To ask what small things I can do to make myself happier?

[Farontothemaddingcrowd]

I've had a bad time with depression and relationship break ups. Always the dumpee for some reason.

I'm a single parent to 3 dc but my youngest is nearly 8, so I'm starting to get a bit of time to myself. I'm anaemic and constantly exhausted and often don't feel like doing much.

I need a kick up the bum. I'm not going to feel any better if I keep wallowing.

What small or big things might help me to feel happier?

My cat is currently making me happy, purring away while nestled in the crook of my arm.

I think I'd quite like to do something completely decadent and self indulgent.

Can you try iron in liquid form? I found that much easier on the tummy ( and bowels)

My hb is ok now but my ferritin is 7 when I was last checked, 3 weeks ago. I do feel knackered all the time.

I love my cat. He definitely helps me to feel happy. He's an incredibly lazy cat, so he loves to lie next to me when I'm tired.

Maybe liquid iron could be the next step. The GP did say that if my ferritin didn't improve then they'd need to investigate why.

Get a babysitter over night and check into a local hotel with a new book.

Buy beautiful new sheets and duvet cover.

Buy flowers for home.

I would definitely go back to the GP and also look online at some information, I don' t know what you are prescribed but sometimes iron tablets can cause stomach pain and there are other ways to boost iron- perhaps you need a multi-pronged approach (different types of iron, iron in food, don't drink tea in the morning with your iron). Teaching is a tiring profession and doing that whilst anaemic would be a hard task.

I might do the hotel one night when they are with their dad. I'm finding that although I'm lonely, things like dating are actually pretty draining for me.

Have they checked your b12?

I sympathise - I also struggle with depression and it is really hard. There are some really good ideas here which I will be trying.

Lack of energy is a huge problem for me - I am being treated for anaemia and an underactive thyroid. I'm interested in the Feroglobin and Floradix realy work? Are they tablets or liquid? How long does it take to feel the effects?

xx

I drink a lot of tea and coffee.

My b12 was low and I had the jabs but when I was checked again it was in the realms of normal apparently.

Gretchen Rubin write a lot about happiness (she has a number of books and is at www.gretchenrubin.com) and does a podcast called, aptly, Happier.

Podcasts/ music are a big boost to my happiness as I can play them when doing chores or commuting which I hate.

I generally find I feel happier if i’ve got the basics in place (so sort the iron levels out, make sure you’re sleeping enough and exercise appropriately) but also making sure i’m speaking to adults enough and feeling productive somehow!

So i’d pick a project!

I recommend the book 52 Small Changes by Brett Blumenthal.

Ahh jealous that you get another week off! If I were you, I'd get all my work done asap so I had a clear run of days to chill out.

YY to an autumn walk, I've just taken dd(9) out and we just messed about, found a 'spooky stick ' which I chased her with, just stupid stuff but now I feel happy just lazing about rather than guilty because I haven't done anything with her.

One thing I've started doing recently is buying Good Food magazine and cooking stuff I've never heard of before, that's relaxing for me.
I'll probably make some halloweeeny food for the kids this week too!

Decadent and self indulgent wise, I'd go to the nearest bookshop and soand be £100 on new books and then read them in bed whilst listening to chill out music on my Sonos speaker - my ultimate chill out!

Exercise.

Without a shadow of a doubt.

I know that's the answer you didn't really want OP, but I know you suspect that it will make a major difference.
Even going out for a 30 minute run a few times a week will release those feel good chemicals in the brain.

I throw out stuff or recycle or give it away. The less stuff to clear up the more time I have to do the things I want to do without the weight of guilt for not having done the chore created by the stuff. Makes me happier.

Vitabiotics do a great iron supplement for a fiver a month if you can't get on with the GP prescription.

Stir frying broccoli and spinach also helps energy. Assuming one eats it too and not just cooks it lol.

If you struggle with energy what about going to a day spa one day next week?

I think I'll be able to get out and exercise this coming week but usually I'm at home with the dc after school. Ex h has them every other weekend and one evening a fortnight, so finding time to exercise isn't easy. Plus I feel like crap. I've had a period that's lasted ten days now and horrific cramps.

And also, getting together with friends and going to the pub with no time limits works for me too, I'm lucky that we have loads of oldy type pubs with quirky interiors, loads of beams and mismatched tables etc round here which always puts me in a good mood!

The dc can fight though if left alone too long. Ds is 7, about to turn 8. I'd pop to the shop at the top of the street if 11 year old dd was with him, but I wouldn't leave him longer than that.

Spa sounds lovely. Will have a look.

How old is your oldest? I let my 15 year old baby sit my 8 yr old while I go to the gym/run

Also did they say why your b12 was low - with the jabs it's usual to need them for life if it's malabsorption- that's what I have

She's 11, so not really old enough yet.
No they didn't really investigate. They've been a bit crap really, though the jabs obviously worked.

Plan a trip - I LOVE travel planning whether it is far or near, long or short.
I love thinking of places I would like to visit and for me this is usually related to some period of history I have read about the place. I read a lot of history. So I then research the place online, spend hours looking at maps and reviews of accommodation / museums / galleries etc

Then I research the cheapest way to get there and start saving. It gives me motivation in all sort of other ways - feeling lazy to make a packed lunch for work and tempted to grab a sandwich and coffee when out - think about trip and make that sandwich - same goes for takeaways etc which in turn sort of ensures I eat better.

I like the planning and the daydreaming about the trip almost as much as actually being there and by having done so much research and having a sort of agenda in my head of where I want to go and see and do I get so much more value even out of a weekend away.

I know this would not be everyone's cup of tea but it works for me!

I would rather have 4 mini city breaks in a year than a 2wk holiday

I also love reading, planning and cooking a nice meal, cooking for friends or going out to meet friends.

And I cuddle my cat and dogs everyday - that's always a winner!