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“What Improved Your Quality Of Life So Much, You Wish You Did It Sooner?” (50 Answers)
Interview
Improving yourself to lead a genuinely more purposeful, healthier, and happier life isn’t a sprint—it's a marathon. The smallest things you do every single day and the tiniest habits you have compound very quickly over time. The question is if you want to overhaul everything about yourself, where exactly do you start? Well, the internet is full of clever suggestions.
Inspired by user u/CookieNegative9860, the members of the AskReddit community revealed the things that they’ve done that have massively improved their quality of life. Scroll down to read their recommendations, and don’t forget to take notes—you might just read something that you didn’t know you needed.
Bored Panda got in touch with the author of the viral thread, u/CookieNegative9860. They were kind enough to share their thoughts on improving our lives, including how the tiniest changes can snowball into perceptible improvements. You'll find our full interview with them as you read on.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Getting a cat.
Hassel Davidhoff 8 months ago
I'm profoundly allergic to cats. Would definitely NOT improve my life.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
Ironically I am allergic to both dogs and cats and I have multiples of both species XD One can build up a tolerance to specific dogs/cats, and can mitigate the worst of the allergen effects by near-militant cleaning/air purifiers/etc. For me the extra work (and the suffering that still does occur) is worth it, as I love animals and pets love you unconditionally, but I know this doesn't work for everyone with allergies.
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The Starsong Princess 8 months ago
Yes, my little boy is two years old and the best ever. Mind you, he’s a lot more than I expected. Right now, he’s meowing at me because he wants me to pick him up and carry him downstairs so he can watch cat tv.
In our personal experience, the biggest non-negotiable areas that you should prioritize in terms of your time, energy, and money are:
- Spending time with your loved ones and focusing on positive relationships;
- Getting lots of movement and finding fun ways to exercise so you don’t live a sedentary life;
- Eating a healthy and nutritious diet while avoiding ultra-processed foods so you live longer and have more energy to take advantage of the opportunities that come your way;
- Becoming financially literate, earning more than you spend, having a healthy budget, and saving and/or investing a portion of your income for the sake of your and your family’s future;
- Doing purposeful, meaningful things at your job, in your hobbies, and while volunteering.
RELATED:
#2
Quitting drinking.
Lost 50 lbs. Skin cleared up, and I look younger. It's probably because my body is functioning as it should. Eating healthier also has helped. I'm 33
I will have a year sober on May 14.
I'm still figuring out how to make new new friends whose lives don't revolve around drinking. It's lonely, but it's still better than the utter despair of alcoholism.
John morrison 8 months ago
Right on my friend! Been sober a little over five years myself, and other than marrying my wife, and having our daughter, absolutely the best decision I ever made!
Bobbie McMasters 8 months ago
I have incredible respect for anyone who has ever clawed their way up from the bottom of the bottle!
Lowrider 56 8 months ago
Been there! After I quit drinking I realized that people i had called friends were not really friends, they were just drinking associates. I had nothing in common with them except alcohol. My life improved dramatically after I quit drinking.
#3
Escaping the Jehovah's Witnesses Cult!
keyboardtek 8 months ago
Using my brain, logical thinking and science helped me escape the Catholic religion nonsense.
Phantom Phoenix 8 months ago (edited)
I grew up in protestant, evangelical, fundamental, charismatic/ pentecostal christianity... only at 40 years old did my critical thinking brain kick in and I saw the whole shebang for the BS that it is. That was more than a decade ago now, and I'm loving life being free of the mindfŭckery
Load More Replies... Hassel Davidhoff 8 months ago
My parents did not raise me or my younger brother and sister with any kind of religious nonsense and I am profoundly grateful for it. I've seen how hard it is to undo cult deprogramming in some friends I've known, it's really rough.
Cammy Mack 8 months ago
Maybe do some research to see what a cult actually is. They are loyal to the Bible, so much so they were specifically targeted by N**i Germany, put in the camps, and killed just like the Jews.
It’s very important to look at what you eat, as well as what food items you avoid. The BBC warns that based on a recent study done in eight countries and published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, people who eat lots of ultra-processed foods (also known as UPFs) may be at greater risk of passing away early.
Lead study author Dr. Eduardo Nilson said that UPFs affected people’s health “because of the changes in the foods during industrial processing and the use of artificial ingredients, including colorants, artificial flavors and sweeteners, emulsifiers, and many other additives and processing aids.”
#4
Quit smoking (Edit: it’s been 10y now and most upvotes I ever got for anything, thank you very much).
Bi.Felicia 8 months ago
I'm currently trying to quit smoking for the first time, and I'm about 3 weeks into it. I'm turning 40 and I realized that I've been a smoker longer than I haven't been, it honestly made me feel kinda gross. I've cut back significantly but I'm hoping to be completely smoke free within the next couple of weeks or so.
Ron Man 8 months ago
I did this when I was 43. Been smoke free for a long time now, over a decade. Don't do it by cutting down on cigs, that doesn't work, you're just a smoker going from a bunch a day to a handful a day. Stop smoking and start using nicotine gum or lozenges. I did the lozenges, followed the directions on them, and one day I forgot them at home when I went to work and that was the last I had of nicotine. The first 3 days may be rough, but after that it's smooth and doable. I know you can do it.
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Brendon Nash 8 months ago
Just quit..I was a pack or more a day until reality kicked in stage 4 lung cancer and let me tell chemotherapy is rough
Bi.Felicia 8 months ago
I'm in the process of quitting and I'm hoping by doing so, it will motivate my mom to quit. She was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer about 6 months ago and if anything she's been smoking more. I understand that she's stressed, amongst many other emotions but every time she lights a cigarette all I can envision is her feeding her tumor. I successfully convinced her to start taking the medication that I am, so fingers crossed 🤞🏼. Great job, Brendan on successfully kicking the habit and keep on kicking cancer's a*s!
Load More Replies... Brendon Nash 8 months ago
Good for you..seriously I found out in September I had stage 4 lung cancer...8 chemos later still going.
#5
Understanding that working with someone smarter than you is a privilege and an opportunity to learn and hone your own skills, not a threat.
Gina G 8 months ago
When I hire people, my goal is to be the weakest link on my team. I want the best and the brightest, I let them do what they do best, mentor them in areas they can grow in, and then they make the whole team look good.
The Darkest Timeline 8 months ago
Good on you! That’s what good leadership looks like.
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Geoffrey Scott 8 months ago
Not necessarily smarter, but having a different view helps to be rounded.
Breadcrumb. 8 months ago
I work with people mostly older than me and they do not take suggestions very well. Also my mother in law. "That's not how we do it."
#6
When my kid comes home from school, putting my phone in a drawer and not touching it again until he is asleep in bed.
DennyS (denzoren) 8 months ago
I like this, interact with your kids! A lot of kids here are developing American accents due to constantly interacting with US media and not interacting with their parents and siblings to develop our local accent. People said it's watching too much TV but we didn't develop it and we watched a lot of TV. I think a speak therapist said recently it's because parents aren't speaking and interacting with the kids enough for them to develop the local accent.
Clown fish 8 months ago
Mine have a Salford accent and come out with America words! But that's because 2 of them have friends from America the other does it because he knows it p#sses me off him saying elevator instead of lift! 😂
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Child of the Stars 8 months ago
If you struggle with the impulse to just scroll, then I'm all for this. But I use my phone with my kids. We can all play Minecraft together-my 6yo on the computer and my 12yo and me on our phones. Or we use it to Google stuff-definitions of words in what we're reading, more info on a specific dinosaur while watching Dinosaur Train together, stuff like that. I strongly believe that instead of avoiding screens, we should be teaching our kids how to use them as tools instead.
The BBC adds that “UPFs tend to contain more than five ingredients, which are not usually found in home cooking, such as additives, sweeteners, and chemicals to improve the food's texture or appearance. Some experts say it's not known why UPFs are linked to poor health—there is little evidence it's down to the processing itself and could be because these foods contain high levels of fat, salt, and sugar.”
#7
In my early twenties I learned it was okay to say "I don't know" instead of pretending I knew what someone was talking about. People are excited to share what they know. It's such a simple thing that led to a lot of professional and social growth for me.
Petra Peitsch 8 months ago
It's a sign of maturity accepting you don't know something, even in your professional field.
Binky Melnik 8 months ago (edited)
And sometimes, even if you know, pretend not to so someone lacking in confidence and/or self-esteem gets to shine by explaining to you; it’s such a very small thing to you, but it can be a very enormous moment for them. (Sometimes I’ve tried things like “I know a little bit about it, but I’m no expert” just in case an аsshole walks by and gives the secret away.)
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Rick Seiden 8 months ago
I am a consultant. I'm supposed to be the subject matter expert. You're not supposed to say, "I don't know." I say it all the time. But I also say, "I'll find out and get back to you," "I know someone who I can talk to and get you an answer." Every client I've had that I've admitted that I didn't know something to has valued my input more because of it.
#8
Getting diagnosed and medicated.
Sometimes you can't just bootstrap yourself into a happy, productive person.
keyboardtek 8 months ago
Republicans are always telling people they have to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, but do not want to provide those of us without bootstraps any help at all to get started. Now that they are destroying the education system and attacking colleges, those at the bottom of society will have no option but to resort to crime.
Tabitha 8 months ago (edited)
“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt (The hallmark of a truly civilized society is that they take good care of their smaller and weaker, including those unable, for whatever reason—-and there are way too many these days—-to provide for themselves and their families. We cannot call ourselves civilized if we do not even do that one basic thing.)
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Apachebathmat 8 months ago
And remember, if you have been prescribed antidepressants and they aren’t working, speak up, the relief you have when you get the right combination is amazing, rarely is a dose/medication correct first time.
Chris the Bobcat 8 months ago
Big thumbs up here. I had a bad psychiatrist who misdiagnosed me for years, then got me hooked on Xanax (keep taking it, you're just getting used to it, you'll be all right) for six or seven years. Took myself off the benzos (six months of horrible effects, then another year of flareups) and got a hew psychiatrist. Got diagnosed with bipolar and put on appropriate meds and felt so much better within a couple of weeks. Have done more than I ever thought capable in the past twelve years, but I wonder what I could have done if I had been diagnosed sooner.
#9
Buying a dishwasher...
Idk a single person who enjoys doing dishes, but I had no clue just how much I would enjoy having one. Takes ~ 5 minutes of my time to load the thing, and it does the dishes for me, while I watch TV/game lol.
The Darkest Timeline 8 months ago
Modern dishwashers are incredibly efficient; even if you’re only washing half a load, you’ll typically use less water than you would washing by hand
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Blue Bunny of Happiness 8 months ago
As someone who struggles with my mental health, it’s an essential for me. Can’t deal with the dishes at times, but can bung them in. Game changer when when someone told me if you haven’t managed to fully unload it you can just add the dirty plates and put it on again. Turned out there’s no dishwasher police, well apart from me when my ex insisted on loading it stupidly….
Helena 8 months ago
I moved into a house without one. Immediately bought a countertop one. It is awesome.
Breadcrumb. 8 months ago
I'm a professional cook, the last thing I want to do when I go home is the dishes, I'd rather cook than do the dishes.
Lady Eowyn 8 months ago
I don't have a dishwasher in my apartment, it's not allowed to add one. I soooo miss havingone.
Rick Murray 8 months ago
My routine is to put the dishes into the sink, and then when I need a dish that I don't have, blitz through cleaning them all. Given that I live alone and don't have that many dishes (like, a soup bowl, a pasta bowl, and two regular plates), there just isn't enough to justify running a dishwasher. It isn't actually that hard washing up, it's more of a... I dunno... apparently it's an ADHD thing although I don't understand why I can't seem to wash the dishes in five minutes but I can somehow spend two hours staring absent-mindedly out the window. 🤷🏻♀️
David L 8 months ago
Strange as it's sound I find the v repetitive action of washing dishes very relaxing.
Apachebathmat 8 months ago
Me too, my house is in a very historic town in England and the views from my kitchen windows are lovely
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The NOVA classification of ultra-processed food includes things such as:
- cakes, pastries, and biscuits;
- crisps;
- supermarket bread;
- sausages, burgers, and hot dogs;
- instant soups, noodles, and desserts;
- chicken nuggets;
- fish fingers;
- fruit yogurts and fruit drinks;
- margarines and spreads;
- baby formula.
#10
I didn’t delete my accounts but I removed social media apps from my phone and I started to ignore most political “news”. I’m so much happier and productive.
Petra Peitsch 8 months ago
Next step: delete those accounts. Especially if you have them with your real name. Social media is toxic AF, if you don't handle it in it's place.
Orysha 8 months ago
The downside is when Ice the Amercian Gestapo or other nazis in other parts of the world you won't be aware that's happening.
Rick Murray 8 months ago
🤷🏻♀️ Nothing I can do about that, so knowing doesn't necessarily lead to any improvement either for me or the victims.
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Gerry Higgins 8 months ago
Ignoring a problem by refusing to see it will not help. Not in the long run.
#11
Quitting that toxic job.
Peter Bear 8 months ago
I wish I could afford to do this. Sadly, 99% of all jobs in the US are toxic.
#12
Stopped putting so much weight on what other people thought.
Petra Peitsch 8 months ago
IDGF about it. Although, it takes some years/decades to reach this level.
Uncle Panda 8 months ago
You can think of life as a giant rock tumbler. When you start, your surface is rough and has lots of sharp points that catch on things in the world. In the rock tumbler of life, you wear all those sharp points off against the other rocks until your inner beauty reveals itself, smooth and satiny. And, as you note, it takes time and a lot of racket to get there.
Load More Replies... Hassel Davidhoff 8 months ago
What is going on between the ears of another person is no business of mine.
The author of the thread said that taking an incremental approach to changing your life, when you're unsure of what to do, is probably best.
"Please just take one small step. It probably looks insignificant, but just take one small step toward improving your life. You'd be surprised how one tiny step, one tiny action, can snowball into bigger changes," u/ CookieNegative9860 told Bored Panda.
"It's the momentum that counts, this little shift in your life can lead to miles of progress you never thought was possible."
#13
Moving out of my hometown. I never felt like where I was from was home. Was never comfortable. Kept hitting hurdles trying to come up and be better. But once I left my entire life trajectory changed for the better.
Katiekat 8 months ago
Coming from the Deep South and being as blue as blue could be, from childhood on... knew from about age 10 I was getting out of my hometown, the state, and the South in general. Spent 20 years in Los Angeles, and loved living in a blue bubble. I'm back home now, retired, but life is better... and I feel like the South needs my very different outlook and beliefs. There are blue people here... we just keep it low-key.
Uncle Panda 8 months ago
I treat my hometown like a cold shower - I do it as quickly and rarely as possible.
Becca not Becky 8 months ago
Yeah, I moved out 2 days after high school graduation. Visited a few times, but I won't ever move back
JayWantsACat 8 months ago
Same. I wanted and needed something more than what my home city was offering at the time. I felt like if I stayed and gotten married and had a family I would've just been miserable about what could have been. Now I'm ready for that stiff and, iroinically, am thinking about moving back because it's more more like the city I left for whereas the city I left for (and currently live in), is more like how my home city used to be.
Apachebathmat 8 months ago
Bad childhood so was always scared I would bump into a member of my family that I am estranged from so we moved to the countryside/ small town and I’ve never felt more free
Maggie Fulton 8 months ago
After my dad died, my mom moved us to a podunk town in southern Illinois, where I was miserable and bullied for five long years. When we finally left, I tried to think of one thing I would miss, and all I could find was relief at leaving and a determination never to go back. Some places are so toxic for you that you have to get away from them. Mom moving us away from there was probably the best thing that happened to me.
Janissary35680 8 months ago
"You can't go home again" is a real thing. Recognize and embrace it as an opportunity.
#14
Divorce. My ex was such a drain on my life. I had GI issues, skin issues, anxiety, depression. It didn't change overnight (well, except for the GI issues) but has steadily improved since I left him. I was over functioning, taking care of him before myself, and even had a cancer scare + emergency surgery which was the wakeup call I needed to get out.
He cheated repeatedly, belittled me, was controlling. Loving myself enough to leave has made every second of my life more worth living.
Little Bit 8 months ago
Leaving my ex-husband was the best thing I ever did. It has been more than 20 years now and I think if I hadn't have left him when I did I wouldn't be alive now.
camomooey 8 months ago
Me too. I just wish I had done it sooner. Seven years with him was TOO LONG.
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P1 No-Name 8 months ago
I feel you pain, for me it was 2 or 3 crippling migraines a month. Not a single one since I left.
Stephanie A Mutti 8 months ago
Since getting divorced I have not had a single cold or even allergies. Weird...
#15
Learning how to cook like a chef. Went to a community college culinary program, and it was hands down the most useful investment of my time. I won't work in restaurants, not my cup of tea, but being able to think and cook like a chef has been a very net positive skill.
The Darkest Timeline 8 months ago
I love cooking and would probably never do it professionally but taking some culinary classes sounds fun and very useful. I’ve heard that what they teach you is technique and how flavors work which is more relevant and versatile than learning recipes.
The author said that they're very happy about the attention that their question got online. "I'm really grateful how many people took the time to share their experiences, giving thoughtful advice to strangers on the internet, it shows how much we can learn from one another when we speak honestly," they said.
They also opened up about the inspiration behind their thread. "Honestly, that day I was just bored, reflecting on couple of things I regretted doing in the past and a few decisions I was proud of, that got me wondering what others might say if I asked this question, so I decided to post it."
We asked u/ CookieNegative9860 about their thoughts as to why the question was so relatable to so many people online. "I think the reason why it resonated so widely with internet users is because, at a fundamental level, we are all not that different from each other. Most of us have made mistakes that we regret and done some things that turned our lives around for the better," they said.
#16
Antidepressants. Thought I was just lazy and perpetually exhausted 24/7. Stopped listening to people in my circle who said “it was normal given my circumstances” to feel this way and spoke to my doctor.
Wish I would’ve done this a decade ago, I feel so much better now.
Huddo's sister 8 months ago
I was diagnose with depression and anxiety about 6 months after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. While the antidepressant I started then did help my depression, it was switching to one that helped with sleep and fibromyalgia pain as well that made the most difference. Going of the original was awful though (apparently common with Effexor).
Dilly Millandry 8 months ago
Venlafaxine (Effexor) is absolutely one of the harder ones to come off. It also affected my thyroid and caused massive weight gain that, strangely (haha) disappeared when I slowly (very slowly and under supervision because of needing a different d**g) came off them!
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camomooey 8 months ago
Antidepressants changed my despair about the relationship I was in, making me see things more clearly and realize that I could survive and thrive if I wasn't in it. I left the a*****e and my life changed for the better. I also realized that I probably wouldn't have to stay on them forever, that they got me out of the current mental trench I was living in and I could quit them later. There's nothing wrong with taking them forever if necessary, but I didn't have to.
Apachebathmat 8 months ago
Fluoxetine is my hero! It pulled me out of a really scary dark place, so thankful for it, in fact, without it I’m not sure I’d still be here sadly.. I feel great now
#17
Transitioning, becoming a girl saved my life.
keyboardtek 8 months ago
Being a straight male was confusing and stressful enough as a teen learning how the whole sexual relationship thing worked. I cannot imagine the emotional strife someone who mentally identifies as the opposite s*x goes through.
#18
1: HRT …I’m 65+ yo and started back in March. I haven’t felt this good in years.
2: Kicking those 2 bully siblings out of my life… shoulda done it back in 1993. …hey, it’s never too late to protect your peace ☮️.
"I believe there is something very human and fulfilling about helping others, even if it's just by sharing a small piece of advice, and I believe that thread became a space where people were open, kind, and generous, helping others and that is what made it so powerful."
They said that they "absolutely did not expect" the thread to get so much attention. "I made the post, and a couple hours later, it had thousands of comments, I ended up spending hours reading them, and even taking notes in my notebook, I truly appreciate everyone who took the time to share their insight, and experiences about what improved their life."
#19
Adopting a kitten!
LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
Why stop at just one? XD ::holds up her current three kittens, two 7-month-old siblings and a 6-month old tux singleton::
Janissary35680 8 months ago
Emend to "Adopting any vulnerable lifeform and helping it thrive."
#20
Paying attention to my diet and eating healthy, working out regularly, stretching. My physical and mental health has improved drastically, I didn't even know how crappy I felt at the time and it's only in hindsight I can see how awful my gorging and sloth made me feel.
keyboardtek 8 months ago
I started lap swimming three days a week when I was young. But when I started swimming daily, my overall sense of well being improved considerably. Now in retirement, daily swimming is my major source of arthritis pain relief.
Duh 8 months ago
I have become one with swimming and it has changed my life.
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#21
Losing weight, I lost nearly 70lb.
It transformed my life.
Julie S 8 months ago
Yeah that's definitely not going to be an accurate reading.
Load More Replies... DennyS (denzoren) 8 months ago
It's so tough sometimes. I've done exercise and calorie cutting but I'll lose like 20lbs and then stagnate and then just put it back on.
Binky Melnik 8 months ago
Denny, I’ve only needed to lose weight once (when I quit smoking) so I haven’t a lotta experience with it and maybe I sound like an аsshole offering this, but the way I lost weight was by changing what I ate. (That was how I’d put it on, by eating ice cream and donuts.) Every day, I see people posting about all their “tricks” for losing weight and I feel awful that people feel they need to do all manner of things; it seems from here (with admittedly little experience in the matter) that deciding to eat in a different way, one that can be sustained for the rest of your life, might be an easier answer for a lotta people. I’ll bet I’m downvoted and called names; I simply want to suggest something that may work and doesn’t have a lotta moving parts. Good luck with whatever you do!
Load More Replies...What one piece of advice would you give a complete stranger who is hoping to greatly improve the quality of their life, dear Pandas? What are some small healthy habits that you wish you had started doing much earlier in life? What do you do to live life to the fullest every day? We’d love to hear your thoughts on this. You can share yours in the comments at the very bottom of the post.
#22
I am a software developer, so I spend over 8 hours a day looking at a screen.
I started having severe "tiredness/depression" and this lasted a couple of years. No matter how much sleep I got, it didn't help. I became irritable, and eventually started having headaches. I thought it was sinus headaches because it felt similar. Then I had severe migraines. I went to the doctor and everything came back normal.
Eventually I found out that it could be eye strain. I started resting my eyes every 30 minutes, focusing on something around 20 feet away. If I am using my phone, I use it a reasonable distance away. A few days later all of my symptoms disappeared.
Ace 8 months ago
Surprised it took you so long - this has been known about for years, decades even. I recall at least as long ago as the late 1980s that it was common advice to get up from your computer, walk around, look out of the window, take a five minute break every hour or so. Not just for eye strain, but that was always a large part of the reasoning.
Duh 8 months ago
"suprised it took you so long" wtf Ace, like half the things on this list aren't already known? Are you getting your 8 hours of sleep each night? Getting all your vitamins? Turnings your screen off an hour before bed? Flossing twice a day? How's your fiber intake? Are your friendships healthy? Got good boundaries? Get your prostate checked on time? Are you doing hot yoga? Have you reduced the animal products in your diet? Do you put sunscreen on every day? Are you taking the stairs, not the elevator? Are you making sure you never microwave in plastic? Parking far from the door so you can get your steps in? I'm surprised it took you so long!
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#23
I stopped being scared of failing at my hobbies or finding the learning process too difficult. I just say “f**k it” and jump in. It’s art at the end of the day so however it turns out is however turns out. I dreamed for years of experimenting with making music, but was always intimidated by expensive setups and a tedious learning process. About a year ago I slowly started teaching myself modular synthesis, and when I’m creating I feel so free and happy.
Blue Bunny of Happiness 8 months ago
Creativity is as much about the process as the end product. I often make things, am really critical of them and used to bin them. Now I put them away and reflect on them later. 9 times out of 10 I like them again.
Uncle Panda 8 months ago
I do a fair deal of metal work and it is so much harder if I call my stuff 'art.' I go with 'craft,' because that's a much more achievable standard. And once I got that far, I found 'art' leaks in at the edges anyway.
#24
Being intentional about where my mind is going and whether it's constructive or not.
Kat Alison 8 months ago
This should be higher. In the past, my self-talk has been my worst enemy. I learned better, but I feel it pays to stay vigilant.
Brian Droste 8 months ago
At times my mind will get on one thing and it is usually negative and it gets me down and have a hard time getting my mind off of what I am thinking about. I usually have to let it run its course.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
I'm constantly thinking back to past atrocities, injustices and abuses I've endured that has gone unresolved. I can't fix it now. I can't change the past. But I keep feeling like it's all a pattern that keeps repeating itself. Perhaps constantly thinking about it is somehow drawing it all back to me in the present. I really gotta just stop and focus on the present and future.
#25
Deleted TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. No more comparison and FOMO. 10/10 recommend.
#26
Blackout curtains.
#27
Getting on ADHD meds. It's made me able to focus and get things done so much easier! It's calmed most of my racing thoughts (most because anxiety is *yay*) it's just overall made my quality of life go up.
Huddo's sister 8 months ago
My mum was finally diagnosed at 60, but none of us think the meds she has been put on work for her, in fact symptoms seem worse but she won't ask psych to try new ones for some reason. The same psych put my sister, who had been diagnosed for 15 years, on the same meds and didn't want to take her off even though they didn't work. She found a new psych and she put her on the same meds she had been taking for years before that successfully.
Zaach 8 months ago
I have ADHD but also had a heart attack - doctor won't prescribe the meds for fear of causing another heart attack
Bi.Felicia 8 months ago
There are quite a few non-stimulant ADHD meds out there, which don't make your heart race.
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Earonn - 8 months ago
I wish I could get them. But the specialist I was referred to just replied that the initial tests strongly suggest that I have ADHD, but because I cannot prove that I had symptoms as a child (which is difficult if you're 54 and went to primary school at a time when no one mentioned such things) and because apparently my case isn't "severe" enough (aka, I'm ot s******l) they're not looking into it any further. Yeah, I get it, not enough docs, but that doesn't make my daily life any easier....
#28
Breaking up with my ex…I wish I did it back in 2023..
StrangeOne 8 months ago
The initial part is hard and scary. Afterwards it's like all that weight has lifted off of you. All that dirt has been cleaned off. You have all the freedom to do what you want, when you want. You're just the happiest you have been in a years.
#29
Drinking water, washing my face everyday, flossing everyday, and not starving myself.
Peter Bear 8 months ago
Hi! This comment is meant to bury a tasteless, rude, and downright heartless comment from someone else. I hope that everyone who reads this comment has a wonderful day!
setsuriseikou 8 months ago
Well, you can't shoo away depression by just showing it your passport
Load More Replies... #30
Laser eye surgery. I had -7.5 and -7.25 vision and couldn't even read my phone screen at more then 3 inches. Now, I can wake up and see what time it is on the alarm clock. The catalyst for me was when I put my glasses down on the bathroom counter and couldn't find them. I was looking, 2 inches from the countertop, and just couldn't find them. This was a few weeks after I knocked them off my nightstand and under my bed.
Huddo's sister 8 months ago
I was warned by my doctor not to get it (other than the necessary ones to stop an optic nerve pit from sending me blind) as it can fail and it is more likely that you will need reading glasses later in life.
The Darkest Timeline 8 months ago
So, the increased likelihood of having to use reading glasses when you’re older makes it not worth correcting what is essentially blindness? And how often does it “fail”? I mean, the military allows those with lasik to fly their planes so…
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Auntriarch 8 months ago (edited)
I got it but with monovision, so I can still see my phone. Not everyone can get along with that though
Load More Replies... StrangeOne 8 months ago
My mom had this done to correct her astigmatism. She says her vision improved in some distance, at first. But now her eyesight declined further than before she got the surgery.
Benedick Cumbersnatch 8 months ago
God, I NEED vision- corrective surgery so bad! Preferably lens replacement surgery! Wish such treatments were covered by insurance, 'cause it's certainly not cosmetic for me!
#31
Volunteering - meet people with the same interests and values as you, be in the community making it better, feel good about yourself, learn new skills for free. Honestly, there is no downside. Everyone should do it - especially if you're bored, lonely or having any sort of existential dread.
Duh 8 months ago
I love getting to know the people I volunteer with, and the community we serve. So worth it.
Geoffrey Scott 8 months ago
Retired last summer, was asked to help at the monthly Feeding America. Only takes 1/2 an afternoon, feel better for it. Bonus that it's in a small town so I get to see folks and catch up. Hope the funding stays for it. USDA facing a lot of cuts.
Load More Replies... #32
It sounds cliche, but diet and exercise. Doesn’t have to even be extreme. Just eat more fruits and vegetables and try to do something active every day.
#33
Got into mushroom cultivation, these oysters and champignons really make me a lot happier about life in general.
Petra Peitsch 8 months ago
While this is also true, champignons are a specific type too. In my mother-tongue they are called: csiperke.
Load More Replies... person (i think) 8 months ago (edited)
Okay, I did this a bit and it was fun! I grew a 17oz Lion’s Mane! _But_, ive been told you have to be careful, especially with Oyster mushrooms. The microscopic spores go everywhere, and if they find a place that has enough moistire, they will grow. It might take a while, but you will have mushrooms growing out of your walls, rugs, et al. Edit: correcting autocorrect
#35
Starting a band. Completely changed my life in all the best ways, not least of which is giving me a group of friends that I know I will see once a week at minimum.
keyboardtek 8 months ago
I was in bands from age 16 to 26. Both the best (source of all my friends) and worst (mostly broke) years of my life.
#36
Dang everybody here talking diets sleep and health meanwhile I was about to say youtube to mp3 😭 I'm not taking it back tho.
Patrick van den Houten 8 months ago
Same here. all my music on a SD card in my computer or car stereo.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
This is my guilty pleasure. Yes, I still buy the odd CD if I like all or most of the songs on the album.
#37
Buying a single family home. Love not sharing walls with neighbors.
DennyS (denzoren) 8 months ago
All I want is like an acre...could be a tiny house...just no close neighbors to play loud music or make any noises etc. Let me be me in peace.
CF 8 months ago
Oh my god I know.. My dream! I once had a small house on a half acre, then 2008 happened. But I had to listen to neighbor's dogs bark nonstop + loud music driving by. Definitely need to be at the back of at least an acre (with a wildlife preserve or something behind).
Load More Replies... Peter Bear 8 months ago
Must be nice to be wealthy. And if you think that's not accurate, you haven't seen home prices in the US. I'm in my 40s, and married, both my wife and I work, and the only way we will ever afford a home is if we inherit one.
Uncle Panda 8 months ago
For me, I think this will work out. By the time I can't live independently anymore, I won't be able to hear noisy neighbors.
#38
Replacing my Amazon Basics office chair with something that actually offers lumbar support.
Blue Bunny of Happiness 8 months ago (edited)
A comfortable mattress and chair makes a huge difference!
Boris Long-Johnson 8 months ago
2nd hand from an office furniture recycler. My Steelcase was about £50.
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Kim Kermes 8 months ago
Anything that comes between you and the ground should be the best quality you can afford. Shoes, mattresses, tires, chairs, floors.
#39
Ok 3 big things for me.
1. Stopped alcohol completely
2. Began running 5k and trail running
3. Got rid of fake/ toxic people and people who were only my friends only when they needed me for something
Took about 3 years and I’m on such a better path…..
It takes work and discipline but in the long term it has helped.
#40
A house with nice sunlight and windows.
DennyS (denzoren) 8 months ago
Always use natural light when you can. I barely use any lights during the day in the house.
Brian Droste 8 months ago
I have house with windows but way it is setup I don't get as much sunlight in my house as I would like.
Hassel Davidhoff 8 months ago (edited)
I wanted the opposite, I wanted a cave, and that is kind of what my house is like. Mainly 'cuz I live in Florida and I'm sick of the sun and the heat and humidity. My cave stays nice and cool through the summer without running the AC 24/7.
#41
Not drinking alcohol.
Stopped at 44, should have stopped at 24...
DennyS (denzoren) 8 months ago
Really glad I never developed the habit when I was younger. Didn't like the taste or being woozy.
#42
Taking vitamin D everyday. Literally changed my life.
Huddo's sister 8 months ago
I haven't noticed a change personally, but it made my blood test results better. Not sure if I need a higher dose now (getting tests next week) but I am so exhausted and worried vit D, iron, folate and vit B are all lower now I'm coeliac.
Ange Marsden 8 months ago
Getting regular blood testing is a great start - go you!
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Rosie Hamilton 8 months ago
Definitely a good thing to take, especially through the winter. Though people do also need to be aware that taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can cause too much calcium to build up in the body (hypercalcaemia). This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart. Just be sensible with the amount.
StrangeOne 8 months ago (edited)
I know vitamin A you have to be careful with, and iron. I was consulting a nurse about it, and usually people who over dose on vitamins tend to take more than the daily recommended amount on the bottle because they're trying too hard to be healthier, faster. It is important to check which vitamins you need the most. However, if you start taking certain vitamins and see an improvement in your body and mind, taking them every other day, or weekly, is relatively harmless.
Load More Replies... Uncle Schmickle 7 months ago
Yes. With so much publicity about sun damage, skin cancer, etc. ( esp. in Oz ) most people are Vit. D deficient and aren't aware of it.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
I started taking biotin, and vitamin A, C and D3. I've noticed I haven't been as fatigued, moody and depressed. I haven't been craving fruits and veggies as badly, nor have I been craving fruity candies. Even my sleep has been better, and I'm going to sleep earlier. Sure, we get all those vitamins in foods, but that's if you're eating enough foods daily that has enough of those vitamins.
Beth Wheeler 8 months ago
I have prescription vitamin D that I take twice a week. Tried 3 or 4 OTC brands and all of them caused really bad constipation. Same thing happened to a relative.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
That can be caused by an excess of some vitamins, especially iron. If you have a prescription of vitamin D, best stick to that one because it's professionally suited to fit your needs. Some over-the-counter, or off-the-shelf vitamins can contain other vitamins and ingredients, or a heavier dosage, than what you need.
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#43
Quitting pot, i realized it made me be okay with being mediocre and not taking much action, it’s a dopamine game throughout, trying to chase one high after the other.
not only that, i realized the effect it had on my mood, energy levels and sleep, ive noticed a day and night difference after i stopped using. the “cons” may seem small but thats the f****d up part, because they’re so small you don’t think of them much, but overtime in the long run it builds up to some hefty damage without you realizing. i’m still someone who smokes occasionally but making it an everyday habit is a no go for me at this point.
Ace 8 months ago
Lots of people recognise the effect of quitting alcohol or tobacco but there are not so many posts that highlight the negative effects of long-term cannabis use.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
I've mentioned it on platforms before, much to mass disagreement and denial from people who regularly use cannabis. I think it's one of those things where some people have to stop using for awhile to fully understand. I've never done pot in any way, but my ex has for recreational and medicinal purposes. These people think they're expert pharmacists and botanists, and think they know the dosages they need when they don't. He never bought it legally, and it has caught up with him a few times. When he was sober, he was chill and decent to hang around. When he was high he never took anything seriously, neglected his parenting responsibilities and made his friends super uncomfortable. They only came around to get high with him. Never again would I want to be with total pothead.
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Bgray450 7 months ago (edited)
I've done the same thing recently, after more than 50 years of identifying as a "stoner." I am unable to use "occasionally." If it's in the house, I'm high 24/7. I stopped smoking 2 months ago and I can't believe how good I feel! No more out-of-control munchies, no more staring at YouTube videos for hours on my recliner, no more hacking cough. I don't miss it really.
#44
Decentralizing men.
Katiekat 8 months ago
YES to this, and I speak as a 50+ woman who was married twice for 25 years, and knew from single digits that I very much wanted to be married. Left the first guy, happy the second time for 17 years, widowed 2016. These days, yeah, I've begun to want companionship, but he has to live in my city and state, and HAVE HIS OWN HOUSE. That right there makes for an even playing field. I get out of cooking and cleaning, and any introvert like me would be the right man for me on hearing that and being relieved. I want a loving, close, monogamous relationship, but we also have our own lives and our own space. We're not in each other's pocket. Just focusing more on myself, family, friends, community has been a game-changer.
#45
Walking every day. better sleep, better mood, more energy even when I'm working long hours and nights.
StrangeOne 8 months ago (edited)
This is great for if you have a very sedentary job, or have a disability that makes it harder to get around. It's not punishing yourself or making yourself more in pain. It's strengthening the your muscles so you don't become in worse shape later.
Geoffrey Scott 8 months ago
Until recently, would walk 5k a few times/wk. Bunged my knee up and hope the arthritic POS comes back to more tolerable pain.
Rosie Hamilton 8 months ago
This is one of the reasons I love having dogs (other than the fact that they're adorable and great company) but they make me get out of the house on low-mood days and it always improves things. Not sure I have more energy like the OP but definitely a better mood!
#46
Working on my gut health.
#47
Exercise. I thought it was vain to exercise all the time. Now i get cranky/depressed if i dont. I hate fitting it in to my day, but i always feel better once ive done it. It gives me energy, i get outside (for the most part), and it keeps my body in way better shape than sitting on the couch ever did. I also now look at it through the lens of how ill feel and move when im 60+. I want to be mobile and strong for as long as possible.
Peter Bear 8 months ago
Hi everyone! This comment is intended to bury another person's tasteless and cruel comment that doesn't need to be read. I hope everyone reading it has a wonderful day!
#48
Bidet. I'm honestly annoyed that I lived this long without one.
Tropical Tarot 8 months ago
When we started living together I told my wife we were getting one. She was skeptical. But now she tell anybody and everyone to get one. My family is too scared to try it when they come over.
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#49
Taking vitamins. I take an iron, magnesium, and multivitamin supplement every night.
I now sleep through the night, wake earlier, and rarely need a nap in the day (I have chronic illnesses so this is wonderful for me).
Huddo's sister 8 months ago
I wish I had found it so easy. I had an antidepressant for a while that helped my sleep for the first time in my life, but after about 4 years, it stopped working.
CF 8 months ago
A lot of them stop working in that time frame. It's so common with Prozac that there's a name for the phenomenon, though I forget what it is. Good news is that doesn't mean a different med wont work.
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#50
For better quality sleep, Magnesium Glycinate. I took the other kind (citrate) without realizing there were different types of Magnesium, it gave me the s***s.
Sleep feels more restful, improves my mood for the day.
Little Bit 8 months ago
I started taking magnesium glycinate a couple of years ago for my anxiety. It was a game changer. I wasn't expecting it to work because I'd spent years trying different things which either made no difference or made things worse. I read about magnesium glycinate in a newspaper article and I thought I might as well give it a go. After a few weeks I realised I wasn't feeling anxious any more and couldn't remember the last time I had. My sleep improved too so I felt much better all round.
#51
Getting a stable job and getting married.
I tried my hand at entertainment for a decade, but the only audience I needed was my wife. :).
#52
Stopped believing in God.
Mel in Georgia 8 months ago
I went through a born-again phase in college, hoping Jesus would help me stop feeling so miserable. Nope, all the cognitive dissonance caused by what I knew to be true vs what I was told must be true sent me spiraling downward. Finally ditching the whole religion thing brought me such relief it pulled me out of my depression. A miracle!
Tabitha 8 months ago
I derive way more comfort in science and cold hard facts than I ever could relying on mysticism and belief in some mysterious omnipotent being who left no trace of themself anywhere.
Load More Replies... Ace 8 months ago (edited)
Well yes, that would work. Personally I never stopped believing, I just stopped pretending to myself that I believed. Aged about 16.
Dawn Marie 8 months ago
I am sorry, but I do not understanding what you mean. Your second sentence states that you never stopped believing in God. Is that correct? Then it goes on to say that you stopped pretending to yourself that you believed. I am confused. Can you please explain this conundrum?
Load More Replies... #54
Getting fancy rats as pets ❤️❤️🐭🐭.
#56
Septoplasty with turbinate reduction. Nobody told me I could be breathing this good.
Blue Bunny of Happiness 8 months ago
Snap! Massively improved my hayfever and dust allergy symptoms too.
Load More Replies... #58
High water pressure.
#60
Proper bed/mattress and pillow. Really it helps with back pain, I had it a lot, now it’s gone.
#61
Online Dating. Not only was it fun and a real confidence boost, I met the woman I’ll likely spend the rest of my life with and I would say having her around makes me healthier, happier and it gives me someone to split the bills with.
#62
Listening.
It took me a long time to learn because before, I was so desperate for validation when I was younger, but now I don't care as much about that these days.
You learn so much by listening to people either in direct conversation or just letting conversations wash around you. I do it a lot at work and people magically think you're this really nice and thoughtful person when really you're just taking the time to listen to what they have to say. It makes people feel really valued, and they in turn value you back.
#64
Peppers. I started using way less salt once I began spicing my food with peppers.
Petra Peitsch 8 months ago
Try also other spieces. Salt is not evil, you need it, but as with everything, on a moderate level.
#65
Sub contracting, as opposed to working full time.
Made 3x more money and i actually get to spend time at home doing things and have far more freedom.
#67
Taking a hot bath every night before going to bed.
#68
Lexapro. Gave me the boost I needed to go to therapy, start working out, get away from cheap thrills, find balance in life. I got off of it eventually but without it I wouldn't have had that failsafe to stabilize me and let me work back up to normal.
#70
Nannycammed my wife abusing her day care kids and used the video to win my house in the divorce.
#72
Gym! 5 weeks and I’ve never felt better.
keyboardtek 8 months ago (edited)
My motivational quote to do my physical therapy exercises is: "In six months you will have either six months of excuses, or six months of progress. The choice is yours alone." I was amazed at how quickly the progress accumulated.
#73
I bought an automatic nasal rinser.
I was so afraid of using one for the longest time because anything to do with snot makes me vomit and I didn't want to get in a cycle of seeing / feeling snot, vomiting, then having to choose between the vomit coming out my nose or swallowing snot
But I found a machine that doesn't make the solution come out of your mouth and it's powered, so it's easier for the solution to go through your nasal cavity. And after it rinses it goes into a separate section of the machine and you can dump it out.
I bought it over a year ago, and while it could just be a coincidence, I haven't been sick since I got it.
#74
Stopped eating processed foods.
#77
Mood stabilisers (because I had undiagnosed bipolar II). Almost immediate relief from my major depression. Life has been SO much better.
#78
I bought some manga and figurines etc for my gaming room and I really feel like it adds to the atmosphere in a positive way for me vs just bland walls.
#79
Wool socks! Cotton has no business being anywhere near your feet!
Zaach 8 months ago
In mountain parlance the expression is "cotton will k**l you" - it does not wick
Ace 8 months ago
Quite so. Merino was a game-changer in the skiing world, soft enough to be worn next to the skin, breathable and wicking enough to allow sweat to disperse easily, with the added benefit of not picking up body smells so you can use the same shirt/socks/longjohns for days at a time without washing.
Load More Replies... What do you think ?
Tabitha 8 months ago (edited)
Starting our own business. Told my husband for 15 years that he should start his own business. He’s great at his job, and I got tired of him and his talents making money for his a*****e bosses and not h8 self. He finally agreed to do it about 2 1/2 years ago. He’s the talent, I run the office. The company has been growing by leaps and bounds, has been out of the red and in the black since month 13, and we just had to hire another employee. I work from home, and love that commute so so much. My husband and I have control over what goes on in the company, and we vowed to be the diametric opposite of our old a*****e bosses. We’ve been doing that consistently since day one, and regardless of what some MBA tells you, it works! Who would’ve thought being decent and fair with your employees, as well as paying them a decent wage with bonuses and being generous and understanding with time off, basically treating them like responsible adults instead of naughty children, is the way to get the best out of them. Since our employees know we trust them to do their best, they do it because we have won their loyalty. That also means my husband can make his own schedule, take on as much new work as he wants and refuse to work with a******s—-things you can’t do when you’re working for greedy f***s like his old bosses—-and we are SO much better off, not just financially but also physically and mentally, than we were when both of us worked for our old a*****e bosses.
The Redhead 8 months ago (edited)
Divorcing my ex-husband. 3 months into our marriage (I was 19) we moved to his home state (I'd never visited before). A couple of days later I knew it was a mistake & I said "I don't like it here, let's please go back to my home state". Instead he & his dad started unpacking our stuff. Wasted 7 years there (hated all 7 of them). Then moved to a new state (I knew better this time & visited first); wasted an additional 7 years with him; but now have a wonderful life, SO, and an amazing child in the "new" state. Although in hindsight I should have called home after arriving in his home state gotten my parents help & gone back to where I came from.
Huddo's sister 8 months ago
Going on a Low FODMAP diet, therefore eliminating all the things that caused stomach issues. Also coeliac diagnosis.
Ace 8 months ago
I can't help thinking that these two are listed the wrong way round...
Load More Replies... MaxMi 8 months ago
Quit procrastinating point blank. Everything started working and continuosly improving to stellar levels
Ace 8 months ago
I've been meaning to quit procrastinating for most of my adult life, but somehow never quite seem to get around to it. Really.
Load More Replies... Becca not Becky 8 months ago
Watching less TV. I loved binging shows, but now I'm so much more productive and happy.
Littlemiss 8 months ago
I went non contact with 3 relations. I wish I had done it sooner. I let them interfere in my life for far too long.
Tabitha 8 months ago (edited)
Starting our own business. Told my husband for 15 years that he should start his own business. He’s great at his job, and I got tired of him and his talents making money for his a*****e bosses and not h8 self. He finally agreed to do it about 2 1/2 years ago. He’s the talent, I run the office. The company has been growing by leaps and bounds, has been out of the red and in the black since month 13, and we just had to hire another employee. I work from home, and love that commute so so much. My husband and I have control over what goes on in the company, and we vowed to be the diametric opposite of our old a*****e bosses. We’ve been doing that consistently since day one, and regardless of what some MBA tells you, it works! Who would’ve thought being decent and fair with your employees, as well as paying them a decent wage with bonuses and being generous and understanding with time off, basically treating them like responsible adults instead of naughty children, is the way to get the best out of them. Since our employees know we trust them to do their best, they do it because we have won their loyalty. That also means my husband can make his own schedule, take on as much new work as he wants and refuse to work with a******s—-things you can’t do when you’re working for greedy f***s like his old bosses—-and we are SO much better off, not just financially but also physically and mentally, than we were when both of us worked for our old a*****e bosses.
The Redhead 8 months ago (edited)
Divorcing my ex-husband. 3 months into our marriage (I was 19) we moved to his home state (I'd never visited before). A couple of days later I knew it was a mistake & I said "I don't like it here, let's please go back to my home state". Instead he & his dad started unpacking our stuff. Wasted 7 years there (hated all 7 of them). Then moved to a new state (I knew better this time & visited first); wasted an additional 7 years with him; but now have a wonderful life, SO, and an amazing child in the "new" state. Although in hindsight I should have called home after arriving in his home state gotten my parents help & gone back to where I came from.
Huddo's sister 8 months ago
Going on a Low FODMAP diet, therefore eliminating all the things that caused stomach issues. Also coeliac diagnosis.
Ace 8 months ago
I can't help thinking that these two are listed the wrong way round...
Load More Replies... MaxMi 8 months ago
Quit procrastinating point blank. Everything started working and continuosly improving to stellar levels
Ace 8 months ago
I've been meaning to quit procrastinating for most of my adult life, but somehow never quite seem to get around to it. Really.
Load More Replies... Becca not Becky 8 months ago
Watching less TV. I loved binging shows, but now I'm so much more productive and happy.
Littlemiss 8 months ago
I went non contact with 3 relations. I wish I had done it sooner. I let them interfere in my life for far too long.
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