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“Should Have Started Doing It Years Ago”: 30 Small Things That Drastically Improved People’s Lives
Ipsos recently conducted a survey across thirty countries to find out what makes people happy. The majority of respondents identified physical health (54%), mental well-being (53%), and their relationship with their partner (49%) as the key contributors.
To get a better understanding of what helps individuals achieve the things they need, we at Bored Panda asked our Facebook followers to share the various ways they have substantially improved their quality of life. Continue scrolling to check out what they told us!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Getting dogs and cats! Had the absolute worst depression before and it has almost completely turned around because of them. They're such beautiful souls
RELATED:
#3
Getting clean and sober. It’s been 12 years and 7 months now.
#4
When I stopped caring about what others think--when I stopped being a people pleaser. I speak my mind, now, and I don't care who likes or dislikes me.
#6
Leaving a toxic work environment. I'm still rethinking what I want to do with my life, but at least I'm not having a panic attack every week
#7
Dumb one but drinking water. I survived on solely caffeine products most of my life and slowly made the switch. Almost every single health issue I had must have been dehydration in one way or another and since drinking enough water everyday I feel amazing. Duh I know but I can't be the only one
KimB 1 year ago
Like many working in healthcare I was a horrible caffeine addict. Start by decreasing slowly eliminating one at a time. My go to was coffee and Mountain Dew. Ironically I don't even like the taste of Mountain Dew but loved the caffeine and sugar boost. I quit those easily since I don't like it anyway. So I just had coffee to work on. I went from 2 pots a day to just 1-2 cups per day with artificial sweetener and almond milk. I drink about 84 ounces of water per day on average and occasionally treat myself to a zero sugar soda if I have a lot of physical activity to do such as yard work or heavy cleaning moving heavy furniture etc.
#8
Stop chasing people who wanted nothing to do with me unless they needed something. And, started to really focus on those who love me for me.
#9
Going back to work after being a SAHM. I am a way better parent when I have some space from the kids and a sense of purpose outside of the house.
Bored something 1 year ago
This did so much for my mental health. I stopped having panic attacks and got off the antidepressants.
#10
Cutting out toxic people, paying off my house and retiring @ 59 yrs old! I’m poor but so grateful and happy! It’s been 10 years now and no regrets!
#12
Accepting it's okay to ask for help
BigCityLady 1 year ago
That was a huge hurdle I had to overcome as I learned that I could not rely on anyone. When I started dating my husband, I would try to fix my house repairs myself and if I couldn’t I would hire someone. After a year of dating he put his foot down and told me that he could and would fix my repairs and would do it happily. Now he’s still my fix-it man after 31 years!!
#13
My gastric sleeve surgery. At my highest I was at 296 and I am now at 187, about 7 months after surgery and still losing. I still maintain a good diet and started adding in more exercise. I feel amazing
DennyS (denzoren) 1 year ago
I'm really trying to avoid surgery but gosh it's difficult to keep it off. I've tried all sorts of stuff.
#15
Yoga. My neck and shoulders hurt all the time. Yoga has made them so much better! I’m not great at it yet but improving every time.
#16
I have horrible anxiety and I'm always holding stuff in. I never speak out. But lately I've been speaking my mind and forcing myself not to care as much and it's such an improvement in every aspect of my life!! I feel lighter. Still have a long way to go though!
#17
Not drinking all the time. I still drink at times but I used to drink everyday. This one change has improved my life tremendously and had a domino affect of happiness and self growth!!
#18
realizing that i’d let family members disrespect me for far too long. once i grew that backbone & started believing that my feelings are valid & the only ones that matter to me and my children, my life got better and happier
Regina Holt 1 year ago
I totally disconnected from my family of birth a looooong time ago. They just made the crazy worse.
#19
Getting back to creating art. It provides a total escape for me.
#20
Getting a divorce (He was extremely abusive)
#21
eating bigger breakfasts. more energy throughout the day and less prone to binge eating at night
A̷͇̘̓͜l̷̼͇̣͒̌ͅȩ̷͍͙͗̅̀͊̏̾͘x̶̋̍ 1 year ago
Yeah, one of the issues with my eating disorder might be caused not eating breakfast..
#22
Unlearn the "people pleasing behavior" and gym. I wish I did it in my early 20's
#23
Quit my corporate job in 2019 and started a remote-only business so I can travel and work from anywhere.
Susie Elle 1 year ago
This would be my absolute dream, except I'd be an author. A girl can dream :')
#24
Walking away from those who are committed to misunderstanding me, at their convenience.
#25
Hired a housekeeper. Best money I have ever spent. Gives someone a job, doing 3 bathrooms, laundry, sweeps, mops and dusts. All the things that take away from my family time on my days off.
Robert Larson, LPN, JD 1 year ago
The first few weeks/months it was a "luxury" but now it is a must have. I would throw anyone under a bus if my housekeeper said it would make her happy!!
#26
Going to bed by 10:30pm instead of 12am/midnight and avoiding caffeine after 9am.
#27
Standing up for myself and stop being afraid of the potential back lash.
DennyS (denzoren) 1 year ago
Last time I did this...the backlash was insane but it was worth it.
#28
Meditation has changed my entire life!
keyboardtek 1 year ago
I learned Transcendental Meditation when I was 18. At 70 I still use it to relax. Very effective and simple.
#29
Adding an anti-anxiety medication to my regimen. Didn't even realize how low I was until it pulled me back up.
#30
Cutting out sugary drinks almost completely.
#32
Getting a massage every 6 weeks. Been doing it for just over a year and I should have started doing it years ago!
DennyS (denzoren) 1 year ago
I wouldn't mind...if I didn't tense up like a scared opossum whenever I try lol
#33
Started exercising again after not doing so for over a decade.
#35
THE GYM!!! And I cant emphasize this enough. What started as a physical fitness journey turned into mental clarity and a lifestyle change. Take these words to heart! Start in the gym, Use discipline and determination, and watch your life start to improve.
#37
Getting up a few hours before work in the morning. If you have to be there at 7, get up at 4.
Not feeling rushed in the morning and starting my day off on a good note.
Anikulapo 1 year ago (edited)
4 freakin’ AM??! That’s not for everybody! I do understand the part about not rushing though. I like to spend 5 minutes starting up my machine, expediting a couple of stupid mails, and then walking away. Back at 9, my laptop is switched on and waiting, there’s no stupid mail, and I just start my day slowly sipping my cup of tea.
#38
Cutting out dairy. I developed lactose intolerance and didn’t know it.
ROSESARERED 1 year ago
Dairy is out of my life, sadly, after developing a n allergy to it. Miss it, but I do not miss feeling ill and tired and sore every single day
#40
Going to a chiropractor and getting my service dog. Both are extremely helpful and make my medical issues more bearable.
Anony Mouse 1 year ago
Chiropractors are snake oil salesmen. If you found one that hasn't paralyzed you yet, then you're lucky. There is nothing about what they do or sell that is backed by any science. (Someone will reply - I've been going for years and it keeps me off pain meds and helped when nothing else did! Then no - it didn't help if you have to keep going.)
#41
Self employed.
Stopped caring about what others think.
#42
Putting God first in my life. Following Jesus, and sobriety. My life has been the best it’s ever been since making those choices.
Premislaus de Colo 1 year ago
someone changed his/her life to the better without disturbing or harmin anyone, but did it due to religion, so let's downvote this my wonderful open-minded tolerant Pandas... /s
#43
Spirituality and therapy. Self healing self love inner work. It's the hardest thing I've ever had to do but when it works it works. Just putting in the work is what's hard
BigCityLady 1 year ago
Therapy has been my lifeline for decades!! I fully support therapy and other tools for you to use for your mental and physical health and wellness above all else!!
#44
Realizing that happiness is a choice and choosing be happy every day, even through tough times.
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Giraffy Window 1 year ago (edited)
Carefully organized, packed up, and cleared out the "office" filled with feral computer parts, junk, and orphaned boxes of detritus my partner has turned loose in there over the years. One side of the room is a work station for the days my partner WFH, which he would literally clear a coffee-stained trail to get to before. The other half was boxes and garbage (not food garbage) climbing halfway up the wall. Once I cleaned it all out, I installed a wall unit on that side, and permanently set up all my sewing equipment. Before that, I'd had to haul out a folding table and everything I needed any time I had a sewing project to work on, and then pack it all away again. I'm so proud of my space and how tidy and organized I can keep everything now. My partner is fine with sharing the room, partly because we support each other's hobbies and interests... and partly because he was truly, unfathomably unbothered by the state of it beforehand, so didn't feel he was losing out on the extra floor space I'd created.
Rai Serl 1 year ago
Radical acceptance: People are going to do and think what they're going to do and think. The more I fight it and stress about it, the more I'm hurting myself. I don't have to LIKE what they are thinking or doing or saying or whatever, but I do have to accept it as what's happening and find a way to move forward with my life while that is true. So and so said I'm a b****? I don't like it. But instead of getting into a huge dramafest argument about it, I move on. Clearly they aren't meant to be in my life anymore, and I don't have to worry about sending them a Xmas card this year.
Thrillion 1 year ago
If everyone could be like this, the world would one big community
Load More Replies...
Giraffy Window 1 year ago (edited)
Carefully organized, packed up, and cleared out the "office" filled with feral computer parts, junk, and orphaned boxes of detritus my partner has turned loose in there over the years. One side of the room is a work station for the days my partner WFH, which he would literally clear a coffee-stained trail to get to before. The other half was boxes and garbage (not food garbage) climbing halfway up the wall. Once I cleaned it all out, I installed a wall unit on that side, and permanently set up all my sewing equipment. Before that, I'd had to haul out a folding table and everything I needed any time I had a sewing project to work on, and then pack it all away again. I'm so proud of my space and how tidy and organized I can keep everything now. My partner is fine with sharing the room, partly because we support each other's hobbies and interests... and partly because he was truly, unfathomably unbothered by the state of it beforehand, so didn't feel he was losing out on the extra floor space I'd created.
Rai Serl 1 year ago
Radical acceptance: People are going to do and think what they're going to do and think. The more I fight it and stress about it, the more I'm hurting myself. I don't have to LIKE what they are thinking or doing or saying or whatever, but I do have to accept it as what's happening and find a way to move forward with my life while that is true. So and so said I'm a b****? I don't like it. But instead of getting into a huge dramafest argument about it, I move on. Clearly they aren't meant to be in my life anymore, and I don't have to worry about sending them a Xmas card this year.
Thrillion 1 year ago
If everyone could be like this, the world would one big community
Load More Replies... You May Like “I Can’t Believe Other People Don’t Do This”: 43 People Share Their Best Life Hacks People Are Sharing The Things They'd Learned Too Late In Life, And These 51 Ones Are Eye-Opening 84 Healthy Habits To Start And Follow Throughout Life
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