It’s never too late to change your life. While it may like changing your life is impossible, the fact of the matter is, the bulk of our lives is determined by our decisions, so at any given time, we always can change our course.
Life is all about choices: we wake up and choose what to eat, or even if we want to eat at all, we choose what we want to wear, we choose what we give our energy to, and we choose which gas station to fill our car up at on the way to work. These are small choices we make each day, but over a week they add up.
Now, think about what would happen if you chose to change your habits, or chose to leave a dead-end job that you hate to pursue your dreams? Well, it could create big and amazing waves, that will ripple throughout the rest of your life.
On January 1, 2022, we were given a brand new book with 365 pages to write whatever we wish. Here are 15 ways you can change your life on those 365 pages in a meaningful and amazing way.
1. Stop stressing yourself out about the future.
You could sit around all day, worrying about where the future will lead you, but it won’t do you any good. Think about it, five years ago, you were worried about the future. Seven years ago, you were worried about the future. And now, where are you? Chances are, things didn’t turn out as badly as you thought they could.
2. Start an exercise routine.
You don’t have to work out for hours on end every day. And you don’t have to run on a treadmill or even run at all if you don’t enjoy it. But, if you find something you love and do it often, you are going to reap the benefits. Exercise not only makes you feel better emotionally, but it also provides us with momentum which fuels us throughout our lives.
3. Eat a balanced diet.
Nutrition is so important, it helps our bodies to fight disease, and it keeps us alive. While I am not suggesting you should go on a diet or anything like that, it’s important to make better choices. That way, when you get offered your favorite treat, your diet will be balanced enough that you can eat that and have no worries that it will affect your nutrition needs.
4. Write down your goals and start pursuing the ones you’ve let slip away from you.
Sit down and write out your goals. Think big, and focus on the ones that are most important to you. If you’ve let some goals slip away from you, put them back into focus. And create a realistic plan to reach them.
5. Let go of toxic people.
It may be hard to let go of toxic people, but I promise you it’s going to improve your life. At the very least, cut back on how often you go around them. There’s an old saying that goes something along the lines of “Who you spend your time with is who you will become,” and while some of us may resent admitting it, it’s true.
6. Make self-care a priority.
Each day, dedicate time to yourself for your well-being. Exercise, take a bubble bath, give yourself a pedicure, and if you need a day off to unwind and recharge, give yourself one. Setting boundaries and providing yourself with care is not selfish, it’s necessary.
7. Cut back on screen time.
Too much screen time is not only depressing, and even addictive, it is a total time waster. If you took all the time you spent staring into your phone, or watching television, and used that one something productive, you would likely see major changes in your life.
8. Get plenty of rest.
I can not stress enough how important good rest is. Your body is constantly working to keep your body moving. When you get sick, it works to get you well again. Without proper rest, it cannot do anything, and you end up suffering. The Sleep Foundation suggests getting 7-9 hours each night.
9. Tell a secret that is bothering you.
Holding in secrets will only stress you out. If there is something you have buried deep, let it out. Find someone that you trust and tell them your secret. I promise it will be like a weight lifted off your shoulders.
10. Start reading more.
Go to your local library or book store, and pick out a good book. Then, the next time you have some downtime, use it to read a few chapters. Not only will it help your mind to think, but it will also be a good substitute for screentime which only destroys your attention span.
11. Take responsibility for your life.
In life, it’s tempting to believe we are only the victim of circumstance. However, when we take responsibility for our lives, we take our power back. If there is something in your life that you are having a hard time taking responsibility for, sit down and contemplate why that is.
12. Go out of your way to be kind to others.
When you meet a new stranger, be kind to them. Smile at everyone you see, hold the door open for them, and offer to help them out. It costs nothing to be kind to others, and it’s something that will not only change your life, but it will also change the people who come into contact with you too.
13. Find a new hobby.
Is there a hobby or interest you’ve been wanting to start, but just haven’t gotten around to? Start now. Pick something entirely new to you, and learn everything you can about it. The internet is loaded with free information about every hobby imaginable, and many hobbies are even free. Learning something new will freshen up your perspective in many ways, and as a bonus, it’s fun.
14. Call or text that person that you keep forgetting to check on.
Have you been putting off, or forgetting to call someone you love and need to check on? Do it now. Don’t think about it, or stress about it, just do it. You might be surprised at how well the conversation goes, and, it’s just nice to touch base with someone you love.
15. Go for your biggest dream.
What is your biggest dream? Is there something you’ve been afraid of trying due to fear of failure? Stop putting it off now, and start making baby steps towards it. If you made one small step each day towards it for the rest of the year, that would be a lot of steps! Who knows, you might even reach it sooner than you believe.