So many things. But then other things happened and undone those QoL changes.

• removed my family from my life
• changed career path
• learned a dance
• play dnd
• discover polyamory
• learn to draw/paint
  .......

Start working out. Seriously. A little cardio and a little strength training will go a long long way to improving your quality of life, even if you're not getting jacked.

Rewired, replumbed, insulated, and reroofed the house. Installed an Enphase System Controller 3 along with an IQ Combiner 5, and a pair of IQ5P batteries, have three IQ8A microinverters hooked to 400w bifacial panels so far. Have a total of 18 panels to install as I'm working on the racking. Also need replace the windows and a few other things but there is a lot of stuff in progress. Been a huge benefit and QOL boost overall.

Learning to Scuba dive helped my mental health a ton after becoming a widower. Diving in general had been great for me, I just wish I could go more often.

I bought a sit stand desk. After my back was broken, games and work became difficult. Now I can do both while standing. One of the best purchases of my adult life.

Getting a college degree

Polyamory + dnd also has a synergy bonus. Plenty of candidates for a regular group 😁

Don't be cheap with footwear or beds.

It’s amazing that I’m older yet I have significantly less back pain just from working out semi regularly.

What field and when?

Split from my abusive wife.

Bought a house in a quieter neighborhood. Apartment / condo life was destroying my mental health.

Switched to Linux and set up a Jellyfin server.

Laser eye surgery. No more glasses or contacts.

Strength training, protein, and Creatine (10 grams a day) is a winning combination.

In no particular order :

• Made water my primary beverage. Turned out that chronic dehydration was causing several physical maladies that went away almost overnight once I started drinking more water.
• Stop caring so much about what others think about me. Especially strangers. Once I realized that the stranger in the grocery store does not continue to think about me once I am out of sight and if they do, I'll never know it so it doesn't matter. Living life based on what I think of me has been so much better for my mental health than living based on what I think others might think about me.
• Spend time alone with my thoughts. This allowed me to deal with issues and behaviors that I didn't like about myself and / or identify stressors that may have been manifesting in misdirected ways. I did this way more when I was younger and angrier and it took a couple of years, but I slowly worked through so many aspects of myself that I didn't like. Some I was able to change and others I learned to come to terms with and work around.
• When people ask "How's it going" or similar such greetings, I tell them the truth. This is a bit of an extension of the last 2 points, but I found that sharing and verbalizing the good and the bad worked better for me than internalizing everything.

Agree, and I'm someone who hates working out. Someone recently commented on exercising like "why would I choose to be miserable to 30 minutes a day", and I can honestly say it's because it makes you feel so much better the other 23 1/2 hours day. The smallest bit of cardio will make you more energetic, you don't get winded going up stairs, you can move easier, it's such a win. Yes it's miserable, but it is worth it.

This is the way. I’m fitter, stronger, and look better in my mid 40s than I did for most of my 30s. I hurt less, I’m more capable, and I look at the future with a lot more interest and less trepidation.

Make stuff. With your hands,stuff that will last when you walk away from it. I spent a lot of time doing admin/office work, and you can be productive as hell but have nothing to physically look at for your time.
I took up woodwork, started doing more building work on my property, and every time I look at what I’ve made, it makes me feel more connected to my home, and more capable of dealing with these weird times we find ourselves in. Learn skills, try different things, round out your experience in life. Make stuff you think is beautiful, or that makes your life better in some way, it’s a great feeling

basically stopped trying to make other folks happy with me. and focusing on doing things that make me happy, even if other folks hate me for it.

Or tires or flooring. Basically anything that goes between you and the ground

OP found the scheduling cheat code.

Willful bachelorhood.

I have total license over my space, time, and money. I don't have a wife or kids nagging me every day. I wake up to a quiet, clean house.

The whole culture is trying to tell me I'm a loser, but I found the cheat code to a better life and I'm not jealous of anyone stuck supporting another person.

In actuarial sciences like 4 years ago

More drugs

Respect. Sometimes ya gotta take stock and make the tough call for your sanity. Hardest transition you made, though, I bet.

I'm 35 years after a minor back injury that I ignored into a major maintenance issue. Sit-stand means I sit until my upper back hurts, and then I stand until my lower back hurts. Aaaaand repeat.

It's good, though . I get to wobble and move as I work, and sometimes the work needs movement.

Made an effort to say "yes" when people invite me or are making plans. It's meant I get more invites, and have done and seen many things that I would've have otherwise. Picked up some new fun hobbies along the way too!

Sailing the high seas again.

I'm so jealous. I have pots and now that I'm old, high intensity exercise is impossible. I bought a bike, if that doesn't work out, I'm out of ideas. I have pretty severe depression and I long to feel that feeling every day.

Glad you got away, nobody deserves toxic people in their lives

Mental healthcare provider hopping. You don't really know what a good one is like until you've had one. A lot of people try one, work really hard and get nowhere, either because their therapist is a crank, or maybe they're a competent professional that just doesn't work for them for whatever reason, so they conclude that therapy is a sham and they stop pursuing it.

I think it's good practice to evaluate whether what you're doing in therapy is helping at regular intervals. If it ain't, talk about it with your provider and if y'all can't fix it, hit the bricks and find someone who can. If your therapist is worth their salt they'll be happy to provide you with a reference if you ask. If they aren't, all the more reason to find someone better.

Adopted cats

Instructions unclear

Marrying and having kids.

Sure the baby year fucks you up. But once they can go to daycare, life starts to normalise again.

Turns out, caring for other people gives you purpose and makes you happy.

Jerked myself to that chick that I absolutely knew was trouble, then she proved it by the very next guy she was with.

Biking to work

How far is work? No one steals your bike?

Yea! I absolutely agree. None of my friends want to marry so there is no one messing up their space. Even the ones with boyfriends like to keep it that way because who wants to give up their personal freedom in exchange for a nagging husband and a kid asking whats for dinner.
They have good jobs, take great vacations and their salary and time is their own. It really is a cheat code to a better life.

I recently splurged on an expensive oled monitor and I must say I wish I had done this much sooner.

I'm nearsighted and the contrast really helps keep my eyes from feeling tired.

With small font I can notice an halo effect but it's much better than the glowing black light of my old ips screen.

I'm going to insert my thoughts here.

Flooring? Unless it's wood or tiles the rest of the options available are just floof.

Source: I have a good friend working at a construction materials depot. They stock a wide variety of flooring, from different manufacturer, and the materials only differ in finish not build. The materials are even supplied in bulk, not by category, and the end seller prices it has they see fit. An "oak finish" floor may be double or triple of what a standard "pine" or "spruce" costs.

I drive daily for professional reasons and the company I work for uses a fleet management service to maintain the vehicles. I've seen tyre brands being fitted that I was advised against for my personal vehicle at the store I usually bought tyres. The cheaper tyres last as long and in a few occasions longer than so called first line brands. This isn't to say there are no poor quality tyres but the main manufacturers are not that much better from the rest of the pack as they used too.

Laser eye surgery and sterilisation.

I still use sunglasses and condoms for protection, but can gladly go without on overcast days and in steady relationships, and I panic way less if they break when I need them the most.

Quick question please : what kind of workout do you do ?

I mainly run, but running more than 3 times a week tires me and my knees start to hurt

Gave up alcohol & went vegetarian.

Good news! Exercise helps against depression! Biking is a very good way to get moving if you have other health issues. I’d also look into swimming if you have access to a pool (or a lake or ocean where it’s safe to swim).

One of those is a baby, you should never listen to babies, they’re dumb af

Source: I’m a baby

What a coincidence, I just found drugs while cleaning at work.

Just a heads up that tire longevity is not a good indicator for a good tire, the primary factor is grip. In both both dry, wet and soaking wet conditions, warm and cold.
That's why stopping distance and slalom speeds are tested during the annual tire comparison review. A good tire can also pump more water to prevent aqua planing than a bad tire. A good tire will remain more soft and grippy in colder temperatures than a bad tire.
Tire noise and ride comfort can also differ between good and bad tired.

In the past year:

• switched to minimalist footwear (so many physical ailments eased/disappeared)

• downloaded an app that reminds me to stand up & walk for 5 minutes every half hour

• got rid of all social media except the Fediverse

• got FL-41 glasses to help me function with migraines

• got an RSS feed app to let me keep up with all media & creators I want to keep up with, without the mental health strain of endless scrolling, algorithms, & toxic comments

I do the same. It's free healthcare.

It can be more stressful though if there are many conflicts with cars on the way.

Deactivated Facebook about 6 years ago. That shit is toxic and anyone that still has an account supports it.

Went absolutely ham with cycling in January, down 30kg as of today, still 5 to go. Trying to reach that 4W/kg FTP eventually 😅

Gotten top surgery. I knew my quality of life was going to improve by virtue of not having boobs that gave me dysphoria, but I thought I would have to wait until I was fully healed to feel it. My mood and outlook changed pretty much day after my surgery. It feels great :)