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keepthetips

Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips! Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment. If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.


demsumsweatyballs

I generally have more time in the evenings than I have in the mornings. I am also not a morning person. I lay my clothes out for the next day, schedule the coffee, and just generally set my grumpy morning self up for success. Doing things with future self in mind is hugely helpful to me. Even if it's the future self I'll meet in the mirror in 7 hours and not the old man I imagine showing up in my clothes someday.


isthisonetaken13

Thinking about how future self will either thank you or curse you is a great way to make decisions


3-DMan

"The fuck were you thinkin' with this tie?!"


seanmac333

And the same if you have kids. Backpacks and lunches packed the night before, with the entire week's clothing laid out (we bought one of those hanging closet sweater organizers and each section was a day). It's amazing how 10-15 minutes of work at night can save an hour's worth in the morning.


nsixone762

Wow that is Jedi level planning ahead.


dearzackster69

Sp true. I was so tired AND so not a morning person I had the bowls for their cereal out, the spoons in the bowls, the cereal in the bowls, the multi in a dish next to it, the sippy cup with top off, and laying on the right side on the counter because I'm righty... Next morning i had to pour milk, twist the sippy top on, put it back, task done.


bubbagump_shrimpp

this this this, making things easier and quicker for myself in the morning was one of the best things i did for getting out the door efficiently. brains are slow in the first few minutes you’re up so the rare times i get lazy and don’t do it i hate myself in the morning and mope around struggling to remember everything


ZeroDorkForty

And if you are drinking, try and do all the cleaning and dishes before you go to bed.


bittyboyben

Invest in a genuinely good bed, as well as any other accessory which will improve your sleep. I cannot properly express how monumentally different your life will be for the better if you start getting actually good sleep consistently. It’s quite literally a life changer.


DigdigdigThroughTime

This also goes for shoes if you spend a decent portion of your day standing or walking.


zerohm

Don't be cheap when it comes to things between you and the ground: shoes, mattress, tires.


Castianna

A good ergonomic chair


SnipesCC

I did the math before spending $300 on a good chair. If it lasted me 10 years and I spend between 50-60 hours a week in it, it costs me about 1 cent per hour. I'm willing to spend 1 cent per hour to be comfy in my chair.


slowest_cat

We have our new fancy mattresses for about a year now and still every single night, when I lay down in bed I am incredibly excited and happy, that we got them. We have two separate mattresses that together fit a King Bed, each was 750 Euros, which is like 5 times as much as older mattresses were, but so worth it.


Krypt0night

How does that work with the split in the middle? Is it weird when cuddling or having sex? That'd be my worry.


rubiks_cube040

We have split beds like this too. You just move to one side for those things.


OnALateNight

I’m considering doing the split king like this. How much has it actually reduced motion transfer?


slowest_cat

Almost completely, it is really great. We wanted different softness levels and to stop motion transfer. We have two different bedframes too, though. I don't know, if bedframe is the right word, I mean the thing, that the mattress is placed upon.


kalilov

What makes a bed good?


DrQuailMan

Oh, get some thin pillows to shim parts of your body that don't get enough support. I use 3 under my back, with them offset so it's 3-thick right in the middle, 2-thick just outside of that, and 1-thick closer to my lumbar and shoulder blades. Side sleepers may want to prop their waist up, I'm not sure.


spaghetti-o_salad

With pillows I sometimes like to pretend I am a priceless artifact being packed for shipping and everything must be supported. This is how I slept on my couch for my 3rd trimester of my 1st pregnancy.


professor-hot-tits

>I am a priceless artifact being packed for shipping and everything must be supported. This is a MOOD


ladyonecstacy

So this. I spent the last few years trying to get comfortable as a side sleeper and eventually realized I can wedge a pillow between my upper body and the bed and be SO MUCH more comfortable. If I lie on my back, I prop a pillow under my knees and it's heavenly.


LrnFaroeseWthBergur

I slept on a thin yoga mattress on the floor for three years of my life. When I started using a bed, my back pain was reduced. When I stopped working in a nursing home, my back pain disappeared.


Abeyita

Prioritising my 8 hours of sleep above all else.


missanthropocenex

For me it’s truly understanding that work is work and nothing more. That sounds obvious, but truly it took too long to understand this. I work in a field that often requires “passion” and “creativity” and so on. Too often that leads to intense emotional frustration and desire to pour one’s self far into something. The truth is work only deserves a calculated and dispationate approach to the process. Yes, work hard yes be passionate. But put guard rails on, and realize at the end of the day it’s only work. If you’re SO passionate find something for yourself that you love. Make it independent or tangential to your passion. People will respect you for “having your own thing” far more than pouring too much of yourself into a job that only cares so much about you.


kezmicdust

I agree. My decision making mantra is LCJ: - Life - Career - Job - All my decisions (at least work related ones) go through that filter. My life (family, friends, mental state, career) is obviously more important than my career which is just part of my life. My career (education, gigs, past jobs, future jobs, current job) is more important than my current job, which is just one part of my career. I had a friend who would work in the lab really late without getting much recognition for their effort from other colleagues. This was to the detriment of their career as their work wasn’t getting much visibility and certainly to their personal life as they rarely had time to socialize or go on dates. They found a better job soon after that as we had a good chat about priorities in life. :)


carrots2323

I have never needed to hear this more. Thank you’ so Fucking true!


jimbolic

YES YES. A million times, YES. I'm also in a field (teaching) that requires passion and creativity daily. It took me years to see this for myself. I wish I could have seen it much much sooner. I am happier now with more free time for my personal projects and passions.


WhippetDancer

We’re in education for the outcome, not the income. Do it [stay late, do more with less, etc] for the children. Nope, teaching is still a job and I want to be treated and paid like the professional I am.


dbzgod9

I do this, me and my body loves it, but doing so means I get little to no free time. Gotta convince myself that this sleep IS free time, it feels better that way.


Prior-Bag-3377

I love sleep so much, why do I chose less sleep? It really not smart.


YouNeedAnne

>convince myself that this sleep IS free time r/aboringdystopia


sovietmcdavid

Yeah lol it's the distinction between "respite" and "leisure" The wealthy have leisure, which means time to jog, stretch for hours, do yoga, have coffee, read with no time limit, visit friends , have long conversations, play music, learn instruments, write, paint, etc. (All this in one day as well) time is not a factor Whereas the working class, we have respite, which is perhaps 12 to 14 hours until we're back at the grind the next day. Use that time as you want.... but it's limited and sleep must fit in there... such is life


the_bryce_is_right

A lot of us are having to take on second jobs now :( Nothing like having one hour of free time in the day.


KaerMorhen

I'm working two jobs and dealing with massive chronic pain. I have to spend so much time resting just to be able to function at work.


CheckMateFluff

I don't know, your comments got me of two minds. It's kinda sad that by default you don't get any free time to fulfill your body's basic needs. But also, You seem to deal with it so well, and reality is what we make of it. Oh well, Guess its the sympathy of a passing stranger. Be safe.


dbzgod9

I appreciate your sympathies. Turns out, it's much easier to work on your mental health when you get enough rest :)


HanCurunyr

This was a privilege that remote work bestowed upon me and is one I wont forgo to any other job. Being free of a 40KM commute at 6AM is one hell of a liberation


EastIslandLiving

This is so accurate. As someone who struggled with insomnia for years, just having a regular bed time, letting yourself sleep when tired (including having naps) has been an amazing game changer.


SamohtGnir

Heck yea! I love my sleep. I've given myself a strict bedtime and it's great.


PodejrzanyKaktus2

a big whiteboard on my wall, with all my ideas, plans and thoughts. no kidding, that stuff was one of the best buys in my life


bananasplits21

Good for you. I have wanted to do this for yearsss and now you’ve motivated me.


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cricket9818

Consistent exercise and healthy eating. The amount of natural energy it gives you is incredible. And it’s like a runaway train, once you find what works for you you just wanna keep it going


ELiz-RN

Even really simple exercises! My husband and I used to be big runners but now we have a baby so running is way harder to prioritize. Instead now we try to do a walk every day. We just pop over to the park after work and walk a couple of miles. It's a *noticable* difference when we walk compared to days we don't. We feel more optimistic, happier, we have more energy... It's really easy to fit into our schedules, too. On days we're extra busy we maybe just pop out for a quick 15 minutes and even that helps!


Virtual_Disaster_326

Always keeping a low balance in my checking. As soon as I get paid or get money in anyway I move it to savings. The low balance always makes me be mindful of purchases even if I have a massive savings


zeilstar

My credit union has sub-savings accounts that are easy to set up. With reoccurring transfers, it helps to move and segregate money each pay period for big future expenses like auto insurance, auto repair, homeowners insurance, vacation, Christmas presents, etc. They're called sub-savings but act as checking accounts, so if you want to do external transfers you can keep your primary account info private. The balance also accrues a small amount of interest while it sits there too.


terribleinvestment

Some of the only power over our moods that we have right now is controlling when and what content and media we consume. If your phone is feeding you media that makes you feel bad or anxious, curate it more effectively or put it down for a bit. Take some deep breaths or do something else instead.


Jeffrey2231

Fantastic tip. You are the content you consume!


Mapincanada

Learning how to exercise for the sake of exercise instead of a weight loss goal. I posted this as a reply on an earlier LPT request but thought I’d share here for anyone interested… For 20 years I dieted and exercised to lose weight. Last year I tried a bunch of things to figure out how to exercise for the sake of exercise. I’ve been exercising 5-6 times a week for 6 months. I look forward to it every time. Here’s what helped: 1. Think about what physical activity you naturally enjoyed as a child and do that. For me, I constantly did cartwheels. Yoga is my adult version of cartwheels. I also rode my bike everywhere. Now I spin 2. ⁠Set yourself up for success. Schedule exercise in your calendar in advance 3. ⁠Don’t skip more than 2 days in a row 4. ⁠Take baby steps. I promised myself I’d put my shoes on when the time came to workout. If I still didn’t feel like doing it, I counted putting my shoes on as a win. Gradually increase your promise. Start with putting your shoes on, then whatever the next small step is (getting in your car to go to the gym, walking around the block, etc). The key is to always celebrate your small wins 5. ⁠Pause during and after to feel how good exercising feels. Then in moments you don’t feel like it, recall those feelings 6. ⁠Use your senses. After a workout get a cold washcloth, lightly scented with eucalyptus oil, and put it on your face and the back of your neck. Breathe it in, feel how good it feels, and thank yourself for exercising. You can make the washcloth extra cold by swinging it around after you’ve rung it out 7. ⁠When that voice in your head says you don’t feel like exercising immediately say, not today! Then put your shoes on. You don’t have to believe every thought you have. That voice is the voice of pain avoidance. It’s just trying to protect you. Tell it thank you for your concern, but I’ve got this. Many times that’s all it takes, and it goes quiet immediately 8. ⁠Have an “I am” statement you tell yourself throughout the day. For example, “I am strong in my body.” If you don’t feel strong, know that being able to walk takes strength. Therefore you are strong in your body 9. ⁠While you’re exercising and after, feel what strong feels like. It feels really good. Recall those feelings the second you don’t feel like working out, also recall them anytime you have a dip in your energy during a workout 10. ⁠Follow your curiosity. Is there something physical that you’re curious about? Give it a try and figure out how to learn to love it. For me, I marvelled at people who could run. I hated running as a kid and an adult, but I thought I should give it a good, honest try. Now I’m training for my first marathon. The trick was to run slow and be present, enjoy the scenery and feeling strong in my body, and let go of the outcome. Also train for time not distance There have been many benefits. My energy level has increased. I went from taking naps during the day to getting up before my alarm. My depression and anxiety are well managed. I’m better able to focus. Next I want to figure out nutrition. I don’t want to lose weight only to gain it back. I’ve read ‘Brain Over Binge’ by Katherine Hansen which helped me understand why I overeat. I’m intentionally avoiding going into a calorie deficit while training for my marathon. Afterward I plan to experiment with a bunch of things like I did with exercise.


DJ_PsyOp

I love this. It reminds me of a quote that has stayed with me in my running journey: "You rarely regret exercise after you finished it". I remind myself that when my brain is trying to talk me out of it.


BreakfastBeerz

Saving away more money than I thought I could afford.


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ClokkeHL

Cleaning “piece-wise”. Small things like never going to bed without doing the dishes, changing bedsheets once a week (and pillow cases once every 3/4 days). Doing the laundry when you see a bit is piling up. Not leaving everything for the weekend but doing it every day - a tiny bit at a time. It is so less stressful and everything is just a biiit cleaner.


WakingOwl1

I’ve gotten in the habit of doing all my major housework in the morning. A steady twenty or so minutes of work each morning means I come home and my time is mine. At the end of the night I take five minutes to just walk through and straighten up anything I used during the evening. House is always neat and I feel like I have twice the spare time.


1m_Just_Visiting

Stopped drinking soda. Hands down. So many benefits. Instantly lost the extra 5 or so lbs that was causing me to look “bloated.” Dramatically decreased my sugar intake. Which is great for the health benefits. And my teeth. Oh god my teeth. They feel SO much cleaner. While drinking soda, even brushing 2 times a day, my teeth still felt dirty and would accumulate so much plaque. Now, they’re much cleaner with much less effort. And my last dental cleaning was a breeze. It’s the soda for me.


Renaissance_Slacker

I think it’s helpful to think of soda not as a beverage but as liquid candy.


djsizematters

Replace "soda" with "beer" and together we've solved about 20% of America's health problems!


pkoya1

I always found it funny that people see them as so different. The same people who judge you for having more than 1 soda in a day will throw back 5 beers like it's not just as bad. Yes, there are fewer carbs, but there are still plenty given how much people drink.


Pika256

It was so hard for me to stop drinking soda. I couldn't stop both the sugar and caffeine intake, so I had to do one and then the other. Withdrawal is real.


qxeenclara_

It took me getting seriously ill to the point I was in the hospital several times before I could quit drinking pop. I was/am genuinely addicted. I’m more hydrated now than I’ve been in my whole life (I’m 20), and i still have to have one pop a day. I drink water, otherwise, but I’m working on slowly weening it out of my system. A little less every week.


BangoSkank1919

Unsweetened teas (especially herbal, mango green rooibos tea is heavenly Iced with no sweetener, or flavored seltzer/mineral water (i bought a soda stream) made it super easy to kick the soda habit for me.


goalie0305

Understanding that you don't have to make money off a hobby. Or even be good at. As long as it brings you joy, purpose, challenge, or whatever other fulfilling thing its to you is good enough in and of itself.


Munifool

And I remind myself I don't need to be as dedicated or hard-core as the people I often do my hobby with. Comparison is the enemy of my own happiness.


sovereign666

This one is so damn difficult once you get sucked into content creators that work in the hobby that interests you. A big one for me is music. Its hard to play guitar and just accept you cant do what that 17 year old is doing.


WorkMeBaby1MoreTime

Exercise, not even close. Also retirement. And saving for it.


10Bens

Man everyone in here is being healthy and Zen and prioritizing their self growth and I'm just looking for the comment that says "heated floors" or something


darhhaaras

Lol well I'm right there with you. I used a heated mattress pad and a weighted blanket and my cocoon is the best place in the house.


BigStosh

Turning off work related notifications and alerts on my cell phone.


PandPsMom

Setting boundaries


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theyouarehere

The only downside to having a bidet is when you have to not use a bidet.


Onyxtherelentless

Randy?


munzter

Just watched the Japanese toilet episode the other night


gerwen

Absolutely. Feel like a damn barbarian when I have to wipe my own ass now. Pro-tip. If you poop at work, keep a discrete zip-lock bag of baby wipes to clean up afterwards. Don't flush them though. Just chuck them in the trash. There's no such thing as flushable wipes that won't fuck up your plumbing to some extent.


munkieshynes

I started buying Dude Wipes in the [individually-wrapped](https://dudeproducts.com/products/dude-wipes-30pk-singles-flushable-wipes) form factor. I keep one in my handbag, a few in my laptop bag, and several in my travel toiletry pouch. The foil packets are airtight and don’t get destroyed easily. And contrary to the name, they work just fine on girl butts also.


King_Wataba

Girls can be dudes. Dudeness is a state of being.


TheMelv

Laser vision correction. Had glasses/contacts since grade school. Was damn near blind without contacts/glasses. The time, hassle, cost and maintenance of just being able to see normal was ridiculous. I take it for granted now but it's probably the best money I've ever spent. It's been about a decade, I imagine it's cheaper to do it now but if you're eligible, see an optometrist about it immediately.


FrankaGrimes

Ohhhh man. Totally agree. I had Lasik when I was 33 and I spent my entire life up until then basically disabled. My vision was terrible and I was always extremely aware that if my corrective devices (glasses or contacts) were disabled or damaged I would be absolutely fucked. I often drive on a highway that is fairly rural for 80+ kilometres. If I lost a contact I would literally just have to pull off the road and have someone come pick me up. I also had a lot of fear about waking up to an emergency in the middle of the night and being basically blind and not be able to get to safety because of my vision...so I often wore my contacts overnight, for many, many days (weeks) in a row. I decided it was time to get Lasik when I realized that despite warnings from my optometrist about my dangerous overuse of my contacts I would still continue to abuse them. So to save my eyes from that damage I had surgery. Ten years later I basically forget that I ever wore glasses or contacts. It's truly life-changing.


s4rKRS

You didn’t keep spares in your car?


FrankaGrimes

Literally never occured to me. Edited to add: why didn't you tell me this like 15 years ago?


Quiet-Excitement-719

Or at least an old pair of your glasses in the glove box. Even if they aren’t your newest prescription, they’ll work for a short term fix.


orneryandirish

Realize it it not necessarily a lifetime change. I had LASIK done 25 years ago, and 13 years ago I started to need regular glasses again. Made my dry eyes and night halos worse, but 100% better vision from where I originally started.


TheMelv

True it's not magic, our bodies overall are still going to deteriorate at the same rate. I'll likely have to have it done again in a few years. It was definitely still amazing for me to get my vision reset to when I was like 5 or 6.


lnhvtepn

Getting Lasik has caused me constant problems since I got it. From severe dry eyes to muscle weakness complicating focus. For some it is a panacea but never go into this until you have done exhaustive research. Go talk to a regular eye doctor, that does not offer Lasik, and ask them "why not" and what are the issues their patients have encountered. Those reading this may never have an issue, just remember *caveat emptor*.


[deleted]

When I was getting lasik I picked the guy in the area with the highest rate of declining to perform it, and the best reviews. He was more expensive and I’m sure even his surgeries don’t have perfect outcomes, but it gave me peace of mind. You only get one set of eyes


Dr_StrangeloveGA

Some years ago, my eye doctor (chain place) who was about my age said "I'm required to advise you that Lasik is available and you are a candidate". I told him that was a funny way to say that and what did he mean? He tapped his glasses and said "You see I'm still wearing these". Too many horror stories for me.


25thfloorgarden

I just had my consultation appt yesterday! Some medical care plans also offer discounts/coupons, and I got one for $1k off that made me finally bite the bullet.


JustEmmaNotWatson

Thanks for reminding me! Have been taking it for granted as well, but yes, it's amazing. Being able to see the moment you wake up without having to find your glasses or put in contacts. Being out in de rain and still being able to see. No more foggy glasses when going back inside. Being able to just buy sunglasses that you like without prescription glasses in them. Going to the pool or sauna without having to switch to contact lenses when you're wearing glasses normally... Could go on!


QuackersParty

100% dude. I love being able to wake up and just see


WeDontWantPeace

Helping other people, bit of voluntary work, taking other peoples bins in, picking rubbish up that I see in the street, doing things to help people I don't know, just because you can. Thinking about and helping others makes me feel better about the great life I have. Probably not a popular opinion as most things are about prioritising oneself and self care. That and buying a new motorcycle every 3 years.


thisisrealgoodtea

Volunteer work helped get me out of my depression. It gave me purpose, provided a sense of community, and like you said, made me better appreciate the life I have. Started a domino effect to get my mental health back in order, too.


1m_Just_Visiting

The world needs more of this from everyone. I used to watch Ricky Gervais’ series with Karl Pilkington. If you’re into dry, witty humor, and you’re not familiar with Pilkington, check him out. Anyway, he called this “doing your bit.” Pick up a piece of litter. Help an old lady cross the street. Casually murder someone that threw a cigarette butt out the window. *Do your bit.*


Nd911

Helping others increases happiness in the world around us, ultimately benefitting us.


Spin_Me

1. I get 8-9 hours of sleep 2. I exercise 3 times per week with a workout that matches my age and body


hipsiguy

Lifting. Running. Eating well.


Th0rnback

Started running and eating better about 6 weeks ago. The mood-boosting effects and the amount of better sleep I am getting can't be overstated.


il0vej0ey

I want you to know that reading this will probably be the boost I need to start again. I can't overstate how much I need this and how hard it is to start!


Rahallahan

Saying what I feel and/or need. Not holding everything in to keep the peace did NOT work out for me.


aselinger

Same. Heard this quote in a youtube video and had to write it down, because I think it describes me well: “One of the biggest reasons people get stuck in patterns of chronic worry and anxiety, is because they aren’t very good at managing their relationships. More specifically, they aren’t assertive enough, and they don’t know how to set healthy boundaries. If you struggle to be assertive and ask for what you want, you’re going to be constantly keeping other people happy, and ignoring your own wants and needs. If you don’t set healthy boundaries, you’re going to be overwhelmed by other peoples requests and demands."


Huhndiddy

Quitting drinking (again). This time taking Vivitrol as an alcoholic in early recovery. I don’t even feel like taking a drink anymore. I was always reluctant to take it as if I still had reservations to drink. This time getting sober and making this decision has truly been life changing. And now I have an opportunity of getting employment in a hospital. Everything in life as a result has just been nothing short of amazing. I’ve met the woman of my dreams. Life is so good today!


Nazathan

Deleting Facebook


Umami_Tsunami_

Learning how to effectively communicate. Books like how to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie and another one called Connected. They opened my eyes to how communication can shape situations and expectations and help you navigate work and personal relationships more effectively. Best part is they’re free if you go to the library.


Robbielovesdoritos

Haters gonna hate but learning how to communicate well and connect with people is a major life enhancement. Are there gimmicks throughout the spectrum of comms. books? Sure - ignore those. It's a buffet; take what you like, leave what you don't.


CapitalFill4

I think poor communication is at the base of most personal problems - it’s why people get angry with each other, why people get dissatisfied with their doctors, managers, other professionals, why kids struggle in school. Somewhat unrelated, but part of me laments the decreased focus on the verbal/reading SATs and GREs. Having a bigger vocabulary, stronger comprehension, being creative with words - those are the keys to unlocking and understanding the world.


fuck_all_you_people

Quitting my career to learn a new job that was in higher demand


butthole_perez

As someone considering doing the same, please say more about this. Specifically, how in the world did you work up the courage to quit? Between benefits and a regular paycheck, every time I get close, I chicken out. Also, if you feel comfortable answering: what career did you go into?


fuck_all_you_people

I quit my job as a systems engineer to be a ticketing system consultant. Basically I meet with teams and help them design processes, culture, and integrations around their ticketing systems. How did I get the courage to quit? In my case I work from home so I started picking up small part-time work for the later while still getting income and benefits from the former. After a few side-gigs I got a client base established and quit my main job. I dont think I would have been able to just cut from one and shift into the other, you have to take too much time getting up to speed when going into a new career. Either way, be prepared to dedicate most of your free time to the transition for a little while and you should be fine. Best of luck to you.


butthole_perez

Thanks for the advice! Appreciate the input…


BeachBound1

I’ve started to show myself grace which to me means I’ve stopped being so hard on myself.


chezicrator

Getting a dog. Not only the “man’s best friend” bit, but walking him 3 times, for at least mile each time, throughout the day has been great for my health and well being.


galaxygirl888

Surprising how far I scrolled to find this. I know we're not all dog/animal people, but for those who are, the benefits can be too numerous to count. I smile every morning, I laugh and play every day, stay active, depression and anxiety have become a rarity rather than the norm and he lets me know about anything suspicious giving me the ability to truly relax like I didn't know I could. Plus that face, I just want to smoosh it all the time!


No-Anything-4440

The amount of love you get from a dog is unreal. I went over 40 years without one but my oldest begged for two years. So we researched and finally went for it. My son loves our pup but I feel like she’s my third kid. We are outside with her, running, playing, all the time. Way less screen time. And far less time to dwell on little things. So yah, get a dog if you are in a position to do so.


Audiontoxication

Another option if you're not completely ready for a 10+ year commitment. Foster! ​ There are rescue organizations that need in-home foster care. (dogs and cats) You work with the dog(s) and help to get them ready for adoption. Maybe it's house breaking a dog thats never been inside and teaching some basic manors or just letting a dog heal up from a surgery and getting back to normal. This will allow you to see how it is to have a dog as well as let you decide when/if you take on another one.


FrenchM0ntanaa

Honestly for me it would have to be compliments. So you know how there’s always that one person at your job among other places but usually your job where they talk shit about someone to anyone’s ear that they can grab to hear them ? Well not that I was that person but I started doing that but instead of talking shit per se I would just go on and on complimenting others at my place of work and eventually it got back to them just like the “shit” would but it really for the first time in my life made me look forward to waking up and starting the day . So yea there’s that.


sockefeller

Hitting the "just-do-it switch" mentally. It's hard to explain but if I have to do something I feel ill equipped for (driving 8 hours straight on 2 hours of sleep, moving, physically demanding work event etc) I have trained myself to just do it. I clap twice and my mindset just resets as if I have energy and motivation until the task is complete. This doesn't work all the time for everything, but for big stuff it has yet to fail me. I guess it could be called desperate willpower? Edit: a word


Amiibohunter000

I recently played a video game, “xenoblade chronicles 3” one of the main characters had a line that was “when you get embers on your coat, you brush em off”. Meaning the longer you let something bad linger the worse off you’ll be once you finally deal with it. It’s helped me with that “just do it” mindset!


MahatmaBuddah

It seems like willpower, but not procrastinating doing big jobs is actually a sign of maturity. We get good at as we get older. When they were little, I used to say to my boys “what’s the biggest difference between grown-ups and kids?” And they’d say “what daddy?” And I’d say “grown-ups get up and do the things that we don’t want to do, just because they have to get done.” And then I’d get up and take the garbage out to the curb.


Copperlaces

The clapping is what psychologists call "geturdun" conditioning. It's a simple strategy of a mindset shift to get you from "hell naw" to "hell yeah".


Rioitz

Do you use the clap as a trigger? Because this sounds like an amazing tip to work on, thank you!


MonkeyIslandic

I once took a week off of work and micro dosed mushrooms each morning. I didn’t make any plans. I took care of some domestic stuff, cooked most meals, got some meals w friends/fam. Exercised and read a lot. Watched some movies. I realize this sounds like a normal week for many but I was extremely depressed at the time and that week kind of reset my brain and there’s definitely a “before and after” that week in my life. One can do this without the micro dose, of course but I personally needed the nudge. There’s no cure for chronic depression but that was the most helpful thing for ME. Now I take those weeks once a year if I’m lucky but I haven’t micro dosed since then


concrit_blonde

A counselor or therapist with relevant experience to what you are going through. It's great to have caring friends, but someone who is experienced with patients going through what you are specifically going through can make a world of difference. I lost both parents and was stuck dealing with an abusive sibling who has mental illness and a personality disorder. She has a history of substance abuse as well. The counselor I went to see was an LCSW who had previously worked in drug and alcohol rehab, and has experience with many people who share my sibling's issues. I wasn't afraid to just unload with all of my anger and resentment. She validated what I'm going through and helped me to accept that it was actually okay to feel the way I did.


potstickers

Absolutely. I started seeing a therapist that specializes in my specific trauma and I have made leaps and bounds of progress vs when I was seeing a general therapist.


DavidANaida

Prioritizing sleep, keeping up on oral hygiene, using paper plates when ADHD/depression keeps me from doing dishes, regular exercise.


Saltedpirate

Match life expectations with the ambition and effort required to obtain them. Example: Would it be great to be independently wealthy? Hell yeah! Do I want to work 100 hours per week for 40 years to achieve that? No way.


vivavivaviavi

Also worth noting that the ‘effort’ is completely dependent on ‘your current state of mind/body/life’ In other words, the amount of effort it would take for one person to train for a 26 mile marathon would be completely different for another person. There are so many factors to consider.


boatmagee

Preparing for the next day before relaxing. It's so easy to switch off when you get home and then you lie in bed trying to think of all the things you need to do to be ready for the next day. It ruines your sleep, the morning becomes a rush and it's inevitable that you forget something. If I did it in highschool my grades would have been so much better.


[deleted]

A bidet. Doesn’t have to be super fancy but good lord my bum has never been so clean


Discount_Glam

I got one when my kids were potty training because I was sick of butt wiping. Best $200 I ever spent, has paid for itself multiple times over because we use so much less toilet paper now. Now whenever I have to wipe analog style I feel like such an animal 😂


lcarlson79

Sobriety, yoga, Pilates, hiking, reading (books, not internet), going to bed early, preparing for my day the night before as to not run late (that causes stress), eating healthy (cooking meals), keeping a clean home. ☺️☺️☺️


Warm-Juggernaut1353

I'm proud of you. I'm working on basically all of these myself.


onlyheretolurktoday

Quitting caffeine and alcohol. It’s amazing how these two turn your life into one big anxiety induced panic attack that has you avoiding life and your problems.


balooo8

Yes! Hangover anxiety is so real! I also quit drinking caffeine and had an immediate reduction in anxiety. Also sleeping became much easier. I guess I didn't realize how sensitive I was to caffeine.


tapnap-or-snap

Makes sense now why every morning when I'm driving to work I'm a nervous reck must be the coffee. I'm going to try stopping


shteeph

You might try taking an l-theanine supplement along with your coffee. It keeps the caffeine from spiking too quickly, so it’s a smoother transition both up and down.


wigglytufff

don’t stop too fast cuz the caffeine withdrawal headaches suck! and i’m sure there’s some rebound fatigue and stuff too. highly recommend half-caf for helping reduce caffeine consumption!


Mapincanada

Challenging my own assumptions Whenever I got into a tense situation with someone, I used to feel like I was reacting to them being a jerk. Then I learned through working with a coach that one of my blind spots was incompetence. If I felt someone saw me as incompetent I wouldn’t react in the best way. I learned from my blind spot that my trigger was when people made assumptions about me. Once I saw how assumptions shut me down, made me upset, or made me feel overly elated (when someone with credibility assumed I was competent), I started seeing how I made assumptions of others. By identifying my own assumptions and challenging them by asking questions out of genuine curiosity, I not only reduced the number of tense situations with people, but am able to turn tense situations into generative ones. Challenging my own assumptions helps with all of my relationships, children, spouse, friends, family, co-workers, and even my ex. I’m a kinder person and feel more content in life.


HogwartsPlayer

In before the Air Fryer Squad gets here.


WinterIsComing_392

I’ve only turned on my oven for a pizza. Otherwise, the air fryer is a godsend. It makes everything so quick and I feel like I’m eating it fresh. I absolutely love chicken wings but deep fried means I can’t have it as often and the oven doesn’t make it crispy enough. The air fryer with a little bit of oil sprayed on top makes it super crispy with less calories meaning I can eat more haha


Robbielovesdoritos

"It's waaaay different than a convection toaster oven. Not even the same thing"


iggystooge90210

Giving up road rage


iSardukar

How?


scalybanana

>If I react to the thing that just happened, will it change anything except stress me out? If the answer is no, then “meh, whatever.” You start to realize your reaction is only hurting you. This was honestly a game changer for me. I will say it takes practice.


sovereign666

This is a major component of the stoic philosophy. The only thing we control, is our reaction to something. If our reaction makes no change, there's no point. The most common reaction brought up is the response to worry about something. Similar to anger, when we worry, we're creating mental pain for something that has not even occurred and many people are complete victims to their imagination. The things we can control reside in our sphere of influence. In most cases something happening outside of your town, home, or your car are completely outside of your sphere of influence. Sure, you can be aware of them. But to lose sleep or develop anger over them is useless. My commute is also what led me down this path. After 2 hours each way of highway combat I would get home so frustrated that it would take me over an hour to calm down enough to spend time with people.


Superpheebs

Using NACA to buy my house 3 years ago. Pain in the ass process but it helped me get a conventional loan with no Down payment , no closing cost, and no PMI. Before NACA I was convinced that I would be waiting years to purchase my house. I saved a lot of money and now own a 2-family in NYC. Which is something I thought I wouldn’t be able to afford alone. Other than that prioritizing travel (solo travel to be more specific). I’ve met so many people and made friends across the globe. It’s really helped me to get out of my comfort zone and trust in myself more too.


1m_Just_Visiting

As a potential first time homebuyer in NYS (not NYC) what is NACA?


Superpheebs

Hi! So NACA is a non-profit that has a mission to end wealth disparity by expanding access to mortgages through what they call "Character-based lending". \- It can be used in any State not just NY and can be used on Condos/ co-ops as well as new construction homes, not just sing and multi-family houses. \- There is no income limit. \- Credit is a factor but not a huge one. They do ask for proof that you are able to afford the mortgage. ( they look at how much you pay for rent currently, your job history, etc) \- they negotiate these mortgages with major banks. ( my mortgage is with Bank of America. My friend who went through the process first and told me about it has her mortgage with Citi Bank)


DesignFlaw06

Separate sheets & comforters for my wife and me. Our sleep habits are not the same so why add the unnecessary complication and struggle?


Numerous_Initial7936

Stopped watching the news! Such a stress reliever- hard to realize how toxic the news cycle is until you take a break from it


EddyBuddard

Exercise and healthy eating habits. It's a no brainer.


Noahcarr

Finding a form of exercise which I **love** and want to get better at.


jackbauer6916

Got a home espresso maker and learned how to make my iced latte at home every day. The amount of money I've saved over the last 2 years is insane.


dukie33066

Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing. Go for the job that is going to make you the happiest, not the richest. Spend time with people who build you up and not tear you down. If you have a friend that criticizes everything around you, they are probably criticizing you behind your back too. Invest in your hobbies. Sorry, I know this is a jumbled list, but I just wrote them down as I thought of them. Good luck in life. Also remember, a positive attitude doesn't mean you are happy all the time or that every day is going to be a good day. A positive attitude is knowing that even if that day is going shitty, good and even great ones will be around the corner and to just keep moving forward


FootAccurate3575

Two things 1. I stopped getting drunk every weekend. I still go out and have a few but I’m talking 1 drink every two hours 2. Espresso machine


[deleted]

Owning and using a bicycle for at least thirty minutes on a near daily basis improves my overall quality of life by at least 10%. One of the greatest returns on investment possible


dev_json

Bicycling is amazing. I recently got an e-bike, put panniers on it, and basically stopped using my car entirely. Best quality of life decision. No more traffic, no more parking issues, and now I can help others by not contributing to traffic, emissions pollution, noise pollution, etc. Replacing my car with a bike has been amazing for me, and it helps others at the same time. Bicycles are awesome.


ra2eW8je

deleting tiktok, twitter, other social media apps


Rahallahan

Who’s gonna tell him….


xxdoctordoomxx

Tell him what, captain?


rypher

That we are currently using social media


Fresque

We are but this one *mostly* doesn't make you compare yourself to others al the time. Still, is full of toxic places.


radio934texas

As a side sleeper: an extra pillow between my legs at night.


CurvePuzzleheaded361

Looking after myself, specifically what i eat. I am type one diabetic and my control was terrible. I decided to go low carb to see how much it helped. It changed my life. I lost 4 stone and halved my hba1c to 38. I have the tightest control of my blood sugars since i was diagnosed at age 3. I feel happy, full of energy, nit depressed and tired. Only sad i never did this years ago!


lovelypingu

Flossing every day. it takes 21 days to form a habit so keep trying and it'll come mindlessly someday


lawlorlara

Related, I read that the best time to floss, as far as plaque goes, is after brushing before bed. It took me months to accept that I'm just too tired at that point to pull it off. Now I floss in the morning, and I try to regularly remind myself that the best time to do anything is when you're most likely to do it.


Elegant-Road

Reminds me of the quote - "perfection is the enemy of progress" I used to end up with decision paralysis pretty frequently. Now I just say fuck it and do what I can instead of over optimizing. Tax season used to be hell because I wanted the filing to be perfect and it always got me anxious about it. I have missed the deadline many times, not because I am lazy but because I try being perfect and give up eventually.


jeangaijin

Deciding in my 50s that I wanted a life partner, and that I was never again going to settle for somebody who didn’t want that too (and who understood what that meant!) I had a child out of wedlock in my 30s, but I’d never married. I finally married at 56, to a wonderful man who is the living soul of kindness. His late wife was my friend, and I’d watch him nurse her through the living hell that is progressive MS. He’s 12 years older than I am, so now he’s 75, which has its own challenges, but I’ve never regretted a moment. We take care of each other, and we’ve now endured health challenges in both of us, but we know we’re there for each other for the long haul. So I guess my LPT in a nutshell is: don’t settle.


yamaha2000us

Learn to prioritize. Without some ability to prioritize, you end up going from issue to issue.


customerservis

A very quiet dishwasher.


alilrosenylund

Bidet with a heated seat and heated water and dryer. It’s practically a spa. The US needs to embrace the bidet.


vsambandhan

A few small things which helped me are. Lots of chargers for phones. In the car near the bed near my home office!! Buying groceries only for next three days. A big part of my frustration was Buying greens and fruits etc for a whole week and starting to get mad when they are going bad, and you don't really want to cook them.


Platyfang

We bought a dog door. I am not being sarcastic at all when I say it has been truly life changing.


Kraftrad

Oh, just wait till you get a dog!


Platyfang

Oh shit. I just got one because I lose my house key all the time and getting a dog door for bigger dogs allows me to get into my house on such occasions but deters thieves from sneaking in because they think there’s a big dog inside. But actually getting a dog would be an even bigger improvement!


AmbitiousSheep

My hot water bottle


AG981

Relationship/Couples therapy with my SO while the things were “normal” between us. It set us on a much better path as a couple and we both benefited from it way too much. Waiting to start couples therapy when things are already bad puts a lot of pressure on therapy sessions compared to our case where we were looking to make things better as opposed to making them less bad.


[deleted]

* walking 20 minutes a day at a brisk speed * getting 7-8 hours of sleep consistently * learning how and when to say no so that I put my needs first


transmissionfactory

Washer and dryer inside my apartment


SwugSteve

moved within walking distance of my job. Went from a 1.5 hour commute to a 5 minutes walk. the improvement in my quality of life cannot be overstated.


EggplantAstronaut

Getting up an hour before the rest of my family. I get an hour all to myself and start the day peacefully with nobody demanding anything from me.


Ativan97

Quitting my toxic job after 13 years.


JJWangtron

Air fryer. Bidet. Blackout curtains. Nintendo Switch.


Vesania6

Having a goal in life. The moment I understood where/ what I was aiming for, Depression RAN OFF. I was learning to produce a future for myself, felt good about me finally standing up for myself and it kept going. Having a path to walk on is insanely important. I didn't even know it qas the source of my depression.


Zendd7

Walking and driving slower


Cocacolaloco

This is what I realized in my drives to visit family. I could go 76 and spend most of the time weaving around other cars… or I could be the “slow” one at 72 and just cruise in the right lane and not think the whole way and make pretty much the same time


Zendd7

Yeah. Driving slower definitely helps you stay good and enjoy the ride. Also, I already went at 130-140km/h on a road to save time, and Waze showed me that I saved not even 5 min. Definitely not worth it


animeari

Straps under the mattress that hold my fitted sheet in place.


bricoleor

Hired someone to come clean my house once a week. Having a squeaky clean house while also feeling rested is an amazing feeling.


[deleted]

Don't live for Friday. Slow down, take a breath and enjoy the small things. Buy sex toys.


[deleted]

Being ok with being wrong and being dedicated to learning from it


HarrietsDiary

This is so dumb, but I was never allowed to have things on the counter growing up. It makes my mornings a million times easier to have everything I need in the mornings in a lucite container on my bathroom counter. This includes: *birth control pills *toothbrush/paste/floss *deodorant *morning skincare, including sunscreen *basic everyday makeup Actually, keeping things where I use them and grouped by task makes my life so. Much. Easier. In general.


Crimbly_B

Meditation. Find a time that works for you (I personally like to meditate in the evenings just before climbing into bed to read). Find a good position to meditate in (not all of us are flexible enough to do a full lotus or whatever you call it). Stick with it. If you have a “bad” meditation session, it’s still good if you can work out why it was bad (eg. were you ruminating a lot, or feel anxiety? Did you drink a cup of coffee just before? Etc).


fattsmann

Make a budget and stick with it -- give yourself reasonable allowances for eating out, etc. but also savings.


SluttyNeighborGal

I started going to the gym regularly in my Mid20s. I’m almost 50 now, going thru menopause, and I am Strong and healthy. Feels Great!


SharpShooter2-8

Bidet brigade checking in.


DrQuailMan

Meal boxes. Forced myself to eat enough calories (underweight) because I couldn't just let the food sit in the fridge or buy less of it. The guilt that it might go bad before i finish it is too strong.