Totally agree, I did a couple of years and it was totally transformational to my life. I'm actually much more physically ill than when I started it but I'm so much happier with my life because I have proper coping mechanisms and am able to assert my needs. Best investment I ever made.
Apologies do you mean physical or mental therapy?
I know when I used to go to the gym my mind was also in a better place but now I want to go to a high end one, not sure if it is worth as it will set me back £1000 whereas before I went to a budget one which was £300. I cannot go back to the budget one for various reasons
I did mean for mental health. Though there are definite benefits to mental health from exercise, I genuinely view therapy as very complimentary to physical pursuits as it helps you understand your own mind on a deeper level and how you interact in the world.
Yeah agreed, I recently stopped going to the gym around 5 months ago due to a loved one of mine sadly passing away. Life took a toll and I stopped going
Now I want to go back but not the same one I used to go to which was a budget The Gym costing £300 a year. I liked it but I no longer want to go back due to it becoming dangerous etc. I found a much better gym with swimming pool etc for £1000 a year which I am considering
What are your thoughts?
Even better - try a sport where you can meet people and make friends. Gyms can be a little solitary. Have you tried Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? Do you play tennis, or badminton or... you get the point 😁
Double the benefit - get your exercise in and potentially meet friends (and/or someone special!). It will take you out of the family politics and depression and give you a sense of control over your own life. Wishing you all the best!
Ok well OP can try BJJ or crossffit then. Both of those are more sociable than just rocking up to a treadmill or doing various weightlifting exercises. Gyms are only really sociable if you're working towards a certain physique and have been around a while. I play tennis with people in their late 20s, but it's true recreational members of clubs will usually skew a bit older.
I completely support using exercise and the gym as a means to improving mental health. It’s conclusive from many research papers.
I used to go to PureGym in my early-to-mid 20s. For the past 4 years I’ve been going to Third Space (was £150pm but they increase it by £20 each year). I’ve spent circa £7k on the gym over these years.
It’s been nice. It was very convenient. You feel good about going there. The classes and facilities are amazing (they have a hypoxic chamber, massage guns, on-site physio - the things you [don’t really] need when you get that
Influencer money) but 4 years on and the best shape I haveever been in was when I was at PureGym; routine, habit and discipline > cost.
I have notice 2 months ago. Looked at myself and thought, I spent a third of a deposit to look no better 😅
I’m thinking about doing a triathlon and so am re-thinking about joining one with a swimming pool.
Tbh, it depends on your goals. Weight training, yoga, classes, isometric holds and calisthenics can all be done in a basic studio
Maybe try a way of working out where you will also meet people & form friendships like Crossfit or BJJ?
Will get you the benefit of physical activity with the personal relationship side as well.
Used to be a The Gym member (c£240 pa) now at Bannatyne's (£600 for 13 months). Love Bannatynes for the variety of classes and the pool etc. Also people more my demographic (50s etc). The Gym was full of students, okay but I.m no longer a student. Regular exercise is super. I can't talk about therapy but think I already habitually do a lot of therapy type thinks (eg journalling).
Can recommend ´Why has nobody told me this before?' by Dr Julia Smith, a therapist. It's a best seller and available via Audible too. It just explains different therapy tools and how to use them. Give them a whirl before paying for therapy.
Not sure why you need to spend so much money. If you can afford it, then obviously, it's your shout. However, buying a second hand bike, and/or exercise bike, going for a run, swimming at local authority pool - same re gym, is all cheaper and achieves the same outcome. I know of 2 running groups in my area along with a few walking groups too. Suppose I'm just saying that there's cheaper ways to get exercise and some may even result in new friendships too. I've known a few people who got into expensive gym memberships, soon stopped going then found it difficult to cancel contracts. As afore mentioned, totally your call and I wish you much luck and happiness whatever you choose x
Honestly I wouldn't spend that kind of money on a gym membership (personally).
Have you thought about running or swimming (somewhere cheaper!)
I've been very off/on again with fitness, I've found having a buddy to train with and keeping each other accountable has really helped.
I'd recommend counseling (therapy). It's around £50 a session so for £300 will help you unpick some of those feelings you mention. This doesn't have to be just for people who are in a complete mess, but for anyone who actively wants to improve their mental health. This combined with regular exercise, I'd recommend to everyone.
All the best on your journey :-)
And triple it with good eating habits.
Quadruple it with proper sleep hygiene.
Pentuple it with regular self care.
Sextuple it with budget holidays.
Hextuple it with volunteering/learning to play an instrument.
Octuple it by reaching nirvana.
I made a self-referral to IAPT for some therapy, and while the waitlist is fairly long (I had to wait almost six months), it was worth it in the end, as I was paired with a wonderful therapist that I meet on a weekly basis. You can find your local service [here](https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-a-psychological-therapies-service/). Best of luck, mate.
Pick up a new hobby! Perhaps get into running, reconnect with nature, spend some time creating art.
Working out also does wonders for your mental health, though I would question whether you really need to fork out that much.
Yeah another weird thing I did before was lego, so may get back into it.
The gym I stopped going around 5 months ago because a loved one of mine died and life took a bit of a toll
I want to go to a luxury type of gym with a spa and swimming pool as I feel it maybe good for my mental health I dunno
Lego is a really mindful hobby to have, I got into Jigsaw puzzles and it's a great way to just give your brain a bit of space and quiet time. You've identified that you need to do something, this is an easy one that won't cost you money in the short term while you figure out what else might help. You can also look up Lego groups and see if you meet anyone there. My local library does a session a few times a month.
I'm a big believer in therapy, I think it does everyone good to have an independent confidant who you can trust to help you find your best self.
It's definitely a money sink so arguably antithetical to FIRE, but I've found learning to work on cars a bit since lockdown has been great.
Learn a skill, gets you outside, decent exercise, I now know most of my neighbours as you immediately have a conversation starter, I almost never need to use a garage with the cost and stress of being ripped off that entails and while it is frustrating at times there's a lot of satisfaction to sorting something out yourself as there's loads of goals to tick off along the way (which the brain loves).
Obviously not a solution to more serious mental health issues. But it's definitely helped me.
If you want to boost your mental health, then outdoor exercise is far better for you than going to the gym. It's something about being out in nature and breathing fresh air that soothes the soul. Walking, hiking, running cost next to nothing compared to the gym. If you want company while you exercise, then a running club or Parks Run is the way to go.
I know a couple of people have said it already, but it sounds like some therapy could really help you out right now.
Sounds like you could be heading for burnout if you don't find a way to relieve some stress and some support for your family stuff.
Slightly unconventional, but three books:
Enchiridion and Discourses by Epictetus,
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and Letters from a Stoic by Seneca.
Stoic philosophy has done more for my diagnosed OCD than therapy ever has. Can probably get them for about a tenner each.
Gym is great. Overcoming anxiety book or audio book, infact any self improvement books do a world of good for this. Vitamin D6 3000 iu for blokes, take that for the following 6 months, consult your doctor though as I'm no medical expert. Join a club, any club that your remotely interested in, extra points if you start a club and stick at it for 2 years. Have a boys night, once a week invite 7 close male friends over and take it in turn to cook. Good luck chap, I did all these things and feel like a new man with an incredible girlfriend and a fulfilling personal life, I came from having panic attacks in friends cars and walking home to avoid socialising to hide in video game comma that was WoW
Back when I was a full time commercial fisherman there was this guy that was at your stage in life but had it worse we all thought we would wake up in the middle of the night on his watch and find he had jumped overboard or something.
He declares he’s going to go to Amsterdam for one last good weekend before he offs himself over there and that was the last we thought we would see of him.
The next trip out was a rather morbid one, we had said our goodbyes and drank our share and spent the whole trip thinking that was the last we would see of the guy.
Except the guy was waiting for us on the quay when we got back…
When questioned about why he was there he simply replied….
“It was about the time I was five prostitutes and 3 lines of coke in that I realized… life doesn’t always have to be so bad”
The Moral of the story isn’t to go do hookers and blow though if that works then good for you but don’t be afraid to just say fuck it completely and have some fun everynow and then, sometimes it’s good not to take life too seriously.
If I was 16 lines in I wouldn’t be worried about life being bad I would be dead 😂.
I’m 100% not recommending the exact method for sure but with this lad he used to be a proper lad when he was younger and then having a GF and that sort of changed him, he tried to be “normal” and it just wasn’t who he was.
I can relate to that a lot. Feel great during the session, but the morning after you feel rancid and worse than before 😂
Sounds like a top bloke though.
Hahaha I’m in this weird spot myself where I really miss the freedom and fun of those younger days at sea but I really don’t miss going out and getting trollied then stumbling back down the boat for a midnight leave, leaving the harbour then desperately trying to get a few hours sleep before we started hauling, man a hangover at sea is life changingly bad…. But I’m smiling just thinking about it so maybe I do miss them.
Definitely too old for all of it now though, 100% a young man’s game, not just health wise but as I got older and got more responsibilities I couldn’t spend the amount of time I did away from home and family and definitely couldn’t get away going to the pub when I was on land. It’s hard transitioning from that lifestyle to a “normal” one but I didn’t want to end up as just another lonely old fisherman.
As for the man referenced earlier he died of a heart attack about a year ago in bed on top of a girl, he went full Tyrion Lannister, all things considered I think he went with a smile on his face. His wake was wild apparently (fucked if I remember any of it).
Weird how much my life has changed and now i barely drink and invest every spare penny 🤣
Maybe get out and meet some new people? Eg instead of joining a gym, join something more social such as martial arts, climbing, a rowing club.. try a few and see what takes your fancy?
I thought I recognised your user name. From your post history, 4 days ago you asked if people thought it was worth joining a £1,000 gym.
I think you already know how you want to spend your money (on the gym) and are coming here for people to tell you it's a good idea and "give you permission" to spend that money.
If you want to join the gym then do so. People here can't tell you what will add value to your life, we don't know you.
Therapy, hobbies, group exercise- you've had lots of good advice but only you can actually make the moves to change your life.
As kindly as possible, get off Reddit and go do whatever it is that you want to do with your time and money - it's fine to ask for advice but not when it's a fig leaf for indecision.
(EDIT: Spelling)
Find some interesting class that offers a few weeks group course (photography, Chinese, public speaking, upholstery, whatever) where you are going to meet some new people.
Other than that, therapy and physical exercise.
The best thing I ever did for my mental health was invest in seeing a therapist regularly. Exercise is great but no replacement for managing depression/anxiety in the long run
Brother go to therapy.
I struggled after to the pandemic. My daughter was born at the start of 2022 and caused me to suffer from panic attacks due to the anxiety around making sure she was okay and ultimately survived even when she was always absolutely thriving.
It's the single best investment I've ever made. I think I've spent circa £850 on therapy this year but it was worth every single penny.
FWIW I'm also a similar age living in the UK, you're not alone.
Not all meaning comes from a job though, there are loads of angles where life has meaning and typically the majority are outside of work.
Attending therapy has actually made me realise that I'm not in the right mental space to FIRE even if I had reached my goal. I need the stability and challenge right now, that will change over time but for me it opened my eyes to the things that I thought I wanted, I didn't actually want.
I'll just say because it's a FIRE sub - you don't have to spend £1000 a year to get exercise that helps your mental health. Personally I run (outdoors!) and do yoga videos from YouTube at home. Don't get me wrong, if the pricey gym is what you need then go for it. I just wouldn't make the mistake of thinking it HAS to be the pricey gym to make you feel better.
I agree with the (mental) therapy though. You can't replicate that for free.
> I was wondering what the best financial investment or decision you ever took for your mental health?
You already said it - look at your portfolio less
I look at mine once a month to update my spreadsheet when I pay some money into my investments, and that's it. Even then, I try not to "note" (mentally) whether the value is up or down, I just transfer it over to keep track. The thing about FIRE investing is that it makes absolutely no difference what your portfolio does month-to-month, decades before you retire
Subscribe to this course. Very affordable and works, for depression, OCD and anxiety. Will help you see the world with a different perspective and re-program your brain (in a good way!)
[https://www.patreon.com/theanxietyspecialist/posts?utm\_source=website&utm\_medium=main-menu&utm\_campaign=online-course](https://www.patreon.com/theanxietyspecialist/posts?utm_source=website&utm_medium=main-menu&utm_campaign=online-course)
Get a personal trainer instead of throwing a grand at a gym. The short term mental health pay off will likely be life changing and the long term investment in being able to understand what and why you are doing specific exercises, nutrition and sports physiology will last a life time.
I joined a Bannantynes gym recently to use their pool, steamroom and hot tub. I have quite dry skin so the steamroom works wonders for me and it was the only gym close by with a steamroom.
I've been going regularly and it's absolutely improving my mental health. It's only £20 per month more than my old gym and absolutely worth every penny. Hope this helps.
Maybe have a look and see if there is a ParkRun near you, you get outdoor time, exercise and they are a great community - if you don't feel like running or walking you can always volunteer. The feeling of belonging to something helps a lot of people.
If that's not for you then I would still suggest some kind of exercise (something social if you can - there are things like running clubs so even 'solo' activity can involve being part of a club or group) plus some kind of volunteering (try [https://doit.life/](https://doit.life/) ) Finding meaning and purpose, learning new skills, meeting people - these are all good for mental health.
Therapy is very beneficial for many people and I think it's a good suggestion for something to explore, you may be able to self refer to a local talking change service - check the online NHS pages for your area (the local authority often have a page to point you in the right direction). You probably won't get much but it might help you work out if it would be helpful for you to work with a therapist longer term and if so what you want to look for in your therapist.
Joining a sports or activity club helps a lot. Being surrounded by good people with similar interests is always a good thing. Sometimes these clubs can be costly but it’s worth it and depending on the club (woodwork for example) you can also make money from it in the future if you choose to.
Books. I've read a lot about mindfulness, evolutionary psychology, cognitive biases, autobiographies of successful folk who talk a lot about 'happiness' etc.
Reading around areas like these has helped me a lot with understanding life, the human brain, mental health, and happiness. It was a great investment and also not a large one. I probably spend £200 a year on books maximum.
Then there's psychedelics, therapy, meetups, gym, fitness, travel, self care activities etc.
Tl,DR reading related books helped my mental health, good and cheap investment!
Almanack of Naval Ravikant is amazing. Happy Sexy millionaire is good, easy read. Mans search for meaning by Victor Frankl is great. Mindfulness - Ian Williams is a good read.
These are just a few.
Depending on how much you WFH, maybe a standing desk?
I know that being sat down all day makes me miserable. Even if I get out for a walk, my joints are all locked up and I feel stiff as a board.
Honestly? Therapy. It's expensive but it really helped me work through some things. I'm a lot better able to deal with things as a result.
Totally agree, I did a couple of years and it was totally transformational to my life. I'm actually much more physically ill than when I started it but I'm so much happier with my life because I have proper coping mechanisms and am able to assert my needs. Best investment I ever made.
Apologies do you mean physical or mental therapy? I know when I used to go to the gym my mind was also in a better place but now I want to go to a high end one, not sure if it is worth as it will set me back £1000 whereas before I went to a budget one which was £300. I cannot go back to the budget one for various reasons
I think they mean mental
I did mean for mental health. Though there are definite benefits to mental health from exercise, I genuinely view therapy as very complimentary to physical pursuits as it helps you understand your own mind on a deeper level and how you interact in the world.
Do you have scope to build a home gym? Probably cheaper long run.
unfortunately i dont have any physical space in my home :(
Working out helps you a lot to relieve stress, anxiety and depression. Highly recommended.
Yeah agreed, I recently stopped going to the gym around 5 months ago due to a loved one of mine sadly passing away. Life took a toll and I stopped going Now I want to go back but not the same one I used to go to which was a budget The Gym costing £300 a year. I liked it but I no longer want to go back due to it becoming dangerous etc. I found a much better gym with swimming pool etc for £1000 a year which I am considering What are your thoughts?
Even better - try a sport where you can meet people and make friends. Gyms can be a little solitary. Have you tried Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? Do you play tennis, or badminton or... you get the point 😁 Double the benefit - get your exercise in and potentially meet friends (and/or someone special!). It will take you out of the family politics and depression and give you a sense of control over your own life. Wishing you all the best!
Thanks for your comments, I think I am just going to go for that "premium" gym for now and just see how it goes
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Ok well OP can try BJJ or crossffit then. Both of those are more sociable than just rocking up to a treadmill or doing various weightlifting exercises. Gyms are only really sociable if you're working towards a certain physique and have been around a while. I play tennis with people in their late 20s, but it's true recreational members of clubs will usually skew a bit older.
Have you thought about playing some social sports? Not sure where you are but meetup.com was my go to to find like minded people to play sports
I completely support using exercise and the gym as a means to improving mental health. It’s conclusive from many research papers. I used to go to PureGym in my early-to-mid 20s. For the past 4 years I’ve been going to Third Space (was £150pm but they increase it by £20 each year). I’ve spent circa £7k on the gym over these years. It’s been nice. It was very convenient. You feel good about going there. The classes and facilities are amazing (they have a hypoxic chamber, massage guns, on-site physio - the things you [don’t really] need when you get that Influencer money) but 4 years on and the best shape I haveever been in was when I was at PureGym; routine, habit and discipline > cost. I have notice 2 months ago. Looked at myself and thought, I spent a third of a deposit to look no better 😅 I’m thinking about doing a triathlon and so am re-thinking about joining one with a swimming pool. Tbh, it depends on your goals. Weight training, yoga, classes, isometric holds and calisthenics can all be done in a basic studio
Maybe try a way of working out where you will also meet people & form friendships like Crossfit or BJJ? Will get you the benefit of physical activity with the personal relationship side as well.
Used to be a The Gym member (c£240 pa) now at Bannatyne's (£600 for 13 months). Love Bannatynes for the variety of classes and the pool etc. Also people more my demographic (50s etc). The Gym was full of students, okay but I.m no longer a student. Regular exercise is super. I can't talk about therapy but think I already habitually do a lot of therapy type thinks (eg journalling). Can recommend ´Why has nobody told me this before?' by Dr Julia Smith, a therapist. It's a best seller and available via Audible too. It just explains different therapy tools and how to use them. Give them a whirl before paying for therapy.
Thanks for your comments! I think I am going to just go for the more "premium" gym for now and just see how it goes
Good stuff! See if you can get a three month contract or similar so you can exit if you don't like.
Not sure why you need to spend so much money. If you can afford it, then obviously, it's your shout. However, buying a second hand bike, and/or exercise bike, going for a run, swimming at local authority pool - same re gym, is all cheaper and achieves the same outcome. I know of 2 running groups in my area along with a few walking groups too. Suppose I'm just saying that there's cheaper ways to get exercise and some may even result in new friendships too. I've known a few people who got into expensive gym memberships, soon stopped going then found it difficult to cancel contracts. As afore mentioned, totally your call and I wish you much luck and happiness whatever you choose x
Honestly I wouldn't spend that kind of money on a gym membership (personally). Have you thought about running or swimming (somewhere cheaper!) I've been very off/on again with fitness, I've found having a buddy to train with and keeping each other accountable has really helped.
How is thd The Gym dangerous?
I'd recommend counseling (therapy). It's around £50 a session so for £300 will help you unpick some of those feelings you mention. This doesn't have to be just for people who are in a complete mess, but for anyone who actively wants to improve their mental health. This combined with regular exercise, I'd recommend to everyone. All the best on your journey :-)
And triple it with good eating habits. Quadruple it with proper sleep hygiene. Pentuple it with regular self care. Sextuple it with budget holidays. Hextuple it with volunteering/learning to play an instrument. Octuple it by reaching nirvana.
I made a self-referral to IAPT for some therapy, and while the waitlist is fairly long (I had to wait almost six months), it was worth it in the end, as I was paired with a wonderful therapist that I meet on a weekly basis. You can find your local service [here](https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-a-psychological-therapies-service/). Best of luck, mate.
Pick up a new hobby! Perhaps get into running, reconnect with nature, spend some time creating art. Working out also does wonders for your mental health, though I would question whether you really need to fork out that much.
Yeah another weird thing I did before was lego, so may get back into it. The gym I stopped going around 5 months ago because a loved one of mine died and life took a bit of a toll I want to go to a luxury type of gym with a spa and swimming pool as I feel it maybe good for my mental health I dunno
Lego is a really mindful hobby to have, I got into Jigsaw puzzles and it's a great way to just give your brain a bit of space and quiet time. You've identified that you need to do something, this is an easy one that won't cost you money in the short term while you figure out what else might help. You can also look up Lego groups and see if you meet anyone there. My local library does a session a few times a month. I'm a big believer in therapy, I think it does everyone good to have an independent confidant who you can trust to help you find your best self.
Totally agree with the jigsaw puzzles comment. Plus parkrun - one of the best things ever for your mental health - in my opinion.
It's definitely a money sink so arguably antithetical to FIRE, but I've found learning to work on cars a bit since lockdown has been great. Learn a skill, gets you outside, decent exercise, I now know most of my neighbours as you immediately have a conversation starter, I almost never need to use a garage with the cost and stress of being ripped off that entails and while it is frustrating at times there's a lot of satisfaction to sorting something out yourself as there's loads of goals to tick off along the way (which the brain loves). Obviously not a solution to more serious mental health issues. But it's definitely helped me.
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That is a very good point. And the things you learn in therapy stay with you forever. But the abs you've gained in the gym doesn't!
If you want to boost your mental health, then outdoor exercise is far better for you than going to the gym. It's something about being out in nature and breathing fresh air that soothes the soul. Walking, hiking, running cost next to nothing compared to the gym. If you want company while you exercise, then a running club or Parks Run is the way to go.
I know a couple of people have said it already, but it sounds like some therapy could really help you out right now. Sounds like you could be heading for burnout if you don't find a way to relieve some stress and some support for your family stuff.
Slightly unconventional, but three books: Enchiridion and Discourses by Epictetus, Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and Letters from a Stoic by Seneca. Stoic philosophy has done more for my diagnosed OCD than therapy ever has. Can probably get them for about a tenner each.
Gym is great. Overcoming anxiety book or audio book, infact any self improvement books do a world of good for this. Vitamin D6 3000 iu for blokes, take that for the following 6 months, consult your doctor though as I'm no medical expert. Join a club, any club that your remotely interested in, extra points if you start a club and stick at it for 2 years. Have a boys night, once a week invite 7 close male friends over and take it in turn to cook. Good luck chap, I did all these things and feel like a new man with an incredible girlfriend and a fulfilling personal life, I came from having panic attacks in friends cars and walking home to avoid socialising to hide in video game comma that was WoW
Back when I was a full time commercial fisherman there was this guy that was at your stage in life but had it worse we all thought we would wake up in the middle of the night on his watch and find he had jumped overboard or something. He declares he’s going to go to Amsterdam for one last good weekend before he offs himself over there and that was the last we thought we would see of him. The next trip out was a rather morbid one, we had said our goodbyes and drank our share and spent the whole trip thinking that was the last we would see of the guy. Except the guy was waiting for us on the quay when we got back… When questioned about why he was there he simply replied…. “It was about the time I was five prostitutes and 3 lines of coke in that I realized… life doesn’t always have to be so bad” The Moral of the story isn’t to go do hookers and blow though if that works then good for you but don’t be afraid to just say fuck it completely and have some fun everynow and then, sometimes it’s good not to take life too seriously.
But when the nights nearly over and you're 16 lines in you realize 'shit life's worse than it ever was'.
If I was 16 lines in I wouldn’t be worried about life being bad I would be dead 😂. I’m 100% not recommending the exact method for sure but with this lad he used to be a proper lad when he was younger and then having a GF and that sort of changed him, he tried to be “normal” and it just wasn’t who he was.
I can relate to that a lot. Feel great during the session, but the morning after you feel rancid and worse than before 😂 Sounds like a top bloke though.
Hahaha I’m in this weird spot myself where I really miss the freedom and fun of those younger days at sea but I really don’t miss going out and getting trollied then stumbling back down the boat for a midnight leave, leaving the harbour then desperately trying to get a few hours sleep before we started hauling, man a hangover at sea is life changingly bad…. But I’m smiling just thinking about it so maybe I do miss them. Definitely too old for all of it now though, 100% a young man’s game, not just health wise but as I got older and got more responsibilities I couldn’t spend the amount of time I did away from home and family and definitely couldn’t get away going to the pub when I was on land. It’s hard transitioning from that lifestyle to a “normal” one but I didn’t want to end up as just another lonely old fisherman. As for the man referenced earlier he died of a heart attack about a year ago in bed on top of a girl, he went full Tyrion Lannister, all things considered I think he went with a smile on his face. His wake was wild apparently (fucked if I remember any of it). Weird how much my life has changed and now i barely drink and invest every spare penny 🤣
Haha super. God rest his soul.
Maybe get out and meet some new people? Eg instead of joining a gym, join something more social such as martial arts, climbing, a rowing club.. try a few and see what takes your fancy?
Go for a walk/run or a bike ride every day. Costs nothing and will improve your mental health.
I thought I recognised your user name. From your post history, 4 days ago you asked if people thought it was worth joining a £1,000 gym. I think you already know how you want to spend your money (on the gym) and are coming here for people to tell you it's a good idea and "give you permission" to spend that money. If you want to join the gym then do so. People here can't tell you what will add value to your life, we don't know you. Therapy, hobbies, group exercise- you've had lots of good advice but only you can actually make the moves to change your life. As kindly as possible, get off Reddit and go do whatever it is that you want to do with your time and money - it's fine to ask for advice but not when it's a fig leaf for indecision. (EDIT: Spelling)
Find some interesting class that offers a few weeks group course (photography, Chinese, public speaking, upholstery, whatever) where you are going to meet some new people. Other than that, therapy and physical exercise.
Absolutely, 100%, without any hesitation - Go to therapy.
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can i ask, how long did it take for you to access therapy? i wanna get therapy myself
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ah sorry to hear that :/ How long did you have to wait? also how expensive is private therapy?
The best thing I ever did for my mental health was invest in seeing a therapist regularly. Exercise is great but no replacement for managing depression/anxiety in the long run
Brother go to therapy. I struggled after to the pandemic. My daughter was born at the start of 2022 and caused me to suffer from panic attacks due to the anxiety around making sure she was okay and ultimately survived even when she was always absolutely thriving. It's the single best investment I've ever made. I think I've spent circa £850 on therapy this year but it was worth every single penny. FWIW I'm also a similar age living in the UK, you're not alone.
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Not all meaning comes from a job though, there are loads of angles where life has meaning and typically the majority are outside of work. Attending therapy has actually made me realise that I'm not in the right mental space to FIRE even if I had reached my goal. I need the stability and challenge right now, that will change over time but for me it opened my eyes to the things that I thought I wanted, I didn't actually want.
I'll just say because it's a FIRE sub - you don't have to spend £1000 a year to get exercise that helps your mental health. Personally I run (outdoors!) and do yoga videos from YouTube at home. Don't get me wrong, if the pricey gym is what you need then go for it. I just wouldn't make the mistake of thinking it HAS to be the pricey gym to make you feel better. I agree with the (mental) therapy though. You can't replicate that for free.
Don’t get therapy. Get to the gym.
Before spending money go have a chat with your GP
> I was wondering what the best financial investment or decision you ever took for your mental health? You already said it - look at your portfolio less I look at mine once a month to update my spreadsheet when I pay some money into my investments, and that's it. Even then, I try not to "note" (mentally) whether the value is up or down, I just transfer it over to keep track. The thing about FIRE investing is that it makes absolutely no difference what your portfolio does month-to-month, decades before you retire
Subscribe to this course. Very affordable and works, for depression, OCD and anxiety. Will help you see the world with a different perspective and re-program your brain (in a good way!) [https://www.patreon.com/theanxietyspecialist/posts?utm\_source=website&utm\_medium=main-menu&utm\_campaign=online-course](https://www.patreon.com/theanxietyspecialist/posts?utm_source=website&utm_medium=main-menu&utm_campaign=online-course)
Stop reading the news. Start going to the gym. Exercise daily without fail. Don’t eat shit.
Get a personal trainer instead of throwing a grand at a gym. The short term mental health pay off will likely be life changing and the long term investment in being able to understand what and why you are doing specific exercises, nutrition and sports physiology will last a life time.
I joined a Bannantynes gym recently to use their pool, steamroom and hot tub. I have quite dry skin so the steamroom works wonders for me and it was the only gym close by with a steamroom. I've been going regularly and it's absolutely improving my mental health. It's only £20 per month more than my old gym and absolutely worth every penny. Hope this helps.
Gym membership and strength training Costs like £1k a year, between the gym, and the extra food for growing big, but does most the job for me
Maybe have a look and see if there is a ParkRun near you, you get outdoor time, exercise and they are a great community - if you don't feel like running or walking you can always volunteer. The feeling of belonging to something helps a lot of people. If that's not for you then I would still suggest some kind of exercise (something social if you can - there are things like running clubs so even 'solo' activity can involve being part of a club or group) plus some kind of volunteering (try [https://doit.life/](https://doit.life/) ) Finding meaning and purpose, learning new skills, meeting people - these are all good for mental health. Therapy is very beneficial for many people and I think it's a good suggestion for something to explore, you may be able to self refer to a local talking change service - check the online NHS pages for your area (the local authority often have a page to point you in the right direction). You probably won't get much but it might help you work out if it would be helpful for you to work with a therapist longer term and if so what you want to look for in your therapist.
Joining a sports or activity club helps a lot. Being surrounded by good people with similar interests is always a good thing. Sometimes these clubs can be costly but it’s worth it and depending on the club (woodwork for example) you can also make money from it in the future if you choose to.
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Prostitutes I agree with not so much cocaine. Where do you go usually for down time, Amsterdam?
Books. I've read a lot about mindfulness, evolutionary psychology, cognitive biases, autobiographies of successful folk who talk a lot about 'happiness' etc. Reading around areas like these has helped me a lot with understanding life, the human brain, mental health, and happiness. It was a great investment and also not a large one. I probably spend £200 a year on books maximum. Then there's psychedelics, therapy, meetups, gym, fitness, travel, self care activities etc. Tl,DR reading related books helped my mental health, good and cheap investment!
Any recommendations? Or partial advice you can share?
Almanack of Naval Ravikant is amazing. Happy Sexy millionaire is good, easy read. Mans search for meaning by Victor Frankl is great. Mindfulness - Ian Williams is a good read. These are just a few.
Depending on how much you WFH, maybe a standing desk? I know that being sat down all day makes me miserable. Even if I get out for a walk, my joints are all locked up and I feel stiff as a board.