[Reflection] #10: How can you improve your quality of life with a few simple tips?

This article is mainly aimed at women, because I am a woman and I only share tips that I’ve tested and approved myself. 😀

Recently, a divorced friend asked me how she could get her life back on track. She’s gotten over her previous relationship and wants to start a new life, but where to begin? If you’re more or less in the same boat, follow these tips:

You are priority #1

I think the most important thing is to tell yourself that you are the only one responsible for your well-being. No one will do it for you. Not even your loved ones! So dedicate enough time and money to yourself. Your “me time” (“time for me) is important.

The second thing to tell yourself is that you deserve the best. The best working conditions, the highest quality clothes possible. The quantity doesn’t matter, but the quality should be top-notch. With many second-hand selling sites, you can buy quality items for next to nothing, like selling your too-slow computer to get a more powerful new one. Or sell a dozen low-quality Zara t-shirts to buy a durable tee with nice fabric.

Treat yourself like an important client. Would you take an important client to McDonald’s? Would you serve awful coffee to an important client?

Nice underwear

It boosts confidence 300% when you wear nice underwear. It’s automatic! And even during your period, you can have pretty period panties with Modibodi or Thinx. For underwear, my favorite brands are Etam, Intimissimi, Princess Tamtam for bottoms. As for bras, since I can’t stand underwires, I really like Princesse Tamtam & the wireless bras fromUniqlo

Suitable colors

Clothes don’t make the man, but when you wear clothes that fit you well, you automatically feel better.

For clothing: you need to do a color analysis (there are plenty on Google). We naturally have colors on us: eyes, skin, hair. Depending on your eye, skin, and hair colors, there’s a color palette that will suit you best. That way, when you go shopping, it’ll be a breeze: just compare the color of the clothes you want with this palette and you’ll know right away whether to buy it or not.

As a brunette, I didn’t realize the importance of colors until I did a tie & dye. So with my new orange hair, it was really hard to dress. I had to ask my redhead friends which colors suited them best, and during the entire time I had my orange tie & dye, I mostly had to wear black, blue, and green.

Example: with my matte skin, brown eyes and hair, I’m “Deep autumn” and here’s my palette.

A good mattress & good pillows

Sleep is sacred : we spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping, so the mattress should be top priority, before any other purchase. The thickness, width, firmness… of the mattress must suit you. The pillow thickness too. Take all these elements into account.

Suitable music

Music is made up of vibrations and has the power to heighten or calm certain emotions. Even though there are some beautiful sad songs, I’d recommend listening to positive songswith pleasant, civilized lyrics. It has a direct impact on your mood.

Distance yourself from toxic people

Now with social distancing, we have even more reason to distance ourselves from toxic people, whether at work or in our personal lives. Never force yourself to spend time with people who aren’t energetically compatible with you. Even if they’re family. Cut ties if necessary. You can always try to communicate, but communication isn’t the solution if the person isn’t ready to talk or isn’t ready to improve.

Narcissists, manipulators, energy vampires, jerks… run away from them like the plague.

Even virtually, don’t put up with other people’s bad vibes. There are some Facebook groups I really like and participate in. But if I come across very negative/toxic/troll comments, even if they’re not directed at me, I simply block them to keep my feed and my mind clean. So, even though I’m in about twenty groups, I’ve already blocked a hundred people.

Sure, they haven’t done anything to me, and I’ll never read their posts or comments again, but I live just fine without them. I’m here to appreciate the beauty of this world, not to read comments from frustrated, unhappy people. Don’t be a victim—be proactive and choose the content you want to read.

Don’t chase after nothing

One mistake women often make is thinking that their man respects and pampers them. But that’s not always the case.

Men aren’t stupid; they know what to do to sign a contract, get a promotion, apply for a job, become president… but women are willing to forgive them if they’re absent-minded, heartless, forget their birthday, or lack empathy.

A friend of mine accepted a first dinner at a guy’s place: he served her some disgusting reheated frozen meal. Not even a pudding for dessert. And she was wondering if she should sleep with him at the next “homemade dinner.” Meanwhile, restaurants are everywhere, and Deliveroo and Uber Eats haven’t gone bankrupt as far as I know. Ask yourself: would he do the same thing with a client, his boss, or an important prospect? If the answer is “no,” then you don’t even have the level of respect he gives a stranger. You’re not important to him. Period.

There you go—I hope that with these few tips, you can slowly improve your quality of life.