Let’s face it. Not everything is about us. I know this fact very well. Everyone wants a piece of me. I struggle with finding time to accomplish much of anything.
Old habits are often hard to break. We may wish them away. I know I do. But, let’s be honest, we typically remain stuck in the same old place. Change takes work and focus.
So, if you are like me and looking to make some self-improvements, I have gathered up some of the common tips given to me along my life.
- Take Time for You –The truth is you need to take time for yourself in order to be that better person. If you are burned out and stressed, you will not be a positive contribution to anyone. Kids, spouse, work, you will not have much to offer anyone.
- Create Personal Time Daily – Once you understand that taking time out for yourself is essential then it’s time to schedule it. Set aside some time daily. Guess what? You can find 15 minutes every day.
- Choose How You Start Your Day – You can choose to start your day grumpy or energized. The choice is always yours. Attitude adjustment.
- Practice Journaling Randomly – This is important for everyone and not just those who want to become writers (like I do).
- Keep Good People Close to You – Snag that friend, share positive energy and maybe even talk things out.
- Keep Negative People out – You will never rid yourself of all the negative people in your life. That’s impossible. After all, some of them are your employers, co-workers and family members. You can control how close they get. You can choose to step out of negativity.
- Listen to Music – Music will change your brain waves and your attitudes.
- Laugh it Off – Having kids helps me with this area. Rather than get upset, laugh it off or start singing a stupid kid’s song. Just make yourself laugh.
- Smile at Strangers – Smiling releases serotonin. If you smile at someone, they typically will smile back. Crazy, but just smiling will make you feel better.
- Get Organized – Throw out your unnecessary junk. Once the initial work is done, all you have to do is maintain the organized systems.
- Shut Down and Unplug – Take time off from technology and unplug from your social devices. You need to see faces and hear voices and so do other people.
- Set Goals – Pick one big goal and then break it down. Completing smaller goals will keep you motivated no matter how long it takes you to reach the final big goal.
- Get moving – Never forget the importance of staying active. Keeping fit is critical and it doesn’t have to be sixty hours of cardio. A simple power walk will do just fine.
- Pay Attention to What You Eat – Avoid foods that only drag the body down.
- Take a Time Out – Close the office door or just sit in the car. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Just a few minutes of deep breathing reset your mindset.
- Get Enough Rest – Lack of sleep can make you feel miserable. Get to bed earlier. Just do it.
- Hydrate enough - Drink a glass of water before bedtime to hydrate your body. Drink another glass first thing in the morning before anything else to get going.
Seems simple enough. Everyone wants to be the best they can be. We just need reminders. Taking care of ourselves is the first step to accomplishing our big life goals.
When you feel balanced, everything just works better. There you have it.