What one thing do you do to increase quality in your life?

[Springhasspung]

What one thing do you do to increase your energy, or improve the quality of your day, I'm trying to steal little ideas that could make my life with two dcs under 5 and a busy DH tips are appreciated!

Ironing while watching TV with the DCs. They love it when I watch their programmes with them; I love watching my ironing-pile shrink. Win-win.

Having a cleaner didn't work for me - I didn't like having someone else in the house and it made me feel like I was failing in some way. I'd better add quickly that that is just me and in no way is it a comment on anybody else on the thread!

I like facebook but I like it much more since I recently organised my newsfeed so that I don't hear from people whose updates were draining me. I didn't feel I could defriend them for a variety of reasons, but this way I am more in control of what I see.

Singing with my choir at least once a week.

Used to spend a lot more time singing before I had DC, but now my min. once a week fix keeps me sane and is my mental/physical stress release and invigoration all in one - the cheapest therapy going!

Inspired by this thread, I've just spent the past 4 hours sorting out the DCs' toys. Ten bags are going variously to the charity shop, DS's school fete and on my local Facebook selling page, with lots of the toys unopened from their original packaging Incredible. The house looks so much better and no wonder!

Green finger we have to labs they're great although woke this morning to find the youngest has chewed the sofa cushion!

Someone recommended an alarm/reminder app earlier on this thread. I couldn't find it with a quick skim, and can't face reading back over 12 pages to find the recommendation. Did anyone else notice/remember the recommendation? I'd love to give it a go, and THOUGHT I had made a mental note of the name. Ha! Improving my memory is the thing that would give me a better quality of life.

TIA for any help you can give.

App is 'alarmed', I think

THnaks pretty - off to search for it

andharry well done

I did a major declutter on the m thread last year. Great feeling.

LOVE this thread.

Exercising is hugely helpful for me. I need to prioritise it more to keep me cheery.

I am also super organised and one of the best things I've done is to have a good clean and tidy on a Sunday night so that everything is lovely to get up to on a Monday morning.

Sunday to Thursday. Get clothes ready for next day-whether I have to be up at 4.30 or 7am, including tights, bra and pants.

Not think about myself too much, me time is an anathema to me
But I do like gardening and running which improve my mood, mental and physical health.
Laugh with my ds's and dh

We should have a cleaner as I'm genetically unable to do housework.

This is probably a bit of a ridiculous post and I know it's not possible for many to do, but this has changed my life immeasurably:

1. Quit state teaching and move to an international school in Asia (much less work and stress)

1. Get a housekeeper/nanny (very affordable in Asia. Feel good by paying over the odds and treating very well. House is always clean, washing and ironing done, babysitting available when we need it, children are happy).

1. Spend every possible moment/penny on exciting holidays. We are currently in the Philippines. In the past 2 years we have been to countless Malaysian islands, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, and now the Philippines

Sorry for the silly smug post, but my life, despite its ups and downs, is a thousand times better for the decision to move abroad.

Don't be embarrassed Loopyster it was something you were able to do that has enriched your life. It's not the scale of it but the motivation that intrigued me on reading this. Big life change!

Loopyster, I did wonder about mentioning the biggest thing that has improved quality in my life in the past year: leaving my H! :o

Funnily, knowing I'm now staying in the UK and am out of expat living for good is a major thing for me, too.

Each to their own! One of the fascinating things about this thread is that everybody is so different. Some posts I have read and thought: definitely not for me! But it works for others... Life's rich tapestry and all that.

I have a nap with my kids at least once a week. It's bliss!

Loopy, I'm so jealous. Feeling very inspired but think I might just go put the kettle on!

I have a wardrobe full of identical hangers (which is wonderful in itself) and once a year I put them all in backwards and then turn them around when I wear that thing. It's the quickest way to having a "sorted" wardrobe of nice quality, up to date clothes.

[jealous] Loopyster!

I'm about to change my name by Deed Poll to escape an abusive past. I will be calling myself by a name I have chosen, makes me feel more connect to my extended family and does not remind me of absent parents.

my dd is a complete rat when i pick her up from nursery (due to exhaustion) but if i already have her dinner ready (simple as it's usually just boiled egg and some sliced veg, with yogurt for pud - more elaborate meals are for weekends) then the post-nursery/pre-bed hour is much more manageable and there are fewer meltdowns. this realization and forward planning has made a huge difference for stress-free evenings. i'm not cooking while she grumps and i don't have to introduce tv watching into the equation, which always causes conflict when i turn it off.

Today went much better having prepared everything the night before plus I cooked in advance, I could take on the world!

Go for it Spring

I agree with decluttering. I try to minimise the number of possessions I own, discarding anything that does not get used or is superfluous. Living in that kind of environment really keeps my head clear.

Someone mentioned their Roberts Radio, it stuck with me so I simply had to order one today, made room for it on the kitchen top already, cannot wait for it to arrive...have a brew...listen to the radio...

Sending out our ironing and larger pieces of laundry. Clean bedding delivered back to our door every Sunday night ready for the cleaner to put on the beds on Monday morning. Bliss.
Our amazing cleaner
Paying monthly to have my car washed every Monday morning in the carpark at work
Burning a Jo Malone candle for twenty minutes in our bedroom before bed each night
Making packed lunches, packing my handbag etc the night before, so no rushing around in the morning
Getting up 20 minutes earlier in the morning so I can sit outside and drink coffee and eat my breakfast in a leisurely fashion
Taking two minutes to message my DH each morning to wish him a good day and tell him that I love him