4 Easy Ways to Improve Your Life

Do you often find yourself feeling unsatisfied, annoyed, unhappy? Turn that frown upside down! It's easy. Anyone can do it and it won't cost you a thing. Here are 4 easy ways to improve your life... today!  

4. Personal Development – Continue to check yourself. How are you doing? No, how are you REALLY doing? What are you not happy with? What steps can you take to change the aspects of your life you don’t like? Make a list. Discuss it with your significant other and family members. Hold each other accountable. Instead of complaining about it, do something about it. Have goals… career goals, family goals, life goals. Learn something new every day. Reading fiction can be enjoyable and inspiring, but reading non-fiction can help you learn about history and topics you may not otherwise know anything about. It may prompt you to dig deeper and give you interesting things to discuss with your friends and colleagues.

3. Finances – Take a good, hard look at where you are and where you want to be. Do you rent an apartment but want to buy a home? Do you stress about money every month, because you’re spending more than you’re earning? Do you have any money saved or any investments? Write down your regular monthly expenses. Some things you can’t cut out, but do you need to stop at the coffee shop every day or can you just have coffee at home? Do you have to eat out as much as you do? Do you search around for deals before purchasing clothes, planning a trip or buying the latest electronics? And do you really need any of that anyway? Create a detailed spending plan and make sure you’re sticking to it. Cut out the things you really don’t need and put the money you’ve saved aside. Set savings goals. Having a six-month “rainy day” fund is always a good idea. You may be living large right now, but things can always change. Expect the unexpected and be ready for it.

2. Health – Are you getting enough movement during your work shift or has your position become rather sedentary? Get up. Move around. Walk around the block if you have to. Do you go to the gym regularly? Run? If you find yourself stressed out, exercise can help your body AND your mind. If traditional forms of working out aren’t for you, find an exercise you like – maybe martial arts or dance will get you moving. Are you getting enough sleep? Often times, our work schedule or situation prevents us from eating as healthily as we would like, but filling up on fast food can put you on the fast track to weight gain, lethargy and depression. A little planning can make all the difference. Pack a meal and snacks at home and bring them to work in a small cooler or cooler bag. Portion control is much easier to accomplish when you’re preparing your own food. If you need something crunchy to sustain yourself, pack carrots or apple wedges instead of chips. Drink lots of water, right when you wake up and all day long. Keeping a food log helps to keep you from indulging on gummy bears and French fries. Setting up a weight chart and wearing a pedometer can also help you stay on track and monitor your progress.

1. Happiness – Are you suffering from baditude? It happens to the best of us, but we have the power to turn it around. Have a good attitude. Be positive. Express gratitude. Compliment others. Smile! Stop looking at what everyone else has (or seemingly has) and comparing yourself. Despite what you see on social media, not everyone’s life is picture perfect. Do what you can to be as content and happy as you can be. Don’t sweat the small stuff. If someone’s dragging you down, stop hanging out with them. If you’re missing quality time with your family or closest friends, make a plan to get together. Give them an actual phone call, instead of texting. If you’re feeling overwhelmed balancing a full-time job with raising kids and being involved in your community, schedule a date with yourself. Put it in your calendar. Grab a magazine or a notepad and head to a quiet beach. Sit in your backyard when no one else is home and just relax. Take a peaceful nature walk through one of the scenic spots in your area. And perhaps the most important thing to remember to improve your life… laugh. Laugh often. Laugh long. Find humor even in the most challenging situations. It helps. Life tosses all of us difficult situations. It’s how we choose to deal with them that makes the difference.