To ask what was the most prolific thing you have done to change your life for the better?

[Dotdotlineline]

I'm in a bit of a funk today so want to know what other people do when faced with an idea of changing something.

Has anyone ever made a drastic or even a small change for the better? Whether that be spiritually / money wise or with themselves?

I keep thinking about the notion that 'life is what you make of it' and questioning where I am going wrong.

@elQuintoConyo

Left the UK aged 23, best decision ever. Got me away from my squabbling parents, my lethargy, opened my eyes to other possibilities (jobs, boyfriends, hobbies).

I'm intrigued how leaving UK stopped your lethargy. Did you work out why?

Putting boundaries into all my relationships. It took me a long time to realise I didn't have any.

And it's a cliche, but yoga.

Not drinking also makes your skin look better as you get older.

I would say:

Exercising a small amount most days (I got a pedometer and use that, I set lower goals than most but keep going)

Eating healthy (ish) food and being lower weight and slimmer, really boosts your confidence, clothes, you feel more lively and can move better

Take St John's Wort if I start to feel a bit down

I would buy a pedometer or join an online group for exercise, get MyFitnessPal or some type of calorie counter as starting points.

There's lots of other life choices, but these underpin everything as if you feel good about your body, good about your looks and have more energy to do things, then everything else goes much better.

Psychotherapy

Got my finances straight (though that was as much from luck as judgement) and started having therapy.

Cutting out caffeine. I didn't realise quite how grotty it was making me feel until I completely cut it out and now I will never go back, it has made such a difference - clearer head, feeling better in myself, less slumps, less anxiety. Absolute life changer. And more and more places now offer decaf tea so it's easier to stick to now.

Moved me and my kids from a tiny village to a big city 12 hours away.
It was the best thing I ever did.

I was a single mum and didn’t know anyone in the new city at all, but I had an aching to escape and start again.

The word "prolific" is mis-used in the title.

Best change i made was to live my life for me, after years of putting everyone first. I sold everything that i didn't need or love and moved hundreds of miles to the coast. The biggest decision i make every day is where to go and where to eat my packed lunch. When you realise you don't need to spend spend spend on tat, socialising and pleasing others your life is simpler and more peaceful.

Quitting alcohol, 20 months ago. It's It's best decision of my life and I only wished I had done it sooner.

Absolutely everything is better now.

*it's the best

Taking up running. You can mock, but it means I've never had to worry about my weight, I've achieved things I never knew were possible, it's an easy "escape" to manage stress and it's given me a better social life in middle age than I've had at any other point.

I can also add embracing minimalism.
For one it had been really good for my finances but it has been beneficial way beyond that, it made me calmer, less prone to compare myself with other, more grateful...

@WordOfTheDay

The word "prolific" is mis-used in the title.

Fucking hell, I think most people got the jist 🙄🙄🙄 Going part time, giving up a management job, much better for my overall wellbeing

@Annoyedanddissapointed I can't quite put my finger on it. I just feel like I need change and am at a crossroads . I have 2 wonderful children a doting husband a low stress job but I just feel so unfulfilled

I’ve given up a well paid career (that I hated) and I start my midwifery degree on Monday!

@WordOfTheDay I meant it in the context of biggest. Does it really matter?

Cycling to work. Commute went from being grim to best part of my day.

@FastFood

I can also add embracing minimalism. For one it had been really good for my finances but it has been beneficial way beyond that, it made me calmer, less prone to compare myself with other, more grateful...

This is a brilliant idea and one I will be implementing

@FannyBrice *gist

I’m just back from googling alternative meanings for ‘prolific’.

In answer to the question, I left my job and took early retirement.

Emigrated
Marriage
Retrained at 53

@tellmetologoffIamaMNaddict

A relationship one. I stopped reacting to my emotions. I am a very emotional and impulsive person and recently discovered I have ADHD. I would often go into black and white thinking which would result in self sabotage. If something upset me I found myself thinking "I may as well just end it" and would often act on it then regret it later. I still have those feelings but when I do I have found that the simple act of waiting and not doing anything has been utterly transformative.

I've recently discovered I have ADHD too, this post resonates with me. I'm researching and learning how to manage it.

Ah, this is the kind of thread that makes you wish there was a like button!
Definitely for me there are three things: becoming a mother (which wasn’t always a given), going to live in a foreign country permanently and being in a happy relationship.
Lots of potholes along the way (ill health, unemployment etc) but still pretty chirpy…..

I think it’s important to look at it in the context of what’s feasible for you. The most major thing I did was probably emigrate but it didn’t feel like a biggie at the time because the stakes were low ( no kids, didn’t like my job anyway etc). Now I’m at a life stage where my options are narrower and I have to consider what’s best for the kids ( I don’t buy into the ‘kids are adaptable’ narrative). I find the key thing is to do something that challenges your perception of yourself), however big or small.