Small changes that have made a big difference

[Idtwins]

Talk me through small changes you have made in your life that have mad a big difference particularly in terms of your mood/self esteem. Thanks

Bought a dog!

Made a pudding every night for after dinner. It used to be once in a blue moon.
Sit and have a drink or two and relax and chat before dinner, usually outside in the garden.
I spend half my life in a nighty! So much less washing.

Had a tattoo. See it every day and it reminds me not to ever get that drunk ever again !

Dropped alcohol. Feel so much better.

Had my fillers done. So worth the money! Only lasts a while but plan to have redone next Feb when beautician runs her winter discount.

It sounds silly, but started saving. I’m on a low income currently and last summer DP had terrible MH problems and wanted me to leave. DS was 3, my family live 300 miles away and I was devastated and couldn’t afford to leave even if I had wanted to. I hadn’t realised how vulnerable having no savings made me.

In September I really knuckled down, looked at my finances and have now got over £1k stashed, through various means. It’s made being furloughed easier and I’m maintaining my savings levels despite that. It’s given me A LOT of confidence, knowing I’ve got an emergency fund.

Deleted everyone off Facebook. I still have it for community groups but no friends on it

@turkoiseplates I love your approach!

I have also removed two drama queen 'friends' from my life plus distanced myself considerably from a third person I know who lives a very negative life. I just don't want negativity in my life anymore than I have to put up with.

Moved overseas away from emotionally draining family. Love them dearly but love been distant from their dramas.

Only follow cool sites and people on Facebook. Get rid of Instagram. Have a cheat day (eat healthy 6 days a week but one day a week allow yourself to have 1 or 2 super nice treats. Like a bar of chocolate or some crisps. Etc) get a haircut and change your hair (obvs not now) compare down, not up. Read inspiring magazines. Get a really nice new hobby that brings you joy. X

Yeahnahmum I do agree with you ref hobbies. As a friend's partner said one time 'hobbies keep you going'. Quality of life and all that.

Hid the majority of people's news feeds on my social media

Started having a drink every afternoon. Certainly chills me out.

5am 5 mile walks, helps clear my head.

Quit sugar (I feel amazing, and look better too)
Bought a dishwasher (I don’t mind washing dishes but I was starting to avoid cooking to avoid doing dishes so needed to be done)
Bought a proper vacuum cleaner (it now takes half the time to achieve a better result and also means that I don’t wait for the cleaner to come of the floor needs a vacuum)
Painted the walls. Everything was magnolia, I didn’t realise how much that was depressing me.
Bought a cheap pair of jeans (the equivalent of £4) while on holiday. They are the most comfortable and flatter pair of jeans I’ve ever own. I now wear them at home in cold weather without feeling uncomfortable or slobbish (I used to live in tack pants at hone during winter which was a bit depressing).

Moved house. Got a garden, I can potter in it, sit in the sun, have a glass of wine in the evening on the bench.

Bought an electric bike, where I live is hilly to get anywhere, now I cycle.

Got a dog. Walks, she makes me smile, she’s cuddly.

Stopped drinking alcohol. I am financially better off, I've more time to pursue things I enjoy doing, I have lost a stone without changing my diet, I am happier within myself and am not regretting things I've said or done while under the influence.

Got rid of facebook, started running. I've not found running easy at all but I feel fab when I've done 25mins before breakfast

Had proper orthotics made for my shoes.
5-6 mins Pilates stretches before I get out of bed
Big knickers (soo much more comfy)
A slip under dresses (they hang so much better)
Don't let other people wind me up. I can't change them but I can swiftly move on or deflect. For example, when my mother is being acerbic on the phone "mummy I'm so sorry, but I can smell my cake starting to burn or "there's someone at the door".
The art of compromise

Got rid of FB and barely use Twitter (have to keep it for work).

Wall-mounted TV in the bedroom. It's been a life saver while stuck in bed with Covid.

Bought a treadmill purely for walking. Pre-Covid it was boosting my mental health big time. Hoping to restart this week, if I feel well enough.

Paying for a subscription to a quality newspaper and avoiding trashy sites.

found a sport i love, i train brazilian juijitsu and compete now, literally has done wonders for my fitness (already fit as did crossfit for years) but i have a meaning to my training and focus. the kids and my dp also do it, by sharing our hobby we spend so much more time together and it means we have been able to train through lockdown.

get dressed up for date night once a week, weather in lock down or not, we both put effort in and i feel so much better and attractive.

walking my dogs daily during this with dp or the kids (i usually work linger hours) has really given me mental space, time to unwind.

treated myself to a glossy box subscription, i get a monthly gift of 5 full size items taylor ed to my skin type, i did it years ago and want impressed but tried it during lockdown and it's amazing! the products have really improved! if anyone wants to get one here's my code for 20% off
**https://www.glossybox.co.uk/referrals.list?applyCode=PHILLIPA-RU

I love that the op has asked for small changes and people have said things like moved abroad or bought a house

Couch to 5k has made a big difference and is only half an hour a day.

Deleted social media

Exercise
Try to get more sleep
Improved my diet and lost weight. I’m convinced excess fat is linked to depression and since adopting low carb high fat plus intermittent fasting I feel so much better.

Main thing is to stop caring what others think. Big part of that is reducing social media use. Deleted Insta and only use FB now for hobby groups. Do not read the Mail Online!

I would also say find something you love (eg a hobby) and do it as much as you can. But mainly let go, stop caring. You read posts on here, people care and angst SO MUCH eg going on about Boris. I don’t read the news I do not care about any of it. My mental health is sound however

I've stopped drinking, I'll have the occasional one every now and again but mostly I can't be bothered with alcohol anymore. I've taken up gardening which has made the biggest difference to my life. I tried running but I can't really do it in the winter.