Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mental health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Original poster

Anyone fancy a Do something new every day thread?

371 replies

woodcutbirds · 03/05/2019 08:01

Been discussing how much it helped kick me out of depression to do something - anything - every day that I'd not done before or not since childhood, or something I was scared to do. It made more difference than anything else.
Does anyone fancy having a go at doing something new every day for a week?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
BloomedAgain · 07/05/2019 19:12

Should say that I'd been avoiding this. It was painful but good to have a plan of exercises.

Original poster
woodcutbirds · 07/05/2019 20:36

Hi everyone,
I'm impressed with frozen avocado. Must give it a go.
Mine was tiny today. Had a big bubble bath in Wild Fi bubbles. DS choose them and I didn't think I liked the smell but he smelled so lovely when I snuggled him the other day that I used it today.
Bloomed - start small. Be kind to yourself. Make it easy.

OP posts:
CoffeeChocolateWine · 08/05/2019 12:52

I didn’t post yesterday but my something new was planning a new front garden. But haven’t actually done much yet. Hope it counts! I have deweeded and planning to put pots of lavender on one side and do a hanging basket.

Today’s thing will be a new meal to try out. Doing a smoky chicken tray bake. Wish me luck!

Original poster
woodcutbirds · 08/05/2019 16:10

Both those sounds fun. Planning a garden is a great idea.

Ages ago I bought some nail polish in a bright new colour but never dared try it so today's mission is to find where I put it and paint my nails.

OP posts:
BloomedAgain · 08/05/2019 19:37

I have just made a giant crustless quiche and that's a first for me. I had lots of veg and eggs going to waste, so I improvised and will slice and freeze.

Original poster
woodcutbirds · 08/05/2019 21:58

is that a quiche that is no pastry, just all filling - a bit like a tortilla? Never made one. Another thing for the list.
Couldn't find my nail varnish but looked up palmistry online as it was referred to in a book I'm reading and I suddenly got intrigued by the difference between your left hand (fate, allegedly) and your right (what you do with the fate you've been given.) Didn't get very far - it's quite confusing but fascinating, whether or not there's any truth in it.

OP posts:
BloomedAgain · 09/05/2019 10:21

Yes it's like a tortilla but I added a few spoons of flour which gives it a firmer and more pie-like consistency. I baked it at a lowish temperature so it has a nice crust.
I thought the right palm can also be the present and the left the future, but that kind of matches with fate/what you do with it. But that's the limit of my palmistry knowledge! Hope you have a good day.

CoffeeChocolateWine · 09/05/2019 14:12

Quiche sounds like a fab idea. Great way to use up leftover veg.

My new thing for today is a continuation from the other day...after planning a new front garden, I have made a small start by planting out a hanging basket. This is a first for me. I did some research beforehand to find out which plants and flowers do well and look lovely in hanging baskets and watched a YouTube video! So it is now hanging by our front door.

I just want to say thank you for suggesting this trying a new thing every day thing. I genuinely feel like I’ve progressed in the past week. Thinking of and doing something new every day, keeping a gratitude journal and just keeping a note of positive things I am doing each day is giving me a much needed boost and is a very welcome distraction from all the shit in my life that has been wearing me down. I even caught myself humming to myself earlier which I don’t think I’ve done in ages! It’s almost a week since this thread started, but I’m going to keep going with it.

BloomedAgain · 09/05/2019 16:12

Great idea! I've been researching garden stuff (I have an exciting thread about lawns Wink). As I'm in a rental I haven't done much about it as yet.
My new thing may be a hair conditioning treatment as I've run out of energy today.

Original poster
woodcutbirds · 10/05/2019 14:38

Went to a community garden today. Was given a lovely tour by a 75 year old man (fit as a fiddle) who then loaded me up with plants and fresh rainbow chard. It was so tranquil and lovely.

Went to the Van Gogh exhibition at Tate yesterday with visiting relatives.

Will have to make up for all this time off work over the weekend, but it's been lovely.

OP posts:
Original poster
woodcutbirds · 10/05/2019 14:41

Coffee I am so glad it's working for you too. I don't know quite how or why it works but it does. Best cure yet for pulling you out of a depression if you're starting to sink (not suggesting it cures a full-blown one.)
Maybe it just gives us something specific, manageable, fun and interesting to achieve each day. I'm happy to keep it going after this week is up, too.
Anyone else fancying carrying on?

OP posts:
BloomedAgain · 10/05/2019 16:04

I've never had chard I think.
My new thing today is watching some very young birds poking their beaks out of their nest in the garden. I've watched their parents from the start so good to see the eggs have hatched!

Original poster
woodcutbirds · 10/05/2019 22:58

Oh how lovely to see the birds. I've definitely never seen that in life, just on TV. Would love to. Where did they nest?

OP posts:
BloomedAgain · 11/05/2019 16:01

I've just trying to take a photo for you but they're too quick for me. They've nested in a gap under a roof (of an old garage).

CoffeeChocolateWine · 11/05/2019 17:50

Enjoying reading all your activities Smile Yesterday I made some dairy-free pesto from scratch (my baby girl is allergic to dairy and as I’m still breastfeeding I have to cut it out of my diet). Found decent dairy-free alternatives for most foods but the pestos are so bland. My homemade one was much nicer!

Today has been spent back in the garden doing a whole family gardening project. The new front garden is under way and has been really fun getting the kids involved too. Very satisfying seeing the results of our hard work. Still more to do though!

LonelyTiredandLow · 12/05/2019 08:34

Can I join? Love the idea and hoping to gain inspiration! Love the idea of doing a hanging basket. Might pinch that in the week!
CoffeeChocolateWine if you don't already I can recommend a basil plant on the kitchen window sil if you have one? Mine has kept going for 3 years now! Add a nice bit of greenery to the kitchen too Smile
This morning I decided I need to re-upholster an armchair that has sat in the kitchen gathering dust under a blanket. Can't find upholstery classes anywhere though! I might have to find something on YouTube.

Original poster
woodcutbirds · 12/05/2019 08:42

What I love about this thread is that we're all inspiring each other. Everyone's doing gardening now. I haven't gardened in years but inspired by you all, I 'm potting on the sunflowers given to us by the community gardener today and I want to make a herb garden. And now Coffee is making fresh pesto.
Good luck with the upholstery Lonely - a friend of mine does it (goes to a class) and she is brilliant. I did our kitchen chairs with fake leather years ago but they are starting to split. Now DC are late teens and almost old enough not to spill food when they are eating Grin I might have a go at redoing them in a more interesting fabric. Another inspiration!

OP posts:
Original poster
woodcutbirds · 12/05/2019 08:43

Sorry, just dived in there Lonely.

Welcome and yes please join in.

OP posts:
Original poster
woodcutbirds · 12/05/2019 08:44

Bloomed thank you for having a go at taking a photo. Your description is lovely. I can imagine them.

OP posts:
MrsKCastle · 12/05/2019 19:38

Thanks for carrying on with this, woodcutbirds. I have missed a few days as I've had a lot going on, but it has been lovely to read about everyone else's 'new's!

So for yesterday, I did a new couple of painted rock designs. Might be a nice new thing for others as well- there are lots of FB groups, such as Love on the Rocks UK, hidden rocks, kindness rocks. You paint a rock/pebble and leave it for others to find.

Today, I made doughnuts for the first time. My DD has just been diagnosed with coeliac disease so I'm having to find gluten free alternatives. I saw a simple recipe for GF doughnuts and thought, why not? They were yummy. Smile

Original poster
woodcutbirds · 12/05/2019 22:40

I didn't even know it was possible to make doughnuts, MrsK. I just assumed you had to get them from doughnut makers who had special recipes and equipment. Another one for the list.

I planted sunflowers, made a chicken pasanda and started looking for fabric to reupholster some chairs.

OP posts:
ADHDme · 13/05/2019 00:14

Gardening is on my list. I cooked a whole artichoke, they have always looked a mystery to me!

Also watched a film I Tonya. I so rarely sit and watch a movie so that's a treat, it was a really good film, multilayered and well told.

I walked round the local nature reserve which I have not done in months.

Bunnylady53 · 13/05/2019 00:22

I would recommend getting bunnies. I’d never kept them before. We got our 2 last summer, ostensibly for DD but I have completely fallen in love with them which took me by surprise. I have such a powerful emotional connection to them & so enjoy their characters & their funny little ways. They are wonderful therapy ❤️

Bunnylady53 · 13/05/2019 00:25

Sorry just realised I didn’t answer the OP but I stand by my post 🙂

CoffeeChocolateWine · 13/05/2019 10:49

I had a really great day yesterday! Feels so nice to be able to say that! But you know when you look back on a day and there are so many positive things about it?

So I had some lovely quality time with DD1 in the morning. So proud of her...she is 6 and gets £2 a week pocket money and saved up £30 to buy an Our Generation doll which she adores. Anyway, we crafted a wardrobe and bed for her doll out of cardboard together and made little coat hangers for her clothes. It was fun and DD is beyond delighted!

Project front garden continued. Gardening as taken over my life at the moment which is hilarious as I have never really done it before aside from planting the odd flower. I have no idea what I’m doing but I’m finding it very therapeutic and satisfying! And I feel like my husband and I have bonded over having a project to work on together. The depression I’m experiencing at the moment has mostly stemmed from marriage problems we’ve been having for about 18 months and have recently felt unsalvageable so this is a huge deal. There was lots of banter and team spirit. We obviously still have some very deep rooted problems that haven’t gone away but to just forget them for a bit and focus on something positive was really lovely.

And then later in the afternoon we all went downtown the river with my husband’s SUP board (stand up paddle board). This is a hobby of his and he often takes the older two with him for a paddle and a mess around and I usually stay at home with the baby but this time we all went...and here’s my ‘new thing’ for the day...I had a go! I’ve been on it before just paddling around with a child on the front, but this time I went off down the river by myself, just on my knees at first but then I stood up! I was a bit wobbly initially but managed not to fall in. And then I started to really enjoy it...it was so quiet and serene and peaceful just being on the water and taking in the scenery. When I turned around and came back my husband was there taking a video and the kids were cheering me on. It felt really amazing actually!

Sorry for the essay...I don’t expect you to read it but it’s good for e to write it down.