We all want a better life. For one person that might mean a more exciting job, for another person, losing fifteen pounds, or for another, it’s finding the time to fit everything into the day. But believe it or not, most of the most effective things you can do to make your life a little bit easier, healthier, more productive, and more fun, are right in front of you. No need to drop everything and run to Bali—the best things you can do to improve your life today are simple, easy transitions and tips that will make every day a little more relaxing. You will wonder why you didn’t think of it earlier.
Think of your body and your life as an ideal cut diamond. Have you ever seen a real high-quality diamond sparkle? Diamonds—no matter how well they are cut—will only sparkle beautifully under the right conditions. They need to be clean and set in settings that complement their beauty. And they need to be moved to really get the full range of multicolored beauty. A person is just like that—you have all this talent and energy, but you will only be able to use it properly if you feel energized and clean because you are taking care of yourself, if you feel like you are in the kind of setting that will appreciate your efforts, and finally, if you are constantly moving and trying new things.
1. Eat foods that are known to have mood-boosting effects, like walnuts, salmon, lentils and pomegranate juice. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish and nuts boosts brain function, while lentils have mood-balancing proteins, and pomegranates are packed with anti-oxidants. Even treats like red wine and dark chocolate can make you feel better in moderation.
2. Get some fresh air every day, no matter how bad the weather or how busy the office. If you’re stuck in the office all day, take a conference call or even a laptop outside for at least fifteen minutes, or go for a walk during your lunch break.
3. Most Americans think they get enough sleep, without realizing that skimping on sleep can affect your productivity and mood in ways you may not even realize. Go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.
4. Acupressure has been proven to relieve all kinds of symptoms, from stress to headaches. Look up the acupressure treatment that can help you—and try practicing it on yourself.
5. Getting rid of clutter, whether it is in the home or office, can have a reviving effect on your whole day. Take a day to sort through each room in your house and be merciless with the giveaway bin.
6. The same rule of clutter applies to virtual clutter as well. The minutes you waste searching your hard drive for a lost document or rebooting your system after you neglect to update your system are moments you will never get back. Keep your computer up-to-date and organized and spare yourself the wasted time.
7. This month, pick a challenge in any area of your life and set concrete goals that will help you get there, whether that is losing five pounds or refinishing the deck. Next month, pick a new goal.
8. Between work and home responsibilities, it can get difficult to make time for having a social life. But studies have proven that having friends lowers your risk for all kinds of emotional and physical problems. So set aside one night a month to go out with friends—and keep your date!
9. Think of something you’ve always wanted to do but never did—planting a garden, learning a new language, getting your hair dyed blonde. Then do it.
10. In our social networking world, it seems like anywhere you go, you have hundreds of friends in your back pocket. Try turning that off and being alone for a while—even an hour or two—at a cafe or bar. Spending time alone can be an eye-opening experience.
11. You know that feeling you get in January and February when you just want to curl up under a Snuggie until spring? That’s the result of low vitamin D levels. Replenish your vitamin D, even in the winter, by spending time in the sun—outdoors, or even just in front of a window.
12. There are so many things you are supposed to like—French films, whole wheat bread, art museums—and then there are things you actually like—cupcakes, romantic comedies, and picnics. Don’t spend all your free time pretending to like things, when you can actually be having fun.
13. Learn to cook one new thing every week. Learning to cook expands many different parts of your mind, and can be an easy way to stick to a healthy diet.
14. Studies have said that kids laugh up to 400 times a day, while the average adult laughs only about 15 times a day. Laughter boosts your heart health and your immune system—and puts you in a great mood that can linger all day.
15. Work can sometimes be drudgery, there is no denying that. But remind yourself about why you are putting in all the hours with photographs of the people who matter, or the goals you are trying to achieve. Taping up a photo of that quality engagement ring and the girl you want to propose to will make the long hours a bit more bearable.
16. You may think you know where your money is going every month, but there could be surprising drains on your budget you never even noticed. Making a defined budget and reviewing it every few months could save you thousands of dollars.
17. If you are working on one task and feel burnout coming on, switch jobs for a few minutes. Doing 20-30 minutes at a time of each task and then switching will help you stay more productive and energized over the workday.
18. In this age of Facebook and Internet browsing, good old fashioned hobbies have fallen by the wayside. Pick a hobby that challenges you in a new way and throw yourself into it, whether that is watercolor painting or a weekend softball league.
19. Even if you are not a morning person, studies show that exercising in the morning can be the best way to jump-start your metabolism and put you in a better mood the whole day. It can also help you stick to a diet throughout the day.
20. If something is really bothering you, ignoring it and going about your day will just make you feel awful. Venting, whether its to a trusted friend or on your blog, can help you get the problem off your chest and may yield some unexpected solutions.
21. Finally, wind down your day with something relaxing, to induce restful sleep. It’s best to avoid movies or TV, as the light can prevent you from sleeping deeply, and read a book, do yoga, or talk to your partner. An hour of relaxing activities before bed will make your sleep, and the next day, much better.
Guest post by Whiteflash.com – online jewelry store from Houston.
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About the Author
My general practitioner mentioned the top three things to a peaceful and good lifestyle is eating properly, sleeping on a schedule and a minimum 8 hrs and 30 minutes a day of exercise at least 3 days a week. These, he claimed, were the bare minimum things that needed to be done and you hit them all in your article!
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This is very true. It’s up to the person to make his/her life better. For me, health is important. Take care of yourself first, eat well, get lots of rest and you’ll feel as if you can accomplish many things the entire day.
I think all of the suggestions are great. I only hope that the teens are wise enough to take it to heart. Wonderful article.
A great post to come back to for inspiration. My favorite tip is #12.