Change Your Outlook with 5 Life Changes
March 10, 2015
We can change jobs. We can change partners. We can change cities. We may expect that these things will magically make our lives better and, sometimes, they do but, for the most part, nothing will get better unless we change our attitude. You may already know this but it can be hard to know where to start. How do you give yourself an attitude adjustment? How can you improve your outlook on life? Try starting with these five steps:
Wake Up Earlier
No doubt you are looking at this and thinking that this is the suggestion of a crazy person but getting up a little earlier can be a game changer. Most of us savor every minute of sleep that we can but when we sleep in late we rob ourselves of that feeling of being settled and prepared for the day. Start by both going to bed and waking 30 minutes earlier. You will soon find that things go more smoothly because you gave yourself enough time to really get ready for the day ahead.
Commit to Your Health
This one truly is easier said than done, but making your health your number one priority will make you feel so much better about yourself, both mentally and physically. How many of us can relate to that awful feeling of letting ourselves down? We know what we need to do but it’s hard to do it. Start by making small changes – add more water to your daily consumption, park further from the door when going to work or shopping, meditate for 5 minutes every night before bed – and gradually build on them.
Choose Company Wisely
What we surround ourselves with is extremely important to our well-being. For this reason, it’s important to be mindful about the company that we keep. Begin evaluating your relationships. Pay attention to how others react to the events in your (and their) lives. Do they tend to be positive or negative in their approach? Is the relationship fair or are you giving more support than you’re receiving? Think about these things and how you feel when you are around certain people and then decide whether you want to keep them in your regular life. You may find that putting up healthy boundaries changes everything.
Give to Others
You may not have a lot but, chances are, if you are reading this, you have more than some. We can get so wrapped up in the ways in which we are lacking that we may forget to appreciate what already have. You don’t have to give away your entire life to make a difference in someone else’s day. Pay for the order behind you at the drive-thru. Offer free babysitting to a new mom. Volunteer to run errands for the elderly or organize a food drive. Whatever your situation, try to think of someone else, at least, once a day.
Let Go and Move On
Are you holding on to pain or a grudge? Have you refused to give up hope on a relationship that has been over for far too long? Is your home filled with items that have no purpose? If so, you may need to consider a purge. Everyone’s method is going to be different but, at some point, you will have to make a conscious decision about your situation. It can be scary to let go and if you’ve tried unsuccessfully to move past a situation, you may benefit from talking to a professional who can help you. Otherwise, get busy doing other things (like the four other suggestions on this list) and allow those healthy decisions to help you let go of the past.
While helpful to some, these are only suggestions. What things have you done to change your outlook on life for the better?
