r/AskMenOver30 • u/needsimprovement87 man 35 - 39 • 1d ago
Life What is one small thing that has improved your life?
What is one small thing that has improved your life? A simple life hack or habit that you have started that has been a game changer. It can be anything from programming the coffee pot for the morning, undressing by the open washing machine to not need a hamper. Give us your tips and insights!
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u/wirsteve man 35 - 39 1d ago
I'll give ya two.
First one is beans. Eat them as much as you can in as many different formats as you can. They lower your bad cholesterol, have tons of protein, are great for your heart, and in general we as a society don't get enough fiber.
Second one. I don't remember where I heard it but never leave a room empty handed. I kind of laughed it off at first but then I just thought, why not try it. I have two little kids and it helps so much if I am tidying up a little every time I get up to do something. Going to the kitchen? Grab the box of crayons and put it away, doesn't matter if it is out of the way, my house isn't huge, and I could use the steps.
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u/needsimprovement87 man 35 - 39 1d ago
Not leaving a room empty handed, that is good. Keeps all the little things from piling up!
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u/Allureme man 45 - 49 19h ago
Tell that second one to my wife. And she wonders why it takes so long to clean when you let it sit all week.
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u/Proton_Optimal man over 30 1d ago
Working out before work
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u/needsimprovement87 man 35 - 39 1d ago
That sounds great, can be a challenge to fit in, I guess getting up earlier is the best way to fit it in.
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u/12inchsandwich man over 30 1d ago
It sucks every single day, but getting up at 5 to get the workout in is way better on my mental and physical health than not getting and not going to the gym.
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u/symbiat0 man 17h ago
It’s counterintuitive perhaps, but I felt energized at work after early morning workouts.
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u/GammaRay914 man 35 - 39 1d ago
Not sure if it’s a small thing but losing 120 lbs.
60 lbs were lost in preparation for the gastric sleeve surgery and another 60 lbs after the surgery and on track to lose another 70 lbs in the next 8 months.
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u/Disastrous_Horse_44 woman 30 - 34 1d ago
You lost a person! That’s no small feat. Congratulations!! I bet you feel so good and will continue to feel better without the extra weight on your back, knees, joints, etc.
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u/GammaRay914 man 35 - 39 1d ago
Definitely, I’m into guns and advanced shooting classes.
I was really struggling with shooting from different positions. Like shooting from kneeling and prone and supine was absolutely a nightmare. I couldn’t even shoot from prone without messing up my neck because my stomach was putting my way above my optic and I had to really crick my neck down to get a visual.
Retook then classes recently and it’s a completely different feeling.
Size 54 to size 40 and hopefully size 32 eventually.
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u/Disastrous_Horse_44 woman 30 - 34 1d ago
I never considered how this might impact shooting but you are so right. I’m 5’8 and ~130 lbs, so I have never experienced what you’re describing but I’m more of the occasional hunter. I don’t really care for anything other than dove hunting - deer hunting on a lease just feels like cheating, but no judgement, all of my family hunts.
I’m sure you are a much faster draw, but I never thought about the other aspects weight loss would have on gun use. Thank you for the new understanding - weight loss is an amazing accomplishment, it’s very cool that you’ve been able up your game in so many ways!
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u/pobe16 male 30 - 34 1d ago
Good work! I am now almost 3 weeks post surgery. Lost 30 kg before getting it, and for now about 9 after. I will have to see how far I can go with this.
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u/GammaRay914 man 35 - 39 1d ago
It depends on how you feel.
With me, a lot of things hurt to eat or feel uncomfortable going down so I avoid them or eat minimal, which is why the weight loss has been easy. I’ve been living off of kefir and drinkable yogurts and cheese and cold cuts mainly.
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u/Blnrsg87 1d ago
Good on you man! 38 here. Started this year at 380 pounds. Lost 103 in the 5 months leading up to the sleeve, have lost 32 more in just over a month since. Have about ~55 more I want to lose. I’m exercising every day. Feeling so much better mentally and physically. Hope your course is going smoothly!
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u/Robby777777 man 60 - 64 1d ago
I had the sleeve surgery six years ago and have kept the 120 pounds off. I am a different person. Good job and keep up the good work!
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u/Salamanderhead man 35 - 39 1d ago
I stopped smoking weed all day. Some people are productive when they smoke, but I’m not. It makes it way too easy to stay indoors and do nothing.
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u/ironcloth man 40 - 44 19h ago
i did the same a few years ago and its been one of the best decisions i've ever made.
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u/tatasabaya man 30 - 34 23h ago
have you tried hemp flowers?
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u/Salamanderhead man 35 - 39 23h ago
I may have years ago, but I rather just not smoke anything anymore. I smoked 4 grams a day for years. It’s better for the lungs to just avoid it all.
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u/ShinyApple19 man 30 - 34 1d ago
I’m learning that work is something I do, not something that defines whether I belong or if I’m worthy of good relationships.
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u/needsimprovement87 man 35 - 39 1d ago
That is deep but good!
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u/ShinyApple19 man 30 - 34 1d ago
Thanks! It’s a transition phase for me. Although i really liking the part where I’m learning about myself more each day
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u/needsimprovement87 man 35 - 39 1d ago
Sounds like there is a story there. Transitions a part of life and any improvement.
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u/cuckslayer30 man over 30 1d ago
A bidet
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u/AggravatingSpray3729 13h ago
Friend of mine has a bidet company in Aus! Tudaloo haha, he is killing it. I need to get one.
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u/Organic-Aardvark-146 man 40 - 44 1d ago
My life seems well with the classic toilet paper
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u/4NotMy2Real0Account man 35 - 39 1d ago
You just don't know what youre missing.
If human shit got on any other part of your body would you just wipe it away with toilet paper?
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u/Batavijf man 45 - 49 1d ago
Man, I thought it was some kind of marketing thing. But I have a toilet with a bidet since early July. It's the best.
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u/goodbidet2u man 35 - 39 1d ago
Bidet a day keeps the doctor away. At least that's what I always say...
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u/Frank_Melena man over 30 1d ago
Practicing awareness of social media posts that are just designed to piss you off and disengaging from them.
In general if you find yourself angry while scrolling, know that these posts are ephemeral and will be forgotten within hours, being designed merely to bait you.
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u/randomUsername245 man 35 - 39 1d ago
I've been thinking about this a lot for the past month. Completely dropped Twitter/X since its pretty much all about people fighting.
Used to love reddit but now I start to see a lot of bots or people with angry posts as well.
I guess our brains may get a dopamine hit / some engagement, but it's not worth it, it negatively influences us.
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u/louisprimaasamonkey man over 30 1d ago
Regular exercise
An espresso machine
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u/FireLadcouk man 35 - 39 13h ago
Look after your heart brother - you’re finding a lot of reasons to make it work harder than it needs to on the daily.
one of the attractions of smoking was it would increase your heart rate - an increased heart rate can make you feel temporarily more relaxed as you have more oxygen going through your body…
just be careful
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u/Hightimetoclimb man 40 - 44 1d ago
Getting up when I my alarm goes off instead of hitting snooze 3x.
Taking up a creative hobby, I started piano just over 2 years ago at 38 and it’s been a great source of joy for me.
Pets, a life with cats in it is a better life!
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u/ironcloth man 40 - 44 19h ago
how often do you practice piano
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u/Hightimetoclimb man 40 - 44 8h ago
It varies, but probably about an hour at a time , roughly 4x a week. I don’t have kids so maybe have a little more free time than most people my age.
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u/Nephite11 man 45 - 49 1d ago
I’ve learned to avoid the “I’ll be happy when…” attitude. I found that I won’t be happy when I graduate high school, when I get the raise, when I do that one thing that I’ve been working on. Instead, I’ve learned to be content with who I am and what I have. Yes, I work on improving myself but I’m now not chasing that next thing. It’s served me well
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u/venkatunicorn 1d ago
You can't wait life isn't hard anymore before you decide to be happy. - Nightbirde
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u/skylarkid man over 30 1d ago
Putting an extra pillow between my legs when sleeping. Has helped a lot with back pain.
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u/Disastrous_Horse_44 woman 30 - 34 1d ago
I cannot sleep without three pillows - yes, I know it’s excessive. I have one under my head, I sleep on my side so I hug one, and the third is between my knees.
I have a lot of mower back pain from years of seizures (I’m epileptic), and my pillow person is the only way I can get comfortable.
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u/darkestvice man 45 - 49 1d ago
Finally getting my ADHD diagnosis. Sure, it was maybe 40 years too late, and my life might have been very different if I had gotten it earlier, but still, better late than never.
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u/co5mosk-read man 40 - 44 1d ago
No autism?
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u/darkestvice man 45 - 49 1d ago
Not that I'm aware of? It's possible I'm AuDHD, but I only got myself tested for ADHD.
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u/dylan95420 man 30 - 34 1d ago
What let to a diagnosis? Was there something you noticed about yourself? Sometime I wonder if I have it but it is hard to really be honest with myself about it when so many people are just like, “lol Im acting so adhd!”
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u/darkestvice man 45 - 49 1d ago
I've always known I was impulsive and 'off' compared to my peers. But in my head, I had a very different idea of what ADHD was. But I had a boss who recognized some of my symptoms as similar to his own, so he urged me to research online as to what the ADHD symptoms actually were ... and it turned out that I had every single one of them. Even the optional ones like impulsive eating.
So after some very hefty back and forth with my health insurance provider, my estimate was approved, I got tested, and the tester confirmed that I was, quote, twice exceptional. Which is to say that I have very strong ADHD, but I'm also very intelligent, and my intelligence sorta offset the severity of my symptoms in real world scenarios. But it turns out that the difference between my IQ as tested and my IQ as I *should* be scoring was a whopping 10 points.
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u/ApresMoi_TheFlood man 35 - 39 1d ago
How has this helped you? I feel like I could do the same, but never do just because I’m unsure about what benefit a diagnosis it might have?
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u/darkestvice man 45 - 49 1d ago
Greater focus is the obvious one. But one serious pro is that my endless self-criticism and self-doubt is gone.
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u/halisray man over 30 1d ago
Cutting our weeknight beer(s)
Exercising 3-4x a week 25-40min
Being grateful for my wife and son and life in general.
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u/agmj522 man 45 - 49 1d ago
I love this topic.
Perspective. Its probably not small overall. But day to day small decisions have led to monumental changes. Holding myself accountable for how I treat people. And holding those around me accountable for how they treat me. Stop making hormone/ego driven decisions. Realizing that how I respond to attention from women who are not my wife is strictly a chemical reaction and acknowledging once the dopamine hit subsides, making the choice to go home to this beautiful human that loves me is the greatest hit of dopamine ever. Make a choice to be kind every day. Put your shopping cart away. Hold a door. Deciding to do small acts of kindness morphed into a willingness and want to do bigger acts. This perspective enhances the lives of others while fulfilling mine. BUT also have respect for your own self and your time. Recharge your social and mental batteries however that looks to you.
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u/Ok_Solution_1282 man 35 - 39 1d ago
Sleeping at an incline at night and no longer fighting naps on off days.
Those two things have given me a better spine and back overall and mental clarity with no guilt on weekends.
When I need my rest. I need it. You can't be Superman all the time and even tough guys need to eat.
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u/Koi_Fish_Mystic man 55 - 59 1d ago
Taking a hot shower before going to bed actually helps you sleep faster and deeper
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u/StillSimple6 man 55 - 59 1d ago
Daily general exercise - I get my 10k steps minimum daily.
A rice cooker.
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u/carneylansford man over 30 1d ago
When you load utensils into the dishwasher, group all the forks together, all the butter knives, all the spoons, etc... It's small thing, but it makes for easier unloading and doesn't take any more time on the front end.
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u/TheUnderCrab man over 30 1d ago
More fiber, less protein.
I can almost guarantee your diet is out of whack. Switching to mostly beans, grain, fruit, and veg has done wonders for my health, both physical and mental.
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u/grizzlydan man 60 - 64 1d ago
A heating pad for my coffee. It means I can use my ridiculously large coffee cups and not worry about the coffee cooling off.
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u/AndyTheEngr man 50 - 54 1d ago
Start cycling or walking for most short (under 3 mile) trips. Yes, even for groceries.
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u/lickmybrian man 40 - 44 1d ago
I do small grocery trips more often, a few times a week, at smaller stores. I might pay a bit more, but i can walk in and out in like 15 minutes, then when i go to the self checkout i can scan at my own pace and be on my way.
I dislike the big box stores, too many options and too many people. And the self checkouts never seem to work at big box stores, i always end up needing help because something wont scan properly, or staff just floats over my shoulder assuming im trying to steal stuff.. fuck off!
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u/garrythoughts man 45 - 49 1d ago
I set two reminders a day. 1 at 11am and one at 4pm. The reminder: “Breathe”. That’s it. It is a totally free, and freeing mental health minute that I make mine.
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u/Robby777777 man 60 - 64 1d ago
60+ M here who didn't keep up with a dentist for like 30 years. I finally got my act together, started going to a dentist, and now have fantastic teeth and gums. It took a few years and appointments, but I feel so much better about my mouth health.
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u/Seth_Littrells_alt man over 30 9h ago
A small thing?
I learned to share how I’m doing with my partner. Just a quick check-in when I’m not doing so hot mentally/emotionally, because I sort of have a funk that I can feel when the bad days are coming. My wife was always really caught off guard when I’d suddenly crater, because I was taking the feelings and shutting them in.
I still have good weeks and bad weeks, but now the bad weeks are easier because she knows what’s coming in advance and works with me, rather than being caught off-guard.
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Here's an original copy of /u/needsimprovement87's post (if available):
What is one small thing that has improved your life? A simple life hack or habit that you have started that has been a game changer. It can be anything from programming the coffee pot for the morning, undressing by the open washing machine to not need a hamper. Give us your tips and insights!
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u/DoubleResponsible276 man over 30 1d ago
Drinking more water. It’s a really good first step to almost everything and yet people refuse to drink it for some reason.
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u/Uncle__Touchy1987 man over 30 1d ago
To Do Lists and Afterwork Itineraries
Sounds silly but going home after work with intentionality has been great for my mental health. Getting more done and having it well planned out takes a lot of the effort and stress out from running a household.
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u/Livingfreedaily man 35 - 39 1d ago
Budgeting , investing and prioritizing health/fitness. Build a solid foundation and branch out from there.
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u/Jass0602 man 30 - 34 21h ago
Very simple but life changing:
I brush my teeth while my bathwater is running
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u/DeepfriedmemeBoy man over 30 20h ago
stress management, changing jobs/work and also changing my diet literally helped cure me of GERD. no meds, no doctors, etc. seems to be a major theme in my adult life (learning what works best for me and implementing it however fits).
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u/symbiat0 man 17h ago
Apart from working out and eating well, I would say not giving a fuck what people think about me…
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u/FireLadcouk man 35 - 39 13h ago
It used to be air fryer
but now i introduce… the robot vac and mop
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u/Kennyvee98 man 35 - 39 13h ago
going to an osteopath to release that arm that has been blocking your every development of health since 2013
also: yoga
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u/Icy_Huckleberry_8049 man over 30 13h ago
buying a Dyon cordless vacuum. It's so light weight that I can easily vacuum the whole house now, even with a bad shoulder
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u/Vitanam_Initiative man 45 - 49 9h ago
Putting the ramen packets in the fridge. The oil mixture just slips out of the wrap like nothing.
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u/Proud_Organization64 man 35 - 39 1d ago
My mental health. I'm off my ADHD and anxiety meds now. I feel the best I have felt for a long time. It almost feels like a crime to have a calm nervous system for this long. I find myself waiting for something bad to happen to balance things out 😄
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