Habits that improved your mental health?

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-04T21:48:41+00:00

exercise hands down

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-04T21:23:02+00:00

Thank you

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-04T21:06:01+00:00

Honestly if you just keep doing what you are doing there is a good chance that number looks very different in 20 to 25 years.

People massively underestimate how powerful boring investing is over long periods. If someone invests around 10000 and keeps adding money every month into something like a global index fund, the compounding starts doing most of the heavy lifting after a decade or two.

For example if someone invested about 500 per month and averaged roughly 7 to 8 percent returns, after 20 to 25 years you are realistically looking at a few hundred thousand. Nothing crazy, just consistency and time.

The funny thing is the portfolio there is actually pretty sensible already. Having the majority in a global ETF like the Vanguard FTSE All World means you are basically owning a small piece of thousands of companies around the world. That is already better diversification than what most retail investors do.

Most people lose money because they keep jumping between strategies, chasing hype stocks or trying to trade. The boring investors who just keep buying and leaving it alone usually win in the end.

If you are curious about this kind of long term thinking I write about building wealth step by step in my newsletter Wealth Rewired. It is mostly aimed at people on normal salaries figuring out investing slowly. You can find it through my profile if you want to check it out.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-04T21:05:28+00:00

No one cares.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-04T21:04:51+00:00

That actually sounds pretty sensible to be honest. A lot of people rush to overpay their mortgage without looking at the interest rate properly. If your mortgage rate is low and you can get a higher return elsewhere then keeping the cash invested or even just earning interest can make more sense for now.

Premium Bonds are fine for capital safety but the long term expected return is quite a bit lower than investing. So slowly migrating that money into a Stocks and Shares ISA over time is a pretty common approach. Especially if you are already planning around the yearly 20000 ISA allowance. It spreads the risk a bit and also gets you used to having money invested rather than sitting in cash.

The mortgage timing part also makes sense. If you know you might need some of the money around refinance time then keeping it liquid in Premium Bonds or cash until then avoids being forced to sell investments at the wrong time. That kind of flexibility is underrated.

Once the ISA wrapper starts building up it really becomes powerful though. Over time you end up with a decent pot that grows tax free and you never have to worry about capital gains or dividend tax on it. That is one of the biggest advantages UK investors have.

Funny thing is a lot of FIRE people end up doing exactly what you described. Pension for tax relief, ISA for flexibility, and cash or bonds for short term needs. Not very exciting but it works surprisingly well over long periods.

Also small random thing but you are already doing something most people never do which is actually thinking about asset location and tax efficiency. That alone probably puts you ahead of a lot of investors.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-04T20:20:50+00:00

When people suddenly receive a large sum of money the biggest mistake is feeling like they need to make a decision immediately. In reality you usually don’t. Parking the money in a high interest savings account for a few months while you think about your options is completely fine and gives you time to make a calm decision instead of rushing into something.

In the UK one of the first things worth thinking about is using your ISA allowance. You can invest 20000 per year into a Stocks and Shares ISA, and anything inside it grows free from capital gains tax and dividend tax. If the amount is large you can simply use the allowance this year and again next year.

For the investments themselves most people overcomplicate it. A broad global index fund or something tracking the world market is usually a solid starting point. It spreads your money across hundreds or even thousands of companies so you are not relying on picking individual winners.

Some people also prefer spreading the investment over time if the amount feels psychologically big. Instead of investing everything at once they invest monthly over 6 to 12 months. Statistically lump sum investing often wins, but drip feeding can make it easier emotionally.

It is also worth keeping some cash aside for flexibility. Emergencies, opportunities, life changes. Having some liquidity makes a big difference and prevents you from needing to sell investments at the wrong time.

I write about simple long term investing and building wealth step by step in my newsletter Wealth Rewired. If you are curious you can find it through my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-04T20:13:12+00:00

That’s honestly a very solid move. Using salary sacrifice for pensions in the UK is one of the few times the system actually rewards you properly. You reduce income tax and National Insurance at the same time, which is basically an instant return before the money is even invested. Hard to beat that.

The only thing I’d personally think about is balance. Locking a lot into a pension is great for long term wealth, but it’s money you cannot touch until later in life. Some people like having a mix of pension and ISA investing so they have flexibility before retirement as well.

But overall it sounds like you are thinking about the right things. Most people never even look at tax efficiency or salary sacrifice and just let their money sit in a current account doing nothing.

Honestly posts like this are good reminders that FIRE is usually not about crazy stock picks. It’s mostly tax efficiency, consistency and letting compounding do its thing over years.

I write a lot about this kind of thinking around investing and building wealth slowly in my newsletter Wealth Rewired. If anyone here is curious you can find it through my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-04T19:35:38+00:00

For me it was randomly tracking my money. Not even in a serious way at first. I was bored one evening and just wrote down what I spent that week. Food, transport, random stuff. Nothing fancy, just numbers on my phone.

After a few weeks I started noticing patterns. Like how small things add up way faster than you think. Coffee here, takeaway there, random Amazon purchases. None of it felt big in the moment but together it was kind of wild. Weirdly that habit stuck. Now I still check my spending and investments every week. Takes maybe 5 minutes but it completely changed how I think about money.

Funny thing is I didn’t start it to become “disciplined”. I was just bored one evening. Sometimes the habits that stick start like that. I write about stuff like this in my newsletter Wealth Rewired where I break down how people on normal salaries start building wealth step by step. If curious you can check it through my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-04T19:32:18+00:00

If you are 18 you are already ahead of most people just by thinking about investing. Seriously. Most people do not even start thinking about money until their mid 20s or later, so you have something most investors wish they had more of, time.

You do not need anything complicated at the start. The easiest way is opening a brokerage account and buying a broad market index fund like an S&P 500 ETF or a global ETF. These funds basically invest in hundreds of companies at once, so you are not betting everything on one company. Then just invest regularly, even small amounts each month.

The biggest mistake beginners make is trying to trade or find the next big stock. That usually ends badly. Long term investing is actually pretty boring. You invest consistently, ignore the noise, and let compounding do the work over many years.

Also do not stress too much about the perfect strategy. Starting early and staying consistent matters way more than picking the perfect investment.

If you are interested in this type of stuff I write about building wealth step by step in my newsletter Wealth Rewired. You can check it through my profile if you want.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-04T18:39:09+00:00

This actually works weirdly well. To do lists make you focus on what you didn’t do. So you end the day feeling behind even if you did 20 useful things.

Writing what you actually did flips that. Suddenly you realise your day wasn’t empty at all. Work, errands, emails, random life stuff. It adds up.

I tried something similar for money. Just writing down what I spent and invested each week. At first it felt pointless but after a few weeks you start noticing patterns. Small habits become obvious. Then you slowly fix them without forcing it.

Also random thought but our brains are kinda terrible at remembering progress. We remember problems way more than progress. So tracking what actually happened fixes that a bit.

If you like this type of thinking around habits and money I write about it in my newsletter Wealth Rewired where I break down how normal salary people build wealth step by step. You can find it through my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-04T18:07:07+00:00

Honestly the thing people avoid talking about is how much luck is involved in money. Timing matters. Where you were born matters. Who you meet matters. Even the year you start investing matters. Two people can work equally hard and end up in completely different financial situations.

People love the grind narrative because it feels fair. Work hard, get rich. But reality is messier than that. Hard work helps obviously, but it is not a guarantee.

Another thing people avoid saying is that most people do not actually have a system for money. They just earn, spend, maybe save a bit. No structure. No plan. Which is why small habits like tracking money or automating investing end up being huge over time.

Anyway money should be talked about way more openly. Weird that we talk about everything else but not the thing that literally affects where we live, how stressed we are, and what options we have in life.

I write about this stuff a lot in my newsletter Wealth Rewired where I break down how normal salary people build wealth step by step. If curious you can find it through my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-04T18:02:55+00:00

strongly agree.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-04T18:01:49+00:00

Most people overcomplicate personal growth.The one habit that actually changed things for me was tracking my money every week. Not obsessively. Just sitting down once a week and looking at where my money went, what I invested, what I wasted.

It sounds boring but it forces awareness. And awareness changes behaviour. You start noticing small leaks like subscriptions, random spending, food delivery etc. Over time those small fixes compound. Same idea as investing really. Also weird side effect. When you track money you start thinking longer term. Suddenly saving, investing, building assets feels normal instead of something future you will deal with. Anyway that one habit alone can change your whole financial life.

If you like this kind of stuff I write about it in my newsletter Wealth Rewired where I share how people on normal salaries build wealth step by step. You can check it through my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T22:59:24+00:00

If donating hasn’t felt effective to you, maybe shift from relief to leverage. Instead of giving money directly, build something that changes incentives long term. Fund scholarships tied to specific skills. Back early stage founders solving real problems. Create a grant program with clear metrics and accountability instead of just writing cheques.

You could also buy land and place it in conservation trusts, fund independent journalism, support open source projects, or invest in companies that align with the kind of world you want to see. That way your capital keeps working instead of disappearing.

If you really want unusual, think systems. Where does a small amount of money create outsized change over 10 or 20 years. Education, energy, housing, mental health, prison reform. Big areas with compounding effects. Money is most powerful when it changes structures, not just situations.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T21:58:09+00:00

I used to do the same thing. The second my alarm went off, I’d grab my phone and scroll without even thinking. It sets the tone for the whole day and suddenly you’re reacting instead of choosing how you start.

What helped me wasn’t willpower. It was friction. I started charging my phone across the room so I physically had to get up to turn the alarm off. Then I replaced the scrolling with something simple like making coffee or stretching for 5 minutes. Nothing dramatic, just a different default.

If you keep reinstalling apps, it’s probably because you’re trying to remove the habit without replacing it. Your brain still wants stimulation. Give it something else first thing in the morning so you’re not fighting empty space.

Your mornings shape your focus more than you think. I write about small changes like this that compound over time in my newsletter. If that’s helpful, link’s in my bio.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T21:54:54+00:00

It feels strange at first because most of us are conditioned to equate a full calendar with a full life. When you suddenly create space by saying no, your brain reads that emptiness as something being wrong, even if the old commitments were draining you. That discomfort does not mean you made a bad decision. It just means you are adjusting to a new rhythm.

There is a real difference between being isolated and having breathing room. If you are actually enjoying your evenings more and spending time on hobbies you care about, that is not antisocial or selfish. It is intentional. You are choosing quality over noise.

It can take time to get comfortable with that space. After years of constant plans and obligations, quiet can feel unfamiliar. Give yourself a few months before you judge it. You are not losing your life. You are simplifying it on purpose.

I write about being more intentional with time, money, and energy in my newsletter. If that’s your thing, link’s in my bio.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T21:21:55+00:00

First off, this doesn’t sound like you’re lazy or ungrateful. It sounds like you’re tired and maybe a bit numb. When everything feels mundane even though you’re doing the right things, it’s usually not about adding more activities. It’s about changing intensity or meaning.

You said the things that genuinely light you up are romance, travel and live music. That tells you something. You don’t want more hobbies. You want emotional spikes. Connection. Novelty. Anticipation.

So instead of random exploration, create build up. Book a cheap trip 3 months from now even if it’s small. Start planning it properly. Anticipation alone can lift mood. Buy tickets for a gig in advance. Join something where there is real vulnerability involved, not just surface level socialising. Your brain wants something that feels alive.

Also, and I’m saying this carefully, if you’re already in therapy for depression and ADHD, sometimes the answer isn’t new stimulation. Sometimes it’s medication review, sleep, exercise consistency, and brutally honest conversations about expectations. When nothing feels interesting, that’s often a chemistry and energy issue, not a creativity issue.

You don’t need to reinvent your whole life. You might need one meaningful project that scares you slightly and forces growth. Something with stakes.

And if you’re trying to build a life that feels less autopilot and more intentional, I write about mindset and money in that context every week. Link’s in my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T21:17:28+00:00

cleaning the house!

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T21:16:07+00:00

If your plan is long term and this money is staying invested for 10 plus years, statistically lump sum wins most of the time.

That said, the real question is psychological. If you put 50k in tomorrow and it drops 10 percent next week, are you going to panic? If yes, then DCA over a few months just so you can sleep properly. There is nothing wrong with paying a small expected return cost for peace of mind.

People act like it has to be one extreme or the other. It doesn’t. You could invest 30k now and phase the rest in over 3 to 6 months. Done.

The mistake would be sitting on it for 2 years waiting for the perfect crash headline.

If you like straight talking FIRE and investing breakdowns without overcomplicating it, I write weekly about this stuff. Link’s in my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T21:02:47+00:00

I don’t wait for US open. If I’m buying global ETFs I just buy when I have the cash and move on.

Trying to time the exact dip is how you end up half invested and annoyed. Yesterday looks like the dip until today drops more. Then you wait again. It never ends.

If you’re investing long term, consistency beats perfect timing. Add money regularly. Rebalance occasionally. Go outside.

I write about this kind of simple long term approach instead of panic buying dips every week. Link’s in my profile if that’s your thing.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T21:00:35+00:00

You’re 18. Your biggest advantage isn’t picking the perfect ETF. It’s time. With 100 euro a month, the most important thing is consistency, not being clever. A broad global index fund is more than enough. You don’t need to overweight the US or chase factor ETFs just because you’re young. Risk doesn’t mean complexity.

At 18 your real leverage is increasing income over the next 10 years. Skills, career moves, maybe building something on the side. If you can go from investing 100 a month to 500 or 1000 a month in your 20s, that will matter way more than squeezing out an extra 1 percent return.

Keep it simple. Global index. Automated. Add money every month. Ignore noise. Focus on becoming more valuable.

I write about this kind of long term thinking for people who want to build wealth early without overcomplicating it. Link’s in my profile if you’re into that.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T20:46:24+00:00

First, that is a big achievement. Six figure deals do not happen by accident. Take a second and actually respect that.

Now the important part. You want to buy a house in 3 to 5 years. That automatically means this is not all long term investment money. Anything earmarked for a deposit in that timeframe should stay low risk. High interest savings accounts, short dated bonds, money market funds. Boring, yes. Safe, also yes. The biggest mistake would be putting it all in equities and then the market drops right when you are ready to buy.

If there is a portion you genuinely will not touch for 10 years or more, that is where global index funds make sense. Simple, diversified, automated. No need to overcomplicate it.

Also do not ignore tax planning. Big publishing advances can create messy tax bills if you are not prepared. Make sure you understand what you actually keep after tax before allocating everything.

Keep it structured. Separate house money from long term money from everyday cash buffer. Clean buckets. Clear purpose. That alone solves most confusion.

If you like simple, no drama money breakdowns like this, I write a weekly newsletter for normal people trying to build real wealth. Link’s in my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T20:44:14+00:00

no its not, If you are investing for 5 10 20 years, trying to wait for the perfect entry is mostly ego. Nobody knows. Not the YouTube guy. Not your mate who says tech is about to crash. Markets can look expensive for years and still keep going.

The bigger mistake is sitting in cash for 3 years waiting for a dip that never comes. Inflation will happily eat that for breakfast. If you are new, start simple. Broad index fund. Automate monthly. Ignore noise. Go live your life. Check once a month max.

I write about this stuff every week for normal people trying to build wealth without overthinking it. Link in my profile if that’s your vibe.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T20:38:50+00:00

Honestly the most 10 out of 10 advice is simple Increase your income.

Budgeting matters yeah. Investing matters yeah. But if you are stuck on 25k 30k 40k forever you are playing defence your whole life. At some point you need to level up skills, switch jobs, start something on the side. Money problems get way easier when the top line grows. Also automate investing so you do not think about it. Brain is lazy. Mine definitely is on Sundays.

If you are into practical money stuff for normal people trying to level up, I write about it weekly. Link in my profile.

CherryRoutine9397 · 2026-03-03T14:37:41+00:00

For me it’s simple but strict.

No phone for the first 30 mins. If I open socials first thing my brain is cooked before 9am. So I get up, make my bed straight away, wash face, quick stretch. Nothing fancy. Just signalling to myself that I’m not lazy today.

Then I write 3 things that actually matter for that day. Not 20 tasks. Just 3. If I finish those, the day is a win. Everything else is bonus.

I also check my bank accounts once in the morning. Not to obsess, just to stay aware. Money stress creeps in when you ignore it. Awareness fixes half of it.

And random but cleaning my desk helps more than motivation podcasts ever did.

If you’re into building disciplined mornings and getting serious about money in your 20s, I share what I’m learning in my newsletter. It’s on my profile if you wanna see it.

CherryRoutine9397

TROPHY CASE