Growing up and facing the reality of becoming an adult might be overwhelming for some of us. It seems like all the everyday life hardships affect our life quality and we cannot do anything to change this.
The good news is: we can improve our well-being and our lives. No need to do something magical, but we can follow some simple life hacks. Paying attention to details, to our minds and bodies is the secret. Sounds complicated, but let’s see ten of the most successful life improvement secrets that actually work.
1. Wake Up Early
I know, we are all waiting for those weekend days, when you can sleep how much you want, when you do not have to go to your job and can actually spend time with yourself. But, if you sleep until noon, how much time for yourself is left?
The answer is: too little. Waking up early is the biggest secret to improve your life. You will have more time to invest in your hobbies and yourself. As Benjamin Franklin once said: “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”.
2. Get Rid of Your Bad Habits
We all have some dirty pleasures. While some of us are smoking, some are eating a lot of sweets when nervous. These bad habits are constantly affecting our life quality and we are not doing anything at all to change this. They are jeopardizing our goal accomplishment and our physical and mental health.
As James Clear says, you do not eliminate a bad habit, you replace it. A lot of our bad habits form when we are bored or stressed. So, it is better to replace a bad habit with a good one, a habit which is satisfying the same needs as the previous one.
3. Take a Break
We are constantly living in a rush. Some days, even if we wake up early, it seems like we do not have enough time. We have to go to work, meet with friends, cook and eventually, read or watch a series.
We all know how tiring and stressful a day can become. Sadly, we do not have a pause button, but we can take a break. You cannot expect to have success, to be effective or creative when you are stressed or tired. Taking a break can be beneficial for both your mental and physical health.
4. Read Books
A very common piece of advice is to read more and more books. Books make you smarter. So, why not improve your abilities to ease your life? Why not relax a little bit? Why not learn something new? Not only do we have to take care of our body, we have to do the same for our soul and mind.
This is the easiest way to stay updated and learn something new at the same time. If you feel that your reading pace prevents you to spend more time on this hobby, you can learn to read 300 percent faster in just 20 minutes. Why don’t you give it a try?
5. Identify Your Values
Have you ever wondered what guides our behaviour and a way of thinking? What makes us act the way we do? The answer is our values. Even though for most of us it is hard to identify what are the most important things to us, it is not impossible. You can ask a coach for help, or you can try to identify your core values by yourself.
It is important to know yourself the best you can. These values influence your way of being and living your life. But, you can use them to your advantage. You can get rid of the things that harm you and you didn’t even know. Act according to your core values and you will be happier and happier.
6. Set SMART Goals
The concept of SMART goals is often present in the corporate environment. Yet we can use it in our everyday life too. Of course, we all have goals and dreams, we all want to have them fulfilled. But what is it that makes it so hard to even start to accomplish them?
Put aside reasons like a low level of motivation, lack of time or tiredness. Start working on how you set your goals. SMART comes from Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bounded. If you set your goals too general, it will come hard to evaluate if you achieved them.
So, follow the rules of SMART goals. It is the first step in your journey of fulfilling your dreams and accomplishing your goals. Having something more specific to follow will make your journey easier and more enjoyable.
7. Practice Positive Thinking
We have all heard about the power of positive emotions. Emotions have recently raised the interest of researchers. And learning about them and how to control them can improve your quality of life.
The positive thinking can be present in many forms, starting from optimism and ending with self-efficacy. What is most important: the power of positive thinking is increased by our core values. So, if you have identified your core values, you have probably changed your way of thinking and behaving at least a bit.
You can learn about what makes you happy and how your connections with others can influence your life in a positive way. The power of positive thinking is unimaginable and can give your super powers! You may also consider reading “Zen and the art of happiness” by Chris Prentiss, it can change the way you live your life.
8. Practice Mindfulness
Focusing on your past or on the things you could have done better will have no positive influence. Mindfulness is a technique that helps you stay present. It is based on meditation and helps you concentrate on the present moment.
This technique teaches you how to sharpen your concentration skills by using breath as an anchor to the present moment. Meditation has powerful benefits on your mental health and on your stress level.
If you are a beginner, you may find it difficult at first. The most important is not to give up. Continue, learn how to do it and become your own master of relaxation.
9. Keep Your Back Straight
Jordan B. Peterson has a famous saying: “If you slump around, with the same bearing that characterizes a defeated lobster, people will assign you a lower status, and the old counter that you share with crustaceans, sitting at the very base of your brain, will assign you a low dominance number.” This quote underlines the power of susceptibility.
There are a lot of things that harm us or make us happy and we don’t even know how. On the same side, there are a lot of ways to improve your lifestyle, and you are not aware of them.
Keeping your back straight and your shoulders back are some of these effective and subliminal ways that help you keep the anxiousness and sadness away. Just give it a try!
10. Surround Yourself with People That Love You
Yes, we have all heard the famous advice: Choose your friends wisely. Having lots of friends who say that they will be there for you any moment you will need them, is a nice thing to have. But are they all true friends?
Even though the friendship is a long-term one, it is wise to keep in mind that the human nature is mysterious sometimes. And it also works in some strange ways. We expect the others to be fair and sincere with us like we are to them.
That’s why it is important to surround yourself with people that love you, that won’t let you down and will be a source of motivation and encouragement.
Conclusion
No one wants to have a life full of boredom and stress. A life with no accomplishments and no dreams fulfilled. That’s why we have to learn to control the things we can and accept the things that we cannot control.
A happy life is a life lived to its fullest. Even though there might be hardships, it is important to know how to overcome them. Take into consideration adopting new lifestyles and new ways of thinking.
Even if it is not something practical to do, it’s something highly effective. Embrace and decipher all the secrets that will totally change the way you live and your perspective of the world.
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