To ask what small things you have done to improve your every day life?

[Tiredandtense]

With the way everything is, I have been feeling extra stressed. For context I have a long term health condition and anxiety (both of which I am treated for).

I'm also finding being back in the office (3 days a week) exhausting so I'd like to ask if there are small things you have done (especially from home) that have improved your day to day life? I have been making a conscious effort to spend a lot less time on my phone, and especially Instagram/Facebook.

Love to hear your tips.

I always resisted meal planning but it's lovely not to be trying to conjure a meal from random ingredients every day. And I double cook and freeze once a week.

Stopped volunteering and participating in all school-related things apart from sports days, parents evenings, etc.

Got a big, energetic dog. Enforced exercise.

Meal boxes. Eat better without the shopping.

Decline most social things... I love my friends but find social events tiring.

Only check phone 3 times per day.

Stopping the giant mess/ giant clean cycle. Just putting things away / in washer/ cupboards/ dishwasher after use has made things simpler.

Religiously chucking away anything that hasn't been used in a year.

Also robot vac. Life changing! Just wish it would so stairs.

Melatonin

I work at home and prioritise getting out for a walk first thing in the morning. I may go to a nice cafe for a takeaway coffee, or a shop for lunch/food for later, or a bakery for bread, or just walk round the neighbourhood.
Feels like you've 'arrived' at work when you get home, so you can put your work head on. And there's research to say that getting out first thing for (I think) 10 mins minimum helps set your body clock.

If he complains he can cook his own, no?

• I schedule 30 min daily walk in my phone (and sometimes borrow my neighbours dog = win-win 🐾)

• Don't look at my phone for the last 30mins before bed and have significantly reduced my online time in favour of actually meeting up with friends in person

• Early coffee in the garden listening to the birds before everyone else wakes up!

• Audiobooks

• Singing as it regulates breathing and learning new songs helps focus on that rather than any niggling problems

• Decluttered before a recent downsize so less to tidy up

Also agree with writing 3 positive things at the end of each day.

I also got a dog and this has made a huge difference to me. I appreciate, though, that it might not be for you.

I have a little woodland walk that takes me by a lake. Time seems to slow down on my walks.
I notice the little things like how the wildfowl are, seeing their babies grow, seeing woodland plants grow. Berries and fungi now fascinate me .

I walk as fast as I want or as slow as I want. The dog loves snuffling about and I can stop at any time and watch and listen.

I can struggle with anxiety too, and these things have definitely helped:

Starting my day with something I'm excited about. I wake up around 5:30am, make a coffee, take it back to bed, snuggle my dog, and spend an hour doing whatever I want on my phone. Sometimes it's planning a holiday, or reading a book, or learning a new skill, etc.

Doing yoga every morning. It really just helps to chill my brain out.

Walking my dog afterwards. It really wakes me up and makes me feel good that I've done something that makes him happy before it's even 9am.

Gratitude journal. I have ADHD and really super struggle once things become routine. If I don't have something exciting grabbing my attention, I start to get lethargic and feel a trapped/depressed. So finding the things I'm grateful for even when things are boring really massively helps.

Making time for creative/sensual things. Playing my guitar, creating playlists, listening to music, lighting incense, buying new perfume, reading tarot, enjoying the smell of the laundry when I'm hanging it up, learning to draw, etc. Basically, I like doing things that engage my senses / give me an outlet / use my hands. I feel like it helps redirect all of my restless or anxious energy :)

It seems to me that the key to all of these is…get a dog! The cat is not going to be impressed 😸

(only joking before people complain - my cat makes my life much much better, although not so good for walkies)

I’ve done a few things that help me.

Have either a run or walk before work (I work from home)
Have a walk at lunchtime.
I listen to an audiobook when I walk. Started this in lockdown where I was thinking too much as I had to concentrate on the book.
I have fresh flowers in home office - have only done this recently and am really enjoying it.