised how much my trip to the supermarket at lunchtime was costing me and because I work from home it was my way of getting out. Just recently I've noticed I now go out much less, my car can sit in the parking space for a good few days now, I'll go for a walk round the local park instead. The money saved can be used elsewhere.

I also got divorced life has been so much calmer since I left that marriage 9 years ago.

Stay single

Slowly cut down on contact with people that love drama in their lives

Stop drinking alcohol

Got a meal box subscription. This has literally changed my life. No more wandering around the supermarket looking for inspiration, over buying and over eating. We’re saving a fortune because I now only go to the supermarket occasionally, the meals are perfectly portion controlled with no waste and well balanced. And it’s exciting to try new recipes. I do hate the plastic waste but have decided it’s a price I have to pay

Started yoga again. How I love it.

Signed up for some free short courses on FutureLearn. Stops me doomscrolling and distracts me from the news.

This is so true. I’ve developed a real intolerance for the way most tv is made now so it’s an assault on the senses with flashy, attention grabbing techniques and constant loud background music. And so much is very formulaic product, presented by reality tv winners and overpaid egotistical celebrities, who address us as if we are stupid children. The programme makers have a low opinion of us. It really raises my stress levels. We now watch talking pictures tv on sky almost exclusively and have thoroughly enjoyed a lot of classic drama from the 70s and 80s that often have multiple series: The Brothers, When The Boat Comes In, Public Eye, A Family At War - classy, intelligent, absorbing, slower paced, well written and acted - can thoroughly recommend for a better quality and more peaceful tv experience

Left teaching. It's improved my stress levels no end!

Sounds a bit strange, but watching Steptoe and Son on YouTube has really cheered me up over the past few weeks. Many of the old b&w episodes have been colourised and restored. Love it, modern sitcoms couldn't hold a candle to it.

Regular cleaner who tidies and cleans
Invested in home - new bathrooms and repainting. For years I’d muddled through because I felt I didn’t deserve a nice home but after a breakup, I really wanted a change and had some brilliant builders
Decluttering - my hand was forced because I wanted the loft decorated and they said clear it all in 2 days and we won’t charge you to decorate, so I dumped everything. Kids now have a huge play area in the loft

Things that helped me:

-A Eufy with spinning mops - I've got one upstairs and one downstairs. This was instead of having a weekly cleaner, and cheaper for me in long run. 2DC and 3 cats means that these are bloody brilliant.

-divorced the XH. Almost overnight, my life became easier/more peaceful (particularly after a PSO and CAO were sorted!). No more having to deal with the antics and behaviour of an alcoholic (and all the drama that comes with that)....and no more having to deal with the ILs.

-gadgets/appliances that make my life easier (I work FT and juggle that with solo parenting), so air fryer and Thermomix have been amazing (I can cook, but this is like a helping hand in the kitchen). Also tumble drier and dishwasher - I do hang clothes when possible but having a tumble drier is brilliant.

-batch cooking/freezing stuff into individual portions. Boring but less food waste, saves money and it's easy for the DC to pick out what they want and reheat for meals/lunches when I'm at work (and I can take meals with me for work).

-using my free time for R+R, instead of killing myself running around after other people or sorting out dramas. Of course, if someone needs help or company, I'll help if I can....but I will make sure that I am rested and DC are ok (goes without saying!) before I do that. I like to have a simple life, and the past few years have taught me the importance of self care, and not setting myself on fire to keep others warm (I think I saw that expression on here some years back, and it's stuck with me!).

I refused to accept any job working for others. I spent thirty years being used and spat out, my ideas stolen and spoken to like shit even at C-Suite level. No more toxic workplaces for me. I turned sixty and hung up my corporate boots!
I launch a new product this year which will be my legacy.

I buy marks and spencer food. No waste and if semi prepared I dont feel guilty about not cooking (that was hard coming from a family of foodies).

I gave away twenty one bags of clothes. I'm now doing stored furniture.

I made the decision to downsize to a much smaller cottage. Same price as my modern large house but I've made peace with that as I love it so much and never have to move again.

I gave up drinking four years ago.

Less is more! I have everything minimalist- I haven't used something in 6/ 12 months it's going!

Example: I sorted out muy wardrobe and specific storage boxes. It's insane how many clothes I had and never really wore them or items still good but I'm tired of wearing them. Now it's 1 item in & 1 item out for everyday stuff. I have uniform for work, which makes it a bit easier.

I do collect books (rare & first editions often in need of TLC) but even with them I just own some for a little while and if the time is right I sell them on.

Retired.

Stopped buying things I don't need and opted out of the commercial world as much as humanly possible. It's amazing how little money you can live on if you stop buying crap.

Slowed everything down and now do everything consciously. I used to race through three things at once, barely notice I was doing them, not enjoy them and the, afterwards think I'd done a crap job of it all. Now I do one thing at a time and concentrate on it whether it's swimming, cleaning windows or having a coffee.

Turn my phone off every day at 6pm.

@ArticWillow I downsized too. I now have a tiny two up two down and a little garden. The peace and simplicity of only having just what you need is a huge freedom.

If you have sky, look at talking pictures tv! Bliss

Got rid of pets. Not proactively: They all lived a long life which came to an end naturally! But a few years ago we decided not to replace them as they died, and now life is much easier,cleaner and cheaper and I have so much more freedom.

I still miss having my canine and feline family members around but overall, it was a very positive decision to live in a n all-human household.

I agree, be selective what you watch on TV. Real crime dramatisation, political analysis, news and a lot of contemporary drama is stressful and depressing.

Be selective over food too. Too much processed stuff or sugar is debilitating.

Home decorating - avoid grey and beige - decor to cut your wrists by. Calm happy interiors are blues, greens, yellows, cream.

Allocate time for the things that bring you peace. For me those are running, cycling, reading, unhurried cooking.

Fresh air and walking through woodland is what I retreat to, by instinct, in times of high stress. Listen to your body.

Watched an old Juliet Bravo on there recently and really enjoyed it. Also like Foyle's War.