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.

Allowing myself time out.

Paying off the mortgage early

Dh works in travel and the last year would have been significantly more stressful if we had to worry about making mortgage payment . We went through 5 months of furlough, 3 rounds of redundancy and his job is still dicey .

Knowing that we could survive both working nmw jobs (with a lot of cuts to discretionary spending) has been incredibly comforting

Also prioritising experiences not things since dc were tiny . So many lovely memories and so little stuff

Started sea swimming and paddle boarding. There's some local Facebook groups that have hundreds of members, and it only takes 1 to post that they're going swimming at 6.30am on Friday or paddle boarding 8.30am on Sunday and it gives me the push needed to get up and get out there.

The feel good from an early morning swim or paddle is fantastic and then the friendships made are an absolute bonus.

Had a gastric bypass, best thing I ever did (except have my son) and paid privately.

Emigrated to Germany: new career, new life, much better standard of living for us and a much improved work environment.

Started going to a gym and lifting weights: the aches and pains I thought were just an inevitable part of getting older went away, and it has really improved my (wonky from birth) joint stability.

Started anti depressants, lost 12 stone in weight, plus an extra 15 stone of dead weight by kicking out abusive arsehole ex.

I'm really intrigued by this. I feel much like the OP, a bit stuck, nothing terrible, but not really going anywhere. I find the UK, with the current state of social mobility really challenging and I am just stagnating and feel constantly tired for not much gain. I can't get on the housing ladder despite me and OH earning above average household income.

I have thought about moving elsewhere and heard that Denmark/Sweden offer lots of opportunity and a great work life balance. I can try to learn the language, but I'm not sure I'll ever be great at it. Is this a huge barrier? How did you make the transition.

Also interested in the post about starting a business, as the penny dropped a while back that in the UK you rarely prosper working for someone else, unless you have family financial help, which I don't have.

My additions to this thread are:
-Exercise and minimising wine. Much better MH for it.
-Realising most of what you read is an opinion and doesn't really matter.
-When you buy crap you can't afford, to impress people you don't like to keep up with the Joneses you give your power away, and perpetuate a superficial and meaningless world which values status and money over compassion.

Sorry, my above post was a question for FatCatThinCat

I had a breast reduction and a tummy tuck!

We started using an app called YNAB (youneedabudget), got control of our finances, cleared 40k of consumer debt and started investing in our futures (pensions, ISAs) instead of in crap we don’t need.

Got Divorced
Had counselling
Realised that No is a complete sentence and doesn't require an explanation.
Moved house, downsized, so was able to sort my finances out

Stopped drinking. Life improved X 1000000

@ILoveAllRainbowsx

I have had problems with a weak left knee for almost 10 years. I have been to an oesteopaths, but he did not help.

I decided to look at pilates videos on you tube and after 1 week of 10 minute exercises, my left knee now feels as strong as my right knee.

Wow @ILoveAllRainbowsx please can you tell me which videos? Sounds amazing

I forgot one. Moving to compressed hours

So many inspiring stories! Well done everone!

I really need to lose weight and get fitter, that would improve my confidence and self esteem so so much. Will tackle it after DC2 (due shortly).

I have also quit shit jobs/moved country/traveled a ton and no regrets! The one thing I can’t seem to tackle is weight.

Has to be counselling for me too.

Also getting out of an emotionally abusive relationship

@buffysbuffet
Realised that being alone isn't lonely, it's freedom

Yes, agree with this.
It would be quite nice if there was also a power failure when I occasionally do get to be alone - no one can phone or email.

I must have been a nun or a hermit in a previous life.

Having children. I absolutely love being a mum and it gave me a sense of purpose nothing else ever had.

Also, starting my own business. I didn't really think about it at the time, but I am not at all suited to office life or FT work, so having reasonably well-paid work from home, and being able to manage my work load so that I have time off when DC are around or can take half days off to do sport etc - that has massively contributed towards my general happiness in life. And I do love my job.

I have thought about moving elsewhere and heard that Denmark/Sweden offer lots of opportunity and a great work life balance. I can try to learn the language, but I'm not sure I'll ever be great at it. Is this a huge barrier? How did you make the transition.

Not knowing the language can be a massive barrier but it depends on you set up. Pretty much everyone here speaks very good English and they like to use it. I often find myself having conversation with people where I'm speaking Swedish but they're answering in English.

DH has only just started properly learning the language as his job is in English (scientist).

I've found the language relatively easy (I say that as someone who is rubbish at languages). The grammar and vocab is very similar to English as they're both Germanic languages. I did French at school and I find it easy compared to that.

@cobblers123 the house must have been quite a lot cheaper if you were able to do that, surely? Curious as we're thinking of doing something similar!

[quote SquirrelFan]@FatCatThinCat oooh, have you thought about doing an AMA? Very interested in the differences![/quote]
No I hadn't. Never thought I was interesting enough. But just for you:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/AMA/4345480-I-emigrated-to-Sweden-AMA

Also, starting my own business. I didn't really think about it at the time, but I am not at all suited to office life or FT work, so having reasonably well-paid work from home, and being able to manage my work load so that I have time off when DC are around or can take half days off to do sport etc - that has massively contributed towards my general happiness in life. And I do love my job.

I would second this - best thing I ever did! It's fabulous to have that flexibility when you have young DC.

Thanks FatCatThinCat I wouldn't mind learning a language and picked up French well at school, but being older, it isn't retained as well as when you're 14 years old!

I have heard so many good things about Scandinavian countries regarding QoL and social mobility. I find a lot of people who move away from the UK are always surprised by how much better family life is abroad, and how much easier it is to get ahead if you are willing to work for it. It's nice to read about positive stories about this.

Going part time at work.

Taking up exercise has saved my mental health.

Going NC with my toxic parents.

Three things.

1 - went to counselling and finally got my years of depression and anxiety under control

2 - sorted out our finances and cleared our debt

3 - gave up the job I had worked towards all of my adult life. I did the job for - 10 years and it broke me. It’s not an out of the ordinary job but very stressful. I do something related now but in a much better environment with less ‘buck stops with you’. I’m so much happier.