Welcome to Week One of the Quality of Life Quest Advent Calendar, a slightly unconventional, gently irreverent way to wind down the year with more clarity and less chaos. In this episode, Anneke walks you through the first seven 'metaphorical doors' of December's mini self-improvement journey. Instead of daily pressure, we're batch-processing the first week to help you set the tone for the season.
Immediate Money Savings via Subscription Audits (Day 1): Go through your financial statements (bank, PayPal, Stripe) and immediately cancel any forgotten subscriptions or direct debits for things you are no longer using. This can provide an instant positive result.
Prioritise a Creative Project (Day 2): To offset the holiday chaos, pick one creative project you'd like to do this season (knitting, painting, etc.), and immediately gather all the necessary ingredients/supplies so you are ready to start when the time comes.
Integrate Small, Consistent Movement (Day 3): Choose one small, physical thing to work on in December (strength, balance, coordination) that you can easily integrate into your existing routine, like practising balance while boiling the kettle or doing push-ups while running a bath.
Declutter with the Three-Box Method (Day 4): Tackle your wardrobe using three boxes/piles—Keep (things you wear and feel good in), Donate (clean, wearable items for a charity shop), and Throw Away (items beyond saving, possibly for textile recycling).
Clear the Emotional Decks (Day 6): Identify any "unfinished" personal situations or lingering issues (like a past fallout or awkward moment) that drain your energy, and consider a small, adult step to address them, or at least journal about them, to prevent dragging that emotional load into the New Year.
“If someone were to quietly siphoning £9.99 out of your bank account each month, you would call it theft. But if it's a forgotten subscription, somehow it's just Tuesday.”
“Forget about anyone else's idea of what should entail some creative production. It doesn't matter. It's your thing.”
“It doesn't really matter what you choose . What matters is that you choose something, one thing, that you'd like to improve just for you.”
“Cluttered closets aren't just about clothes. They're about letting go of what no longer fits you. Clearing out that space gives you room to breathe, simplify and actually see what you enjoy wearing.”
“You're doing this to lighten the emotional load you've been carrying without even really realising it.”
https://www.instagram.com/thequalityoflifequest/https://www.tiktok.com/@thequalityoflifequest
Anneke is an engineer who immersed herself in alternative healthcare after she almost died in hospital. Working in that field since 2000. Trainer of NLP, Time Line Therapy, Hypnosis, Reiki master, Sports-massage therapist and some other modalities. Currently she is training to be a naturopath whilst working as a healthcare assistant in the Acute Medical Unit. She is looking for the good bits of modern healthcare, which is in the acute setting in her opinion.
In no way, shape or form does she suggest to have life figured out. Hence the quest. There is always more to learn and more insights to be gained. Life is messy and full of surprises and curve balls.
This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
