Looking to change your life for the better? There’s no time like the present. And you don’t have to make huge moves like quitting your job or selling all your possessions. Here are 10 ways to increase your quality of life today:
1. Begin the Day with a Quiet Morning
Consider how you start your day each morning. Are you hitting snooze, then rushing into your morning tasks? Do you leave the house a mess? You may not be a “morning person,” but getting up a little earlier can be great for reflecting and having some alone time for yourself before everyone else is up.
2. Review Your Priorities Every Day
What is your definition of a great life? Do you even have a definition? Figure out what is most important to you, and don’t just say what comes to mind first or what you’ve read is supposed to be important in books or magazines. Chances are, you’ll get a better glimpse at where you should be putting your efforts if you know your priorities.
3. Review Your Goals Every Day
After you review your priorities for the present, go over your goals for the future. What would you like to accomplish in 10 years? 5 years? This year? This month? Studies show that simply being aware of your ambitions on a daily basis will help them become realities.
4. Remember You Are What You Eat
One of your top three priorities should always be your health. You can’t do anything without your health. So eat right by choosing whole foods with no additives. Try to get at least 6 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. If you need to lose weight, look up how many calories your body requires in a day and create a deficit by eating less and doing the next tip.
5. Get moving
Again, if you need to lose weight, exercise is a great tool. But physical activity benefits more than your waste line. If you exercise, your heart and bones will be healthier, and so will your mind. Studies have shown that people who exercise often are smarter as well as happier. Indeed, moving your body creates more of those “good feeling” chemicals your brain.
6. Be Kind to Yourself
Do you find yourself getting down in the dumps at the slightest error or negative situation? Remember to give yourself a pat on the back every day. Humans are not machines, and we’re certainly not perfect, so take that to heart, and allow yourself some mistakes. Then get right back on the horse.
7. Hang Around People Who Make You Feel Good
Humans are social beings, and we need to interact. You should choose to hang around people who make you feel good. Spend quality time with them; don’t just sit in front of the TV together. If you have friends who are negative or make you feel bad, think about cutting them out of your usual social circle; it’s not worth it.
8. Eliminate the Physical Clutter
Is your house always a mess with junk? Even if it isn’t, have you assessed how many things you own compared to how many you use? Get rid of what you don’t need and sell it or donate it to someone who may be able to use it. You may even make some money if you have a garage sale or sell online. Reducing clutter helps to clear your mind and makes for less “to-dos” on your list.
9. Eliminate the Mental Clutter
Now that you have less physical stuff to worry about, get rid of the mental cloudiness that can take over your mind when you have a lot on your plate. Prioritizing will help with this, but you should also consider meditation, a practice that helps you stay present and be mindful. A typical meditation session can be as short as 10 minutes, but it can help you all day long and will enhance your life overall.
10. Be Thankful
Before you go to bed at night, think of 3 things that happened that day for which you can be thankful. It can be as small as the fact that you wrote that long put-off thank you note, or the fact that it didn’t rain on your son’s soccer game. Think of new things to be thankful for every day, and it will help you be more satisfied with all of the wonderful things you already have in your life.
