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!

Dd sleeping through the night would change my life

It's not a thread about 'How do you make your life easier without resorting to doing stuff that other people might not be able to afford.'

Yes, this.

This is a thread about people's own way of improving their quality of life, there's no reason to come on and whine because someone says they rely on it. It's bloody tiresome frankly.

I'm similar to you laqueen - cannot abide clutter or mess. It makes me stressed! DH doesn't seem to get it, he could happily live surrounded by every possession he has ever owned

I would like some tips on how to improve though :o I'm pretty good but not quite clockwork :)

I agree with Laqueen. I have distanced myself from a very negative and draining friend. I used to feel sick when the phone rang incase it was her. She begrudged good things happening though would never admit she's anything but a saint.

I love this thread, I have just looked at buying a handheld Hoover so I can do the stairs more easily. I also looked at a roomba -that will have to go on my wishlist for now though!

My one thing is my tassimo, I treat myself to a nice chai tea latte or hot chocolate once a day and put my feet up, sit in the garden and read my book. I was given it as a Christmas present and I know it's a bit sad but it really has improved the quality of my days.

• LaQueenOfTheSpring Tue 22-Apr-14 19:30:20

Sounds wonderful to me!

We have a creative bag but you have inspired me to organise that more.

LaQueen You should start running classes on it all a la Anthea Turner but a better version

Totally agree about draining people, am only starting to do this.

Anyway my feel good things is definalty flowers in summer, I sow oodles of sweet pea, I like to literally, be drowning in them.

All sort of other flowers anyway, then add sweet pea and other annuals each year. I get enormous pleasure from them, picking them, seeing them all over the house in summer/autumn. There is something very cathartic tending to a garden.

DISCLAIMER: This is what I feel makes me happier, I understand others have no garden or very limited one in which they cannot grow, sweet pea

Thank you for sticking up for me LaQueen. Two children with two toys = four toys. That's lego box, Polly pocket set, possibly a puzzle, basket food tins and till. More than enough in one sitting room and they still had things like dolls house, football table, train set on board under bed, etc., in their bedrooms plus sandpit, paddling pool, goals and netball thingy in the garden.

near I also imagine with your strategy you actually keep a handle on the toys and they remain in full set.

Oh, and also getting my shopping delivered. I hate trawling round the supermarket and always impulse buy so paying a few quid to order it online has saved me lots of time and hassle. Plus it's easy to change your mind and remove things from your online trolley, something I never seem to do when I'm in the shop for real!

I spend time being consciously grateful for what I have in my life and I remind myself daily. I avoid Facebook.

Icansmellsummer - how you do grow sweet peas? Do you sow directly from seed? Is it too late to do this now? I only ask because somebody gave me both sweet pea plants and cosmos last year that they'd grown from seed and nutured until ok to put out.

I want to do it myself this year....worried I might've left it too late! Sorry, completely off-thread, but would love if you could share your sweet pea secrets

Great thread!

LaQueen - the asking someone to batch cook you meals for the freezer is a fab idea (I hate cooking too!) as well as organising your wardrobe by outfit, thanks!

I agree with keeping everything tidy at home to ensure it's a calming and relaxing environment for everyone and to making lists and being organised.

Also, keeping in touch with and seeing good friends regularly and treating yourself with nice toiletries, food or beauty treatments as and when finances permit.

Oh hell yes awaywiththepixies - I deleted my FB account this time a year ago, its HEAVEN being completely ignorant as to what everyone else is up to (or what everyone else wants you to believe they're up to, in their perfect social media bubble world!)

Also, internet shopping for everything (the delivery fees are what you would pay in parking!)

Walking in the sunshine on nice days, especially by water.

I managed to maintain a full set of pretty much everything the DCs ever had by being vigilant about tidying it all up after they played and having rules about indoor and outdoor toys. I also put away several toys they really treasured when friends were coming over. It's disappointing for the DCs to have to skip playing something because of missing parts. Replacing sets gets expensive. Ounce of prevention, etc..

I also hate (with a passion) having to look for things, especially at the last minute. I find it stressful. So a place for everything.

Here are my tips!
-forget about ebaying, unless you are a cert to make over £10 on one particular item. Better to give to charity, pass on to someone. Basically get the item out of house as soon as you can and don't have big guilty pile of stuff sitting in a corner.
-have baskets, troughs etc in every available clutter spot. Even crap at the end of the kitchen bench looks tidy in a wooden wine box.
-put rails of hooks in all bedrooms and bathrooms, on back of doors etc. Train your dc to hang uniform & their TIE in same place every singe night. Also train them to set clean socks & underwear out. My youngest is 4 and can do this.
-play pick up for 60 secs. When heading out or before bed make everyone put things away for full minute. It makes big difference.
-dont think your dc need to be in every club going.simplify things as much as you can.
-do little bits of cleaning here and there & between ad breaks always. How much of life do we waste on ad breaks!
-batch cook one afternoon a month
-buy sandwich box for lunches so don't have to wrap sandwiches.
-buy cleaning wipes for loo for quick clean
-keep manicure set & polish in car to do nails while waiting on dc
-buy 2 nice pot for front door and keep them fresh with plants in bloom. Nice to come home to. I usually change my door mat every so often too. They are not expensive.
-take time to put outfits together, even casual ones, hang jewelley with outfit, ready to go for when you're in a rush.

As people have said, new cushions, candles etc are inexpensive ways to freshen a space.

• Aldi flowers are brilliant - cheap as chips and last ages.
• making time to read
• doing something straightaway rather than adding it to a To Do List
• a nice dessert
• swimming

This is a great thread. My head is so cluttered at the moment but I'm really trying to see the positives in things, keep some perspective and make time to enjoy life rather than simply feeling worn down by it all.

Becoming super super super organised. Or realising I am not a spontaneous, go with the flow person.

The house has to be straightened before bed, all surfaces clear.
Everything is ready from the night before.
I have set days for set activities.
Menu planning goes without saying.
Budgeting.
Attention to detail.
I am the type of person who sets aside time to buy birthday cards and has them filed under each month/name.

Basically being a control freak.

Learning to be patient and choose quality over quantity.

My car.

My career.

Knowing what suits me.
Knowing what 'picks me up' and not feeling guilty when I do.

I have a cleaner every two weeks and it's a priority for me. Would rather cut back on putting the heating on etc. I am very time poor, don't unfortunately get time for a shower every day. I am just too exhausted and sleep takes priority.

Getting the sunday papers delivered. It means I don't have to drag the dc's to the shop in the morning and it means the local shop employ a paper boy/girl and the DC's can hopefully get paper rounds when they're older.

We have a cleaner twice a week, so very little housework or ironing to be done. Tis tax deductible in Belgium too which is a bonus as we pay a fecking lot of tax. I generally work from home 2 days a week so batch cook food in the slow cooker/oven so the freezer always has something in it. I live by my routine. My work is really flexible - I can work from anywhere, where as DH tends to work late and has to be present in person. I collect dd from school, get home, light candles, defrost or stick something in the oven, feed cat, put tumble dryer back on, knock up a packed lunch. Chat to dd, check homework etc. DH loads the dishwasher and sticks a load of washing in in the morning before he leaves. I record stuff on Film On and stick something on the iPad for an hour or so whilst I do a bit more work. Then chill.

Prioritise sex

Cleaner/housekeeper several times a week

Say no to anything I don't want to do

Eat decent home cooked food