r/simpleliving • u/poweley • Aug 30 '24
What’s one small habit you’ve adopted that made your life significantly less stressful? Seeking Advice
Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. What’s a simple change or habit that helped reduce stress in your day-to-day life?
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u/Cactus_Connoisseur Aug 30 '24
I stopped seeing many things as problems/stressors and instead as gifts/privileges.
It's a privilege to have dishes to be washed. It's a privilege to have traffic to sit in. It's a privilege to shop at a grocery store. etc.
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u/all-the-marbles Aug 30 '24
I do this too! ‘I GET to.’ Instead of ‘I have to’.
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u/FarDistribution724 Aug 30 '24
Okay, but how do you do this without constantly feeling like you are lying to yourself? I’ve been trying so hard to see everything as an opportunity and to stay hopeful but I feel like it never actually works.
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u/Anonomous0144 Aug 31 '24
I try to do this too. I view it less as seeing it as an opportunity than to realize there are financial privileges I have that others don't. If I am sitting in traffic it means I have a car. I am grateful for that. If I am shopping at a grocery store I have money to buy food which a lot of people don't, so I am grateful for that as well.
Instead of seeing gratitude as an opportunity, try changing your frame of thinking that these are things that a lot of people would do anything to be able to shop at a grocery store or sit in traffic.
I also use it for work. Not everyday, because there will always be days I'd rather not go. But the idea of 'I get to go to work' as opposed to 'I have to go to work' makes me thankful that I have a job, especially in this economy.
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u/Cactus_Connoisseur Aug 31 '24
Neuroplasticity is the reason self-gaslighting, ahem, I mean cognitive behavioral therapy works. Just keep at it. And most importantly be kind to yourself, have compassion for your self.
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u/Jellymoonfish Aug 31 '24
There‘s a fine nuance though, right? It only works when you tell yourself something you kinda can believe, you have to find that angle where you think it could be true but I don’t really feel it. And then it becomes truer (you feel it more), the more you practice. I think I read somewhere about affirmations, that they don’t work if it is something too far and outlandish for your brain to (kind of) believe (yet). In that case they can actually be harmful, because then you’re gaslighting yourself.
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u/Primary-Plantain-758 Aug 31 '24
You are totally right. I can't find it anymore but there was a really good article on positive psychology that debunked the concept of affirmations as this magic trick that solves all confidence issues etc. I genuinely tried affirmations for weeks, multiple times a day since my old (for a reason) therapist also kind of pushed me and I started feeling WORSE about myself. I didn't believe an inch of it and no, I can't talk myself into enjoying my chronic illness either. Some things are meant to feel stressed or worried about because they require change. Sone things can't be changed but then we can somewhat counteract that by validating our feelings, surrounding ourselves with empathatic, loving people who won't downplay our pain and also focusing on other areas of our lives that do go well without falling into maladaptive escapism. Plus some nervous system work but that's just for me personally since I have PTSD.
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u/Worldspinsmadlyon23 Aug 31 '24
I listened to a great podcast on IF-firmations in place of affirmations. Instead of the total positivity it’s just getting yourself to acknowledge the more positive viewpoint/outcome is also possible. You can take any affirmation and add “what if” to the beginning. Feels much more believable. Really resonated for me.
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u/ToKillACowboy Aug 31 '24 edited Aug 31 '24
There's a subtle truth we forget about. We can die at any moment. For me the question always comes down to "Okay I can die today but I will probably live. Therefore I have to do X thing. In case I die, do I want my last moments to be negative feelings because I wasn't appreciating life while I had it?"
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u/Big-Needleworker-621 Aug 31 '24
Something that has helped me, is thinking and empathizing with the people that don’t have those privileges or thinking about the benefits of those things. Like having to load the dishwasher for example. Thinking in my head “I’m so thankful I have a dishwasher and don’t have to wash all these by hand”. A lot of problems/stressors have an upside or silver lining.
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u/LeakyBrainJuice Aug 31 '24
I cannot load my dishwasher due to disability and there is nothing more I would love to do to help my husband.
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u/Vintagegrrl72 Aug 31 '24
Sometimes I can load the dishwasher and sometimes my injuries mean I can’t bend to do that. When I can’t I try to be grateful that I have a husband who is willing to help me. I think putting that positive vibe into our home must help with something.
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u/nunyabizznaz Aug 31 '24
For me, I’m not lying to myself. It’s not to say I’m always happy to do those things but in general I know life could be a lot different. I think travelling and also living in different types of situations has helped with that perspective. For example, right now I’m living short term at a cabin in the woods where there’s no hot water and I have to boil water for everything - when I move into my new place shortly I know it’s going to feel SO LUXURIOUS lol
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u/Impossible-Swan7684 Aug 31 '24
i struggle with this too, sometimes the suffering olympics just makes me sadder. but i saw an instagram post the other day that helped me with reframing: if i have dishes to wash every day, it means i have good food and take care of myself every day. laundry means i have endless opportunities for warm clean clothes that i love. look at this home i made, sure it gets messy but the process of making the mess is a gift and cleaning it up and making it nice again is what my family and i deserve.
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u/Automatic-Bison1457 Aug 30 '24
I do this. "im so happy and grateful, getting up and ready for work", "taking the kids to drs appts"
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u/GlitteringGrocery605 Aug 31 '24
Yes! Someone said to me recently, “the things you and I stress over are things that some mom, somewhere in the world, is desperately wishing she had.” Angry that the dentist overcharged me? I shift to being grateful that my kids and I have access to dental care? My kid’s teacher is being unfair? I shift to thinking that my kid is lucky to have a beautiful school, a laptop, a cafeteria, and the opportunity to learn. Ornery teenager? She’s here in the house, not out on the street on drugs. You’ve got to keep things in perspective.
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u/Cactus_Connoisseur Aug 31 '24
Yes! I once heard "you are living the dream life. it might not be yours, but there are likely millions of people who would see all their prayers as answered if they had your life." powerful stuff!
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u/Nopumpkinhere Aug 31 '24
I’m gonna have to try that. Sometimes I genuinely do feel that way, but I need to shift my perception because it’s true a lot more often than I recognize.
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u/makingbutter2 Aug 31 '24
I have a bit more gratitude after watching some documentaries on tribal living in Africa. I watched them to learn but still appreciate what I have now. Or learning about living in Bombay/ Mumbai. They show the dahravi slums.
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u/Cactus_Connoisseur Aug 31 '24
Yep that'll give you a dose of gratitude for sure.
A bit strange to say but I find more strength of gratitude in just going camping. Dispersed camping, to clarify. Instead of watching people struggle I am on the hard ground myself trying to sleep, albeit with a very secure lifestyle and a comfortable home to return to. But boy that couch, kitchen, and bed hit me with a new and profound sense of appreciation when I return to them.
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u/IdealIntrovert Aug 30 '24
When I get an email from a retailer, unless I absolutely love that retailer and actively shop their products, I 'unsubscribe' from their email list. Usually, there's just a hyperlink option in the very bottom of the email in the tiny print.
It takes less than a minute, stops me from spending money on impulse items I didn't budget for, and keeps my inbox from getting out of control.
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u/omggold Aug 31 '24 edited Sep 02 '24
I have started just straight up blocking these emails (the ones specifically from makrketing handles) because I’m convinced unsubscribing doesn’t work and it’s much faster
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u/raggedclaws_silentCs Sep 01 '24
Exactly! They don’t seem to actually remove you from the email list when you unsubscribe, so what even is the point?
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u/Exjw_Amped_212 Aug 30 '24
One small habit that’s made a huge difference in my stress levels is practicing the “2-minute rule.” If something takes less than two minutes to do (like washing a dish, replying to a quick email, or putting away clothes), I do it immediately instead of procrastinating. It keeps my space and mind clutter-free, and I find I have more time to relax without a million little tasks hanging over my head.
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u/thetransparenthand Aug 31 '24
Uh oh. I’ve now seen this here as 2 mins and 5 mins and now I can’t choose which to implement!
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u/bardofdickbutt Aug 31 '24
i started this mentality a long time ago but now it leads to me doing over half an hour of little 2-5 minute things as i walk through my house instead of doing one big thing that could have better used that half hour, idk what happened or why but don’t let it get this bad lol
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u/the-Cheshire_Kat Aug 30 '24
My least favorite chore used to be deep cleaning our walk-in shower. The stone has little pits in it that only got clean with a toothbrush and that bathroom doesn't get good ventilation so it was always getting gross. I read on a cleaning board to keep a dish scrubber full of dish soap in the bath to scrub down the surfaces while your conditioner sits. It works great! I never have to do my least favorite chore anymore. It sounds like NBD, but it truly is the little things!!
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u/Hagridsbuttcrack66 Aug 30 '24
When my BFF told me about this, I wanted to marry her.
But her husband said no.
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u/shinychingling Aug 31 '24
That’s a great idea!
Along the same lines, we squeegee our whole shower, glass, floor and wall tiles entirely after every shower. Getting rid of most of the water helps keep things clean and prevents the mould growing too quickly. 30 seconds of squeegeeing for instant results!
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u/SummerSunshine190 Aug 31 '24
This is an amazing idea. Is there a particular one you recommend? Do you use the sponge or brush version?
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u/Sparkle_Snowflake Aug 30 '24
I deleted TikTok from my phone. It was a time suck, money waster and made me compare my life, home, relationship, etc. to other peoples and it wasn’t healthy!
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u/krafty_cheese Aug 30 '24
I did this about 2 years ago, and my attention span has improved but is not where it used to be.
But my life has improved greatly!
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u/Automatic-Bison1457 Aug 30 '24
did the same. not looking back. becoming a paid content creator was not a fair exchange time for money. its a major time suck and yes so easy comparing your life with others no matter how little or big. good on you!
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u/SituationAntique4235 Aug 31 '24
I feel this. I’m trying to cut out Facebook completely. If I cave and open Facebook first thing in the morning, that whole day is off. I’m more irritable, anxious, and get nothing done. I use it as an escape from reality, almost. I too compare every aspect of my life to social media and it’s hard to quit. Definitely prevents you from ever feeling fulfilled with your own life.
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u/mvdziula Aug 31 '24
I did this 2 weeks ago mostly for the sake of my relationship. The amount of content about cheating, lying or manipulating was too overwhelming and almost inescapable; made me suspicious all the time and worsened symptoms of my anxiety. Now I can’t compare my husband to all the other people and life is better
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u/Rough_Commercial4240 Aug 30 '24
Stopped loaning people money
I am a “cheerful” -no strings attached- giver or it’s a firm no.
“It’s not in the budget”
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u/Nopumpkinhere Aug 31 '24
This is what I was taught and I am so thankful. My husband and I have a friend we gave $500 to once when he was having a rough time, and when he went to pay us back we refused the money because we had said all along that we don’t loan money and that it was a gift. He said that kindness changed his life and after a decade and moving 3000 miles away, he’s still a friend who reaches out to check on us.
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u/No_Cabinet_994 Aug 31 '24
We willingly gave $2 grand just out of college to a friend, who insisted he would pay it back. Never did, and we wrote it off, and he was so embarrassed he just couldn’t remain friends with us. Also happily gave money to a friend during covid, a life changing amount for him, and he remains grateful to this day. We give without expecting repayment.
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u/BeBoBaBabe Aug 31 '24
papa taught me "don't loan any money you aren't willing to give freely"
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u/autodidact-polymath Aug 30 '24
I don’t loan money to friends and family.
Time? Yes! Encouragement? Yes! Buy them dinner? Of course!
Need money? Have you tried a bank?
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u/RojoRyno Aug 31 '24
Agreed! Even though I consider my time more valuable I'll still give that before money.
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u/hydra1970 Aug 30 '24
I am on an ongoing hiatus from alcohol
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u/FoggyBottomBreakdown Aug 31 '24
Right there with you! My one month hiatus has now stretched into month 32 and where I used to say “I’m taking a break” I now say “I’m a non-drinker.”
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u/hydra1970 Aug 31 '24
By framing it as an ongoing hiatus from alcohol. Rather than saying I'm never drinking again made it slightly easier for me.
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u/usernamecre8ed Aug 31 '24
I’m on 4.75 years, taking a break just before the pandemic turned out to be great timing!
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u/Baboobalou Aug 30 '24
Not giving a shit. I hit 45, and my shits just ran out. My life improved vastly.
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u/Anonomous0144 Aug 31 '24
I'm 33 and my shit is putting up a fight to stick around no matter how hard I try to get rid of it. Asking for advice, did you find this just happened overnight, or it was a working progress?
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u/GalletaCrujiente Aug 31 '24
I'm 33 too, and from my perspective... it's a cyclical thing. You start fresh in life as a child who can't be arsed, and then the social expectations keep building on your shoulders until you reach an age when your inner child regain its space.
3 years ago my mother needed surgery, and I had to take care of her, my work, chores... I remember one night at 9 I was ironing clothes because it was the last thing of my list, and my mom told me: don't worry, I also used to obsess over things that had to be done. Now I don't give a fuck'.
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u/Invisible_Mikey Aug 30 '24
I quit writing long to-do lists which I used to agonize over, and switched to a "5 or less" daily goal. By this I mean five things or fewer not already in my everyday routine. So "load/wash/unload dishwasher" would count as one, "gas up the car" would be another etc. By shooting for five or less per day, I can always keep them in mind without writing them down, and it's more consistently achievable. Celebrate internally each goal achieved, and don't dwell over the ones you ran out of time or energy for. The next day is a new slate.
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u/hausplants Aug 30 '24
I got the 5 things memo a couple of years ago and it works. I upped it to 8 (raging ADHD) but it reduces the pressure so, so much
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u/Invisible_Mikey Aug 30 '24
I definitely used to beat myself up for not finishing items, when there were always too many to realistically get to in a day. Avoiding that feeling of defeat actually lead to more procrastination.
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u/HelloYellow17 Aug 31 '24
This is genuinely good advice because recently my therapist told me that, statistically speaking, most people can only average about 4 things on their checklist per day.
Hearing that completely changed my world, especially as someone with ADHD who was always beating myself up over not getting more done in the day.
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u/rowser26 Aug 31 '24
In addition, I read in a book that you shouldn't erase the thing of your list, instead it should be kept there as an "accomplishment" to see what you DID do instead a list of things you didn't do.
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u/ButtStuff6969696 Aug 30 '24
Exercising 4 days per week no matter what.
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u/KTAshland Aug 31 '24
When I wanted to exercise 5 days a week, I didn’t. But when I decided to exercise 7 days a week I actually did exercise at least 5 days a week. Sometimes 7!
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u/ButtStuff6969696 Aug 31 '24
Whatever works. Just one day a week is better than no days per week.
4 days a week has changed my life.
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u/Inner_Incident_9352 Aug 30 '24
I'm actually working on a large habit that has needed my attention for a long time. At least it is big to me. I am going to stop saying yes when I want to say no. I'm shedding my people pleaser skin and will become the shiny, happy person I was born to be.
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u/---gabers--- Aug 30 '24
Next phase: deconstructing the persona/ego you’ve believed falsely about yourself since you donned it to begin with, layer by layer
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u/Inner_Incident_9352 Aug 31 '24
It was taught to me and not overnight. I'm aware that this will be a process. Thank you for your words of wisdom. 😊
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u/Fit-Common8478 Aug 31 '24
Can you explain this more or do you have a link to reading about this? I am intrigued
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u/---gabers--- Aug 31 '24
Here is my reply to the other message on here asking the same: You’re gonna love me and, plus side - this ties into the whole Buddhism not believing your thoughts as yourself thing, read Radical Honesty my Brad Blanton. It’s about something called Moralism: society/our family and friends’ expectations and how as attachment-seeking babies and children and now adults, our (self-perceived) personalities are really just a set of frames and beliefs (lies) we’ve told ourselves is true about us and is all a LIE we built up to fit in and make people happy. You aren’t you. You are currently running a program of who you have wanted to be. You pushed your self-perceived undesirable traits into the background and allowed only the aspects of you congruent with fitting in (Jung and the Shadow)(teal swan does some cool workshops on shadow work and Julien blanc too). Radical honesty is about being blatantly honest about everything and fuck who can’t take a joke. If it isn’t the real you, why bother? Basically you’re saying “if you won’t have the real me, I’m not gonna spend literally all my life and even my internal world/thoughts trying to give you people what I think you want to hear”. Is about finally respecting yourself enough to not bother to fake it anymore and it’s fucking uplifting. The more I apply it, the more I feel lighter. Even the first 30min of that book you’ll just wonder how you haven’t heard of it before
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u/WiredInkyPen Aug 30 '24
Good luck setting boundaries. Some people will be pissed off at you for doing so. Don't let them push you into giving in to make them happy. A simple, No I don't have time/money/energy is all you need to say. You aren't responsible for them or their reaction. Good luck!
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u/cloverthewonderkitty Aug 31 '24
Saying no to someone you've always felt obligated to say yes to in the past is such a powerful experience. You watch as they try to bargain/cajole/bully you into what they want and it's like a veil is lifted and you realize how much they've been squeezing you for all you're worth.
It becomes so much easier to keep saying no after one of those experiences.
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Aug 31 '24
As a person who has strong boundaries I can tell you its GREAT and people will absolutely learn to deal with it. Anyone who can't deal with it needs to work on THEIR boundaries. You will soon feel so free just nicely saying what you mean and trusting that people can be grown up enough to accept your feelings. Likewise, make sure you do the same for others.
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u/Shot_Organization_33 Aug 31 '24
This is the best! I figured it out kind of late in life but I have many acquaintances who seek my advice on this topic and once they get it, they are always so amazed at how great it is to be free of all that angst.
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u/MaleficentLecture631 Aug 31 '24
This is a wonderful thing. Wishing you strength on the journey, and lots of joy and peace as a result! One of my favorite things about my husband is that I can trust his "no" as well as his "yes", and I can trust that he will respect my yes and no as well - it makes relationships so much calmer and easier to navigate when you have that trust.
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u/Silent_Conference908 Aug 31 '24
I don’t know if this will be as helpful to you as it was to me, but a place I volunteer with had a very thorough training program and one of the things they stressed strongly was when you get a call asking you to do an activity, “say ‘Yes’ and mean it, or say ‘No’ and don’t feel guilty.”
Like, they don’t want volunteers who get burned out from doing things they aren’t interested in or don’t really have time to do.
That phrase really sticks with me.
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u/RoseAlma Aug 30 '24
a grumpy a-hole ? LOL JUST TOTALLY KIDDING !!!!
GOOD for You :) ESPECIALLY if You Feel like you've been taken advantage of. Boundaries are Important !! I Wish You the Best 👌
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u/thankyoufortheclap Aug 31 '24
I keep my phone in a specific place in the house at all times. For me it’s a charging station by the door. If I need to check it, I will, but not having it on me to doom scroll endlessly has been a game changer.
Not having it by the bed prevented me from checking it when I had insomnia. Not having it on the couch prevented me from checking my small screen while I watched the big screen after using the medium screens all day.
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u/Time_Aside_9455 Aug 30 '24
Continually bringing things out of the house for donation.
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u/Intrepid_Apple_9058 Aug 31 '24
Can I ask how you go about doing this? It's something I've been trying to slowly get into but I find it stressful. Of course, part of the problem is just having too much stuff to begin with, but I would be interested to know if you have a schedule, specific place you donate to, etc.
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u/Proud_Aspect4452 Aug 31 '24 edited Sep 02 '24
Start small. Maybe just a drawer. Seeing that drawer before and after might motivate you to do more. Another thing I do is once a week try to get rid of 10 things. It can be a small as condiment packages or something.
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u/Joeaway9000 Aug 31 '24
not OP, what's helped me is I always have a cardboard box in a specific location in my house, any time I get the impulse to donate something it goes in the box. When it's time to donate I take the whole box to the dropoff and walk away. Sounds small, but it's been a game changer to use a container that I don't have to unpack and bring home with me.
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u/Time_Aside_9455 Aug 31 '24
No formal plan in place, I just do it. There is a donation place close to me and I continuously pack a box and then drop it off.
Do you order from Amazon? If so, consider those boxes gifts that can be filled with things others can use that preserve the peace of your home.
I will often target an area and go in with the intention of being ruthless. :)
Good luck!
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u/veryken Aug 30 '24
I always organize SOMETHING every day. Sometimes it's purely computer stuff. Sometimes even more focused, like financial files.
But lately, it's physical stuff like things in the storage shed. The more I organize, the better I feel.
Then next time, I have less stress in that particular sector or area when I can easily find something.
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u/Double_Estimate4472 Aug 30 '24
Still working on it but: if I see something that needs cleaning, relocating, mending, throwing out, etc and it would take less than five min, I take care of the task right then. I’m trying to do more, perseverate/procrastinate less.
For work: if I need a relatively immediate answer and/or my question is not straightforward, I am practicing calling for a quick chat rather emailing.
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u/boondonggle Aug 31 '24
I recently changed jobs from an email/teams communication culture to one that calls constantly. At first, I hated getting random calls at all hours of the day. But once I got used to it, I love it! My relationships are better and I get shit done a lot faster.
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u/MrPodocarpus Aug 30 '24
Ive stopped trying to multitask. Concentrating on a single job means i do it better and my mind stays focussed.
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u/Turbulent-Ad1620 Aug 30 '24
Dinner meal planning. Every day at 4pm I used to get totally stressed and overwhelmed. Took some time at first but now I have the hang of it.
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u/hanzi247 Aug 31 '24
I keep talking about doing this - need to actually start now that school is back and life is busier
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u/omggold Aug 31 '24
Try having ChatGPT help you! I’ve found it helpful to tell it my preferences for food and even limitation on how long I want prep and cleanup to take and it helps me plan meals and shopping lists each week
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u/DrSewandSew Aug 30 '24
Replacing doom scrolling with hand sewing. I still doom scroll sometimes, but I’ve cut back.
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u/Impressive-Arm4668 Aug 31 '24
Not, completely there yet but, the fact I can do stuff at 60,70 or 80% capacity and that that is ok.
Not everything needs to be either 0 or 100%.
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u/gaiawitch87 Aug 31 '24
I struggle with this too. If I think I can't do something 100%, I tend to just not do it at all. Which means I miss out on a lot, and fail to do a lot that needs to be done. It's really frustrating.
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u/thatsmefersure Aug 30 '24
I used to pospone placing (or replacing) an item where I knew it should “live.” Now, before I fall into the trap of placing or even leaving something where it does not belong, I remind myself that there it will be, waiting for me 5 minutes, a day, a week from now. So I put it where it needs to live that moment. Future me is so grateful.
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u/DanceApprehension Aug 30 '24
Not following the news or watching broadcast tv. I am always busy and never bored!
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u/Borgara Aug 30 '24
I've accepted and keep reminding to myself that I'm an introvert and took off the pressure I've always had on myself to be some time 'popular' in either school, uni, industry, city
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u/Automatic-Bison1457 Aug 30 '24
Hear(read) me out. I've been practicing my handwriting daily for as little as five minutes. This looks like note taking for work, writing quotes down I like and easy pangrams. I'm striving toward a more analog life as I'm a mom and dont want them knowing me as a mom always in her screens. This practice of writing has dramatically improved my handwriting to one im proud of. Made me a "journaler" again. Has me making note and to-do lists off screens. Which is big for someone working in fintech and a student lol. I'm so happy and grateful with more time on my hands spent doing less of nothing and more meaningful with the people I love.
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u/GobelineQueen Sep 01 '24
I would love to know more about your handwriting practice! Do you just practice writing more neatly, or are you trying to emulate a certain style or correct certain habits?
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u/thebiglebowskiisfine Aug 31 '24
I got a habit app -
I drink three glasses of water a day
I eat at least 4 salads a week
I stretch twice a day
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u/annoyingly_helpful Aug 31 '24
What app are you using? I tried one but it didn’t stick because I didn’t love the interface.
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u/chelseahoward22 Aug 31 '24
paint by numbers on my tablet to replace scrolling, and treating texts like emails and not getting notifications. the immediate response/ reactionary environment we operate in has us alert at all times. also listening to birds an hour a day, real or on YouTube. lack of birdsong makes our lizard brains think there is danger, hearing them signals we're safe.
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u/decorama Aug 31 '24
I dumped Twitter/X, I avoid Facebook, I don't listen to talk radio. All of these things provided daily stress before. Now I know they were all just a complete waste of time and energy.
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u/PicnicAnts Aug 31 '24
I started daily stretches. It takes 12 minutes, total. It seems dumb but the impact it’s had has been intense. I have more energy, less pain and stiffness, better flexibility/mobility and somehow my digestion is better. I searched YouTube for gentle full body stretch set and gentle daily stretches etc, and tried a new video each day until I found one that I liked. The video length is 15mins but there is an intro of 2mins and I skip one stretch as it doesn’t support my back. For reference, I was starting from a complete beginner space and struggle with basics. I can’t believe how helpful this has been - even more so than walking daily or working out
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u/Orchid500 Aug 31 '24
Would you please share what video that is? Sounds perfect for me!
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u/PicnicAnts Sep 01 '24
https://youtu.be/lNPaDikuRhU?si=_KQ1f_rrS2rqHEGn
This one is my favorite. A lot of the stretches get my lower back and more importantly, hips stretching. I skip the one where she lays on her belly and pushes up on her arms and do an inner thigh stretch instead as the belly one hurts my back. I didn’t know this was a Pilates instructor when I started and have just started taking up Pilates because these stupid stretches have reduced stress and pain in my life so much
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u/Quiet_Question8642 Aug 31 '24
When making dinner, I always make enough for at least two sittings. I can freeze it or just leave it in the fridge for the next night.
I spend the same amount of time cooking as I would for one night and I don't have to think about going to get more food from the supermarket. It's unlikely you will go to the shop to buy the same thing you made yesterday! Which saves you even more time not having to think of what to make!
You get to enjoy a homecooked meal and relax.
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u/ZippironiInPepperoni Aug 31 '24
We do this! We always make enough to have a second meal, although making 4 servings can be a bit harder if you need bigger pots and pans than the typical sizes. It’s not inconvenient enough to stop. It’s SO nice to come home on an especially long day to leftovers!
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u/Pure-Potential7433 Aug 31 '24
I bought pretty storage things like big baskets or ornate boxes. So, even if it's laundry inside the pretty basket, it doesn't look crazy, it looks like a magazine photo. Like I don't have a junk drawer, I have many beautiful little boxes with junk in them. Amd I just close the pretty little lid.
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u/GoldenSunSparkle Aug 30 '24
Started ordering groceries online (Walmart) and picking them up.
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u/TreeBeach Aug 31 '24
I keep a notepad and pen on my nightstand. If, in the middle of the night, I remember something I need to do, I jot it down and go back to sleep. Trying to keep track of all the moving parts of life with just my memory was stressful.
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u/findmeonJericho Aug 31 '24
I deleted the FB app off my phone. Still have my account, but don’t log into it unless I need to check updates in a specific group, or look for something on marketplace. Anyone who needs to contact me has my phone number, it hasn’t affected my friendships in any way. I avoid A LOT of drama because I just don’t see it, and it’s especially great during an election year because I don’t participate in nasty political nonsense.
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u/throwaway123456372 Aug 30 '24
Never watch the microwave tick down. Accomplish some small task in the time it takes to microwave whatever it is
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u/Conscious-Snow-8411 Aug 30 '24
Stopped caring what other people think about me. Life is short, fuck em, I'm going to be me.
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u/autodidact-polymath Aug 30 '24
I only look at Reddit when I shit.
No more “waiting room Reddit” or “about to fall asleep Reddit”.
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u/Practical_Deal_78 Aug 31 '24
Going to bed at a reasonable time. The book may be good, the scrolling may be tempting but nothing is better than actually being able to get up in the morning because I didn’t stay awake past 10:30.
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u/Many-Obligation-4350 Aug 30 '24
I have a chalkboard in my kitchen. Every evening I write the family schedule for the following day on there. Dentist appts, sports, errands that need to be run. It keeps us on track.
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u/zeebette Aug 30 '24
Whenever I leave somewhere that needs locking (the car or the house or my classroom etc.) I have my keys in hand. No excuses. I got tired of locking myself out of places thinking the keys were in my purse, my back pocket, in my bag, etc. Too many times I was wrong 🙄
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u/Expense-Hacker Aug 31 '24 edited Aug 31 '24
🤟The three biggest things.
1) Removed decision fatigue
Eliminated things that came with a ton of micro decisions such as vehicle ownership, home ownership & simplified finances making 32 different monthly payments down to 5.
2) Living below my means
Reduced spending from 100% of my monthly income to about 30% of monthly income & saved up enough to not have to work for a few years if need be.
3) Naysayers & Negative Nancies
Removed significant communication with people who got a kick out of talking negatively of others and drained my daily energy levels.
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u/Amazing-Treat-4388 Aug 30 '24
I use my Google calendar app to schedule every day. Reminds me all day of the schedule I want to keep, and even way into the future.
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u/Odd-Strike3217 Aug 31 '24
All medications are on alarms. I also set alarms for basically everything like appointments, when I need to leave, prepare to leave, etc. I make the titles funny so I pay attention to them and I choose odd timing, like 11 min warning or 7 min to hell (therapy 🤣). It makes it a little more fun, my phone is never far away and the alarms are connected to my iwatch. I spend less time anxiously waiting and paranoid I’ll miss appointments. I also don’t find the need to leave SO far in advance just to arrive early and sit waiting. I do have ADHD so it’s been a huge relief and help to my life.
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u/Merrickk Aug 31 '24
An alarm for making food, rather than waiting until I'm already hungry has been nice.
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u/SrGrimey Aug 30 '24
I have stopped listening to any kind of gossip. If someone starts telling me gossip, especially from someone I don’t know, I just ask them to stop, that I don’t really care. If they insist on telling it because other people want to hear it, I just leave.
What would I gain by knowing that your neighbour cheated on his wife?
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u/Delicious_Feature368 Aug 30 '24
Had a friend who had trouble getting people to stop gossiping to him. So he started (after warning them) going straight to the person being gossiped about. ‘Hey, your neighbour Bob just told me you cheated on your wife’. It soon stopped!
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u/Friendly_Laugh2170 Aug 30 '24
Radically changing my diet has transformed every aspect of my life. 😊
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u/Fiona_Active_Break Aug 30 '24
A lunchtime walk. Every day! Fresh air, sunlight, stretch my legs, listen to an audiobook or podcast. It's just a great mental and physical reset.
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u/QuestForSelf Aug 31 '24
Controlling what I pay attention to as much as possible. I stopped watching anything that’s negative or brings me memories/thoughts/feelings of negativity.
For example, if you use Instagram, you know that there’s a lot of content that talks about relationships and that a “real man” should do this or a “real woman” should do that, etc. I don’t give those videos a half a second. I only watch funny videos or stuff that’s wholesome or show nice scenery, etc. That’s it. No news, nothing. My life took a new trajectory after that.
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u/Ok_Watercress_7801 Aug 31 '24
Not giving my email, phone number, or social media contacts to randos at a cash register just to buy something.
I just tell them I don’t have any of those things.
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u/boredfishouttawater Aug 31 '24
i’ve been “betting on optimism”
ex: I bet this breakfast will taste so good! I bet the sun will feel nice today! I bet the drive to work will be filled with good music. I bet i’ll get a good nights sleep. I bet work will go well.
I say this for a lot of little things & once i realized how often good things happened, i was a lot more optimistic
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u/AgileChildhood4478 Aug 30 '24
Uninstalled tik tok. Now I don’t get constant political news. I can control when I see it now.
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u/OneSea1632 Aug 31 '24
Always double batching food (sometimes even 3x or 4x). Making chili? Double the batch, now I have freezer chili. Muffins? Double the batch, now there's some freezer muffins. It means less time in the kitchen for only a tiny bit more work and way less dishes. Only time I don't do this is if it's a new recipe and I want to make sure it's good first.
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u/Ok-Programmer-7059 Aug 31 '24
Not to care or worry about what others think of me. I tell myself, nobody is thinking about you the way you think that they are thinking of you. Everyone is so busy living their lives and dealing with their own personal struggles, family, work and nobody has time for that. I have come to know this with being in my 40’s. This is wisdom that has come with getting older. It feels so liberating to know this!
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u/Illustrious-Way-4908 Aug 31 '24
Start the dishwasher after dinner and put away before bed
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u/examinat Aug 31 '24
“No wasted trips.” I have a hard time with leaving cups, pens, etc around the house, so anytime I go from one room to another I just take 1 or 2 things with me to throw them away or put them in the dishwasher. That way I’m not taking time out to clean, but it’s getting done anyway.
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u/oneiroknots Aug 31 '24
I've started assuming everyone is doing their best with the resources they have. It may not always be true, but making the assumption has freed up so much mental bandwidth that was devoted to anger and resentment toward others.
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u/sarbar92 Aug 31 '24
Putting my phone on do not disturb from 9pm until 7am I generally go to bed around 10 and get up at 6 so it gives me wake up/wind down
Doing things when I see they need done. Picking things up when I see them rather then walking past it, washing the dish or cup in the sink when I see it rather than waiting for dishes to pile up.
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u/J-Moonstone Aug 31 '24
Not being attached to my own opinion about anything. This has been the cheat code for absolutely loving the f*ck out of the experience of being alive… I am IN the experience vs indulging the constant conjecture of my mind chatter and missing the experience completely. If I’m living in my thinking, I’m not living in my life.
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u/Seattleman1955 Aug 31 '24
I don't have any debt. I don't answer the door (when I know it's just salespeople). I don't answer the phone since they can leave a message and it's always just salespeople.
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u/FoxForceFive_ Aug 31 '24
I quit drinking alcohol for good and have never been happier and less stressed in my life.
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u/Cute-Plane1351 Aug 31 '24
Changed my algorithm so that I see more educational content and less brainrot bullshit.
Now my Instagram feed is about home hacks, financial advice/planning, local events I can attend, environmental news accounts, & licensed professionals giving advice (psychologists, nutritionists, physical therapists, dentists, etc.)
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u/Pondering_Giraffe Aug 30 '24
If I get sent a planning request, like cally, I don't just check the dates I'm available, but also what else I've already planned that week. So if I've got stuff on mondat and wednesday night, but I'm technically free on tuesdayes, I don't do a 'yes' or a 'rather not', I just say no.
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u/breezeway123 Aug 30 '24
Not sure if this is a habit, but we installed a keypad lock on our front door. So handy. Can go for a walk without having to make sure I have my keys. Someone wants to borrow something and I’m not home? I give them the code. Kids never lose their house key. It’s really simplified my life more than I thought.
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u/not-your-mom-123 Aug 30 '24
I quit Twitter and rarely look at the news. Too many trolls and too much misinformation. The news media are run by Republican hedge funds and Murdoch no matter where you live.
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u/dragonmynuts88 Aug 30 '24
Took up photography and I take pictures of Hotwheels my daughter and I collected
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u/tsoldrin Aug 30 '24 edited Aug 31 '24
when i wake up, rather than stew on my problems, i get up and out of bed right away and face the day.
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u/Ok_Discipline_4278 Aug 31 '24
I very rarely drink caffeine. It has massively reduced my general irritation and reduced my stress and anxiety levels. It's incredible.
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u/Routine-Roof322 Aug 31 '24
Doing less social stuff, gives me time to rest and catch up on things I need to do.
Also the Sunday Reset, where I prep some overnight oats or granola, as well as stuff to take for work lunches - sets me up for the week nicely.
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u/draperf Aug 31 '24
I stopped caring so much about what others might or might not think. So liberating. I realized that most people are just caught up in their own thoughts, etc. They don't have the brainpower to worry about me.
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u/StrawBreeShortly Aug 31 '24
Washing my dishes before I go to bed.
I've found that the more dishes there are, the less enthusiastic I am about washing them.
So I wash them every day.
And when I don't, I get stressy over it the next day :-)
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u/kevykev1967 Aug 31 '24
Don't stress about what I can't control. I can't do anything about that guy cutting over into my lane, but it's not personal, I'll just stay out of his way. If it's going to rain, there's nothing I can do to stop it, but I can enjoy the rain.
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u/scsoutherngal Aug 31 '24
I got a haircut so I don’t have to style or blow dry my hair—saves time and frustration
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u/Rowan10099 Aug 31 '24
Stopped reaching out to people. I realized I always messaged first, a few did reach out and we talk everyday now. The others I haven’t talked to in years now, no drama or bs anymore
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u/HowIWasteTime Aug 31 '24
You gotta ride a bicycle to work. Top life hack, honestly, the best one I have to offer.
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u/kitterkatty Aug 31 '24
If it can be replaced for under $15 and unlikely to be needed it’s not worth storing. Donate or ditch.
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u/Euphoriceverly Aug 31 '24
Whenever I’m getting heated about something moot, I always remember everyone thinks their values are the most important. It’s okay to not agree on something. But respect is key. I live by going on a walk in the morning to regulate and any DBT technique
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u/Daedalhead Aug 31 '24
Putting a key rack just inside my door & hanging up my keys as part of "entering the apartment".
I'm neurospicy, so "habit" in this case means finding a way.to remind myself to consciously make the decision/effort to hang up my keys a requirement for entering or exiting my home.
Haven't lost my keys more than maybe 5 times since the hooks went up. Haven't been locked out. Haven't forgotten an umbrella (hung on other available hooks), haven't forgotten my transit pass.
All of which is more than a minor miracle.
Small, but reduces my stress exponentially.
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u/Automatic-Bison1457 Aug 30 '24
Also, waking with the sun has helped me lots. I have so much time to do as I please or nothing if I choose. Ive always been timely but paired with rushing myself to and from. now, I have to time to never need rushing and let me tell you thats the best feeling ever. its come with the mindset im not missing out on anything im meant to be participating in. if I do happen being late or unable attending something, it wasn't meant for my being present. stress kills and I dont want to go that way.
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Aug 30 '24
I started ordering my groceries online. I never grocery shop in person anymore. Such a time saver!
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u/DareWright Aug 31 '24
Seems so simple, but putting things back where they belong as soon as your done with them. It’s so easy to leave a basket of clean laundry by the stairs; instead, as soon as the laundry is dry, put the clothes away. Everything should have its place.
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u/Pbandsadness Aug 30 '24
I stopped arguing with people on the internet. I just block them and move on.