“Has Done Wonders For My Mental Health”: 45 Small Life Changes That Made People Happier
Interview With Author
According to the 2023 Global Happiness Survey by Ipsos, on average, two in three people are happy. That's quite good, wouldn't you say? Ongoing wars, the current political climate, doom scrolling, and dystopian-esque economic situation might get anyone down. It can be hard to find things to be happy about. Especially everyday.
That's why we've got some inspiration for you. One Redditor under the username 05tn3021 asked other netizens what small things they gather inspiration and energy from to get through the day. The people did not disappoint – there's almost five thousand comments under that post as of today! So scroll down to see some little steps we could all take in order to feel a little bit better every day.
Bored Panda contacted the person who asked this question, and she was kind enough to have a quick chat with us. She told us more about her inspiration behind the query and had some really inspiring insights about putting our mental health first. Read our conversation with her below!
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I finally at 78 years of age admitted that I was gay and got a very nice FWB my age and we get together once or twice a week have great sex for a couple of hours then go to lunch and talk to I am immensely happy.
"I posted the question on r/AskReddit with no intentions of it gaining the traction it did," 05tn3021 tells Bored Panda. "In all honesty, I just wanted 2024 to be a better year and wondered what people do to find joy in whatever they do, [regardless] of the magnitude of their actions."
The Redditor says she hoped to pick up some habits and learn more about appreciating the smaller things in life from other Redditors. "I never really expected it to garner the attention it did. But I'm happy the Reddit community banded together to create a beautiful thread on how all of us could better our mental health and lead more joyful lives."
Out of the almost five thousand replies and stories, there had to be one that stood out most to the author. She says two comments resonated with her the most. One of them was about deleting social media. The other described being able to question the source of frustration in others instead of internalizing their anger.
I found a friend who is interested in the same things I am who is intelligent and open-minded at my age this is quite an accomplishment. We go to lunch once a week usually spend about two to two and a half hours just talking about the things we love sharing ideas no politics no gossip. I am immensely better a different person you could say.
I'm trying to stop judging folks, and instead, I say to myself, 'I don't know their story.' Trying to be more understanding and empathetic has taken a huge burden off my heart.
“I was able to relate to deleting social media,” the Redditor says. She says we should focus on living in the present, away "from mind-numbing scrolls on TikTok or Instagram and the fictionality of 'social media lifestyles.'" The netizen says she's no stranger to endless scrolling herself. This comment helped her to reflect and make changes in her lifestyle.
"Also, another comment revolved around the source of frustrations and how people lash out. I found it really insightful, as they reminded us that sometimes people take out their frustration on us, and it's not always our fault."
"For the better of our mental health, we should question the way people speak to us. We should start to question, 'Why are they responding this way' rather than 'What did I do wrong?'"
Not working until I am on the clock and stopping work when I'm off the clock. My time is my time.
Wipe my counters and put away the dishes every night no matter how tired I am.
The energy boost from getting up to see a neat kitchen is not to be underestimated.
YES! Coming down in the morning and then be immediately confronted with a cluttered and dirty counter is such a bad start of the day! This is such a small change with huge benefits. In order to change your life for the better, you don't need to make huge changes. Make this small one, see what it brings you and, more likely than not, it will set you on the path to making more small changes that in the end will make a such a difference.
I brought my son a dog when he was struggling post lockdown. It helped him almost instantly but I didn't realise how much having him helped me too.. Being around animals and nature are so underestimated as a cure for the modern world's detachment or rather it's attachment to meaninglessness.
The Redditor also took some of the suggestions from this thread and tried to implement them into her everyday life. One example is simply taking a walk every day. "Whether I took one with a pet, partner, or even by myself. Sometimes it's nice to slow down and listen to your favorite playlist or podcast and be able to breathe a breath of fresh air," the Redditor muses.
05tn3021 has some wise words about our inclination to always be faster, better, and more productive. "In a world where everything moves so fast, the ability to be [at] one's own peace and to pick your own pace really is valuable."
"You don't have to run after your goals constantly, as you'll face the inevitable doom of burning out. Instead, learn to find your own pace rather than copy someone else's and be proud of your achievements, small or large. Otherwise, you'll never really feel happy."
Reading books before going to sleep instead of watching TV.
Doing one chore or errand every work-day so I can actually enjoy a day off, rather than having to catch up on all the cleaning and errands no one wants to do on off-days.
Slowing down at work. I don't need to respond to every email right away, or make sure everything is up to date constantly. Some things can just wait.
Giving 100% all the time is about the worst advice you can get. Do that, and you'll burn out for sure. Work is long distance, not sprint – if you start a long distance at full pelt, you will not finish. Make 70% your 100% and give that, then you'll have some reserve when the brown stuff hits the fan.
The Redditor also found the comment about making a routine particularly helpful. She says it's important to dedicate some time in the day to just relax and read a book, play games, or whatever one considers downtime.
"Although it might not seem productive, I personally think it's better than cramming all your chores into one day or weekend, [and] to then only give yourself 10-30 minutes of free time before bed."
"We subconsciously want to put off work and don't want to just sleep, work, eat, clean, and then sleep again. Instead, we end up digging into that necessary 8 hours of sleep and pleasing our dopamine demon with a 'death scroll.'"
"Setting a fixed time to wind down and then sleep is very important, and routines, in general, will improve your quality of life. It'll definitely help you get out of bed, especially on those days when life just has a bit more bite than usual."
I stopped reading the comments on social media. I thought it didn’t effect me and was just entertaining, but man did it make me depressed with the state of humanity.
BP and specific membership groups are the places that I read comments and it's marvelous. Thanks BP community for being so great.
Bedtime routine. I worked on it and now its solid and I can fall asleep in less than 20 minutes. For an insomniac worry wart , its been life changing getting solid sleep and made me so less c**ty.
The author behind this post encourages others to be more mindful and kind to themselves. "Continue doing what makes you happy, even if it feels like a waste of time or that you could be doing something more meaningful. There's nothing more important than yourself. Staying happy and working on your mental health should be your top priority."
"Everyone deserves a break, and your worth isn't solely based on your accomplishments. Be rich in health rather than wealth, although both play pretty nicely together! Celebrate the small accomplishments and be proud of yourself for who you are today," the Redditor says.
Started incorporating daily walks into my routine. It might sound small, but the fresh air and movement have done wonders for my mood. Highly recommend listening to your favorite podcast or playlist too.
Whenever there’s a BOGO for any cat or dog food in my local grocery store I buy some. When I have a few collected, I deliver to a local shelter. They are always so grateful and I feel wonderful.
Undressing the moment I get home from work, swaping that piece of s**t uniform to comfy soft clothes legit makes me chill out and smile just to think about it.
Realizing the difference between when I actually screwed up and when someone is taking their frustrations out on me, and then asking what's actually wrong bc this isn't a proportional response to the issue.
Solo travel. I never used to travel because it was hard to coordinate with others, and when I did, I had to plan something everyone going would enjoy, often sacrificing what I wanted to do. Now, I try once a year to go on a trip that I want just for myself, with no one else to please. Last year, I went to a farm and hung out with some awesome animals and painted. This year, I'm going to a concert and staying in a nice hotel downtown.
Deleted social media. Stopped thinking about the past. Those two things have been huge in increasing my well-being.
Living in the past creates depression; worrying about the future creates anxiety.
Started learning the names of the plants and birds I see every day.
Sounds dumb but I live in a metro area and was treating the nature around me like visual white noise. Once I started learning the names of what’s around me, I started really seeing it, and then I suddenly saw it everywhere. That kind of noticing has really enriched my life. I love walking past a bush and thinking “forsythia!” like it’s a friend I recognize. It makes me feel like I’m part of my environment rather than just existing inside it.
For birds, I recommend the Merlin Bird ID app - after an evening swim at our local pool in the summer, I walk home past some beautiful grasslands and can hear so many birds. This allows you to record a section of the bird song and it tells you who you can hear.
I'm only allowed to insult myself with G-rated 'curse words.' If I realize I forgot an errand or missed an email, I'll think, 'Good job, you goose,' or, 'Aw, you've messed this up, dillweed'. Then, instead of dwelling on berating myself, I'm smiling because 'goober' is just a funny insult.
Forcing myself to do more arts and crafts. I've been in such a creative slump for so long. It's still difficult at times to be creative, but when I am doing it, it makes me so happy.
Cleaning up as I cook. I often felt very overwhelmed with a dirty kitchen and a ton of dishes to do once I was done with cooking a meal. I started to make it a habit to clean up as I cook, and it instantly became more manageable when I'm done and can enjoy my meal instead of stressing out about the mess.
Do the TV chef routine: prepare everything first, put it on a huge plate to use or in little bowls if not possible otherwise. Put everything ready on the corner. Then you can clean up without hassle while everything is cooking. It called mis en place and professional kitchens do it all the time for the exact reason that it streamlines the whole process.
I decided to answer every spam call with my best pirate impression. Now, telemarketers probably think they've dialed the wrong century, and I've found my inner pirate swagger. Cheers!
I wouldn't say that it has made me drastically happier, but feeding my birds and watching them brings a peaceful joy each day.
The week of the American insurrection, there was an article in the Washington Post about a vagabond painted bunting along the C&O canal - in January, in DC. Hundreds of people were flocking to the park trying to catch a brief glimpse of the bird. I had seen buntings around here in Florida some years back so, what the heck, I set up a bird feeder less than a foot from my home office window. The very first birds to appear, that same day, were painted buntings. So, for four years, from October through April, I have painted buntings coming to visit several times every single day. They never fail to brighten my day. There is so much ugliness in the world. Seeing their beauty is a soothing salve. Fortunately, I don't have hundreds of people coming to catch a glimpse :-)
Stretching every day has helped a great deal. Doesn't always have to be a lot.
For those considering daily stretching, look up Qigong. There are tons of youtube videos. Qigong with Kseny are my favorite. It has helped me manage chronic pain. Like the post says, it doesn't always have to be a lot, but a little daily goes a very long way.
Stopped commenting on political articles online. Too many pointless arguments really ruin the day.
I still comment on BP articles, though. As does everyone else whose comments are below.
Started declining invitations I didn't feel like attending such as going out with people I don't like that much, big social events with a lot of expectations, activities with friends that I wouldn't like to do if they weren't going... And all of that with a simple "no thanks, I don't actually feel like it because X". No excuses, no easy lies such as "that day's my grandma's birthday", no fake feelings like "awww I wish I could BUT". Being the owner of my free time and learning to say no without needing to give further explanations has done wonders for my mental health.
I just wonder. Does anyone else have the experience that there are people who just use you as a kind of battery? There are people that, whenever I have to meet them, seem to drain all the energy out of me. When they leave, I'm so tired I need at least a few hours to charge, if you know what I mean.
Coming to terms with clothes I no longer wear (for whatever reason) and donating them to shelters.
Realizing that I can choose what I think about. If I catch myself thinking about something that’s making me anxious, I simply choose to think about something else (unless it’s immediately necessary). If it’s something that’s making me sad, I sit with the emotion rather than trying to intellectualize it.
I quit my religion/cult and my anxiety walked out the door. It was life-changing! I quit putting my happiness and decisions in 'god’s hands' and started just focusing on what I wanted and I got so much better. I feel in total control of my life.
Well, to some people religion makes them feel better, but if your religion felt like it was suppressing you, then let it go.
Taking depression medication.
I've only had mine for the past 2-3 years. I'm kind of surprised I managed to survive that long without them lol
Baking with my daughter a couple times per week. Pies, cookies, different kinds of breads, etc. We have so much fun doing it together and then we get to enjoy eating what we make too!
Volunteering. Find out what kind of volunteering activity interests you and do it. It can drastically change your happiness level. I drive a shuttle van for seniors and volunteer at a community kitchen. I'm so happy doing them and I look forward to doing them.
Audiobooks. I get them free from my library app and listen to them to and from work, and when I do chores like dishes and laundry. Suddenly, I don't mind taking the time to fold my clothes perfectly because I'm being entertained while doing so. I also never had time to sit and dedicate time to reading, but this way I can consume books on the go. I read four books in 2021. I read two books in 2022. I read four books in the first six months of 2023. Then I got into audiobooks and read 17 books in the last six months of 2023. This year's looking even better. I'm already on my fourth book since New Year's!
Yes! I read 15 books in 2021, 30 in 2022, and 130! in 2023. Love audio books!
Realizing I don't have to always go places with friends. It's okay to do things solo.
I set my iPhone to only accept calls from people in my contacts.
Do I miss an occasional call that I need to take? Yep. They leave a message, and I call them back. If it is a business or organization that I deal with semiregularly, I add them to my contacts.
The important thing, for me, is that I get ZERO spam/scam calls anymore. Well, ones that ring through, anyways.
On average, I was getting over 30 of them every day.
I am much happier with this setup.
A few months ago, I picked up one of those cheap floral bouquets while on a grocery run. I really enjoyed arranging them, smelling them, watching them bloom over the next ten days.
So next grocery run I bought another.
Now every grocery run I buy myself a $7-12 bouquet. I trim them, i rearrange including last week's blooms that are still in great shape. I envision having my own sunroom or greenhouse to grow my own flowers sometime in the future.
It brings an inordinate amount of joy. 💐
Cool, if you have 7-12 dollars to spare. No problem with treating yourself if you can tho
Also when I walk my dog I’ve started listening to sound baths and practicing mindfulness. I try to notice everything… different colours, how the ground feels beneath my feet, the breeze in my hair, the way the sunlight filters through the trees. I pick up interesting leaves and rocks to look at up close and see how they feel in my hand. I probably look nuts, but I always come back feeling so relaxed having given my brain a break from anxieties and stresses.
Choosing to focus on positive aspects of my marriage.
Learning to communicate without getting angry or overwhelmed.
Cutting out toxic family from my life.
Hanging out with my dad once a month to reconnect and strengthen our bond.
Forgiving myself for abusing my body with food so I can become healthier.
Learning that I can improve my life daily with small habits.
Drinking enough water - I didn't realize how much of my body discomfort daily was just dehydration.
Kidney stones are a pain comparable to childbirth. Drink water, people.
I started doing 10 push-ups when I got really stressed out or couldn’t solve a problem. It was something I could do quickly, and it makes me feel like I accomplished something. Also, it gets the blood pumping and gives a small rush of endorphins. It makes a world of difference when I remember to stop and do push-ups when I get overwhelmed.
That sounds like a really good idea. There doesn't seem to be anything I can do about feeling overwhelmed, so change the focus.
Going to bed early.
I've found lights out 10 works well for me and I naturally wake 6:30-7ish
Weaned off of caffeine. When I was a teenager it was energy drinks + coffee. 18-20ish hears it was a lot of coffee since I worked at a coffee shop. After quitting my job, I was too cheap to buy the yummy coffee so I’d just have a black coffee at home. Then I started drinking black tea. I’m currently pregnant and just ran out of my black tea but I’m moving so I didn’t buy more. Therefore I switched to what I had of my green tea, and then decided to switch to just ginger tea altogether or any other caffeine-free tea. I feel so much more stable and plain water is the best thing you can drink for reliable energy.
At least you had a choice. If I have more than one coffee a month, it starts tasting horrible and I start getting heartburn.
Note: this post originally had 86 images. It’s been shortened to the top 45 images based on user votes.
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Awhile ago, I cut out fictional shows TV that made me feel scared, and exploitive news programs that focus on true crime. It has been a few years and I am much better off because of it.
Omg I got off of negative fiction TV shows too! No thank you to nervousness and unrequited love.
Load More Replies...
I missed the days before video on demand, when you planned out ahead for your favorite show's time slot, or got a group together to catch the new episode while talking theory over extended plots, or went to a movie or video store. How it was a whole event that you planned for & looked forward to. So I started doing a movie night (at home) Friday nights, grabbing a pizza or takeout, pillow fort sometimes, etc.. No phones or tablets allowed. Feels great, man.
I try to do that, too. Even it's just Rerun A on Mondays, Rerun B on Tuesdays because that's how some TV channels are set up
Load More Replies... Awhile ago, I cut out fictional shows TV that made me feel scared, and exploitive news programs that focus on true crime. It has been a few years and I am much better off because of it.
Omg I got off of negative fiction TV shows too! No thank you to nervousness and unrequited love.
Load More Replies... I missed the days before video on demand, when you planned out ahead for your favorite show's time slot, or got a group together to catch the new episode while talking theory over extended plots, or went to a movie or video store. How it was a whole event that you planned for & looked forward to. So I started doing a movie night (at home) Friday nights, grabbing a pizza or takeout, pillow fort sometimes, etc.. No phones or tablets allowed. Feels great, man.
I try to do that, too. Even it's just Rerun A on Mondays, Rerun B on Tuesdays because that's how some TV channels are set up
Load More Replies...