No matter how old you are, it's never too late to change your life for
the better. Read this article to learn how to make changes on both the
inside and outside to feel more fulfilled, happy, and at peace.
Changing Your Circumstances
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1
Change your routine.
Remember that your reality is a result of the things you do on a daily
basis, from what you eat for breakfast to where you go to work or
school. If you're going to change your life's circumstances, you will
have to change the things you do every single day.
- Making even the smallest changes to your daily routine can help you
feel less bored with life. For example, take a different route to work,
eat something new for breakfast, exercise before school rather than
afterward, or stop at a different coffee shop. Small changes like these
may seem insignificant, but they will make your life more interesting in
the long run by adding variety.
- Ask yourself this question on a daily basis: Is what I am doing (or
not doing) helping me get where I want to be? This applies to what you
eat, whether or not you exercise, and what you spend the bulk of your
day doing. If the answer is no, then make the necessary change.
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2
Examine your life's path.
Whether you are in school, working, job hunting, volunteering, or
travelling, take a look at your life and decide if it aligns with your
values.
- What are your passions, interests, and goals? While these questions
may take years to answer, you can start by asking yourself what kind of
legacy you want to leave behind. This question applies not only to your
career, but to your relationships as well. How would you like to be
described and remembered by other people?
- Determine whether or not your lifestyle is aligned with your
personal values. Chances are, to some extent, your life and your values
conflict. What could you be doing differently to help you reach your
goals? You may want to consider changing your career path, changing your
major, changing where you live, and changing the way you manage your
time and money.
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3
Improve your relationships.
No matter how much money you make or how great your accomplishments
are, you will not be able to enjoy your success if you don't have loved
ones to share it with.
- Work on the relationships you already have. Be sure to spend quality
time with loved ones, and treat them with compassion and understanding.
If have been neglecting or arguing with a loved one, them devote some
time to reconciling the relationship. You must be willing to make
compromises and even admit that you were wrong.
- Make new, meaningful relationships with others. If you are feeling
lonely, then you will have to stop waiting around for others to approach
you. Take matters into your own hands, and get proactive. Put yourself
in social situations, strike up conversations, and remember to always
have a smile on your face. This is the best way to attract other people.
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4
Get out of your comfort zone.
Some people are more prone than others to get stuck in the comfort of
routine and familiarity. Regardless of your inhibitions or fears of
change, humans need variety to be happy. You should practice this on a
small scale on a daily basis as well as on a larger scale.
- Try to do something you've never done every single day. Go to a show
you've never been to, talk to a new person, eat something new, and so
on. You never know when you'll discover something or somebody who will
end up making a life-changing impact on you.
- Pick up a new hobby or travel to a new place. If you play an
instrument or a sport of any kind, push yourself above and beyond what
you would normally do. Run that extra mile, take a different trail when
hiking, and explore new artistic styles.
EditMethod 2 of 3: Changing Your Attitude
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1
Live in the present moment.
The best way you feel happier about your life is to stop dwelling on
the past and stop worrying about the future. If you suffer from anxiety
or depression, it is probably because you are doing one or both of these
things constantly and neglecting the present moment. If you find
yourself constantly dwelling on negative memories, try the following
exercise:
- First, acknowledge the memory and how it makes you feel. If it was a
recent incident and you feel the need to cry or scream, then do it.
Consider writing about the event in a journal or talking about it with a
loved one. Once you have properly grieved the memory, then admit to
yourself that it is over, and nothing can be done to undo it. Instead of
being upset that it happened, be thankful that it is over, and remember
that things always could have been worse. The next time the
thought returns to your head, acknowledge it, be thankful that it is
over, and let it go.
- While it is impossible to forget the past completely, many people
tend to focus on negative or traumatic memories rather than on the
positive ones. Take some time to remember all the good things that have
happened to you in the past. If it helps, make a list.
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2
Be positive. No matter what you have, where you are, or who you're with, your perception
of your circumstances is more important than the circumstances
themselves. To put this into perspective, consider this fact: at any
given moment, there are other people in the world who have less money,
less resources, and less loved ones than you do, and yet they are
happier. Similarly, there are people who are richer than you, in better
shape, and with more resources, who feel less fulfilled than you do.
- Get in the habit of noticing the positive aspects of whatever
situation you find yourself in. If you find yourself complaining about
what's going on around you, then counter each complaint you make with
one or two positive observations.
- Stop criticizing yourself and those around you. Again, everybody has
both positive and negative qualities; this is a universal fact. If you
constantly focus on the negative qualities in your spouse, for example,
then those are what you will notice, and you will constantly feel
frustrated and annoyed. Contrastingly, if you constantly remind yourself
of the positive qualities in your spouse, then those are what you will
notice, and you will feel appreciative and lucky.
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3
Don't compare your own life with other peoples' lives.
Part of what makes people feel unhappy with their own lives is the
comparison they make with the lives of those around them. The tendency
is to compare the low points of your own life with the positive points
of other peoples' lives.
- Let go of jealousy. Nobody's life is perfect, no matter how it may
seem on the outside. If you find yourself being jealous of others for
their money, their talents, or their relationships, remember that each
and every one of these people has struggled with hardships and
insecurities that may even be worse than your own.
EditMethod 3 of 3: Changing Your Look
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1
Get in shape. Exercising
regularly not only keeps you looking your best, it will improve your
cardiovascular health, reduce your likelihood for certain diseases, give
you more energy, and even improve your sex life.[1]
- Healthy adults need 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week.[2] Moderate activities include walking or swimming leisurely, while vigorous activities include jogging, kickboxing, or spinning.
- You should do strength training of some kind at least two days per week.[3]Try lifting weights or doing floor work (crunches, push-ups, etc) that use your own body as resistance.
- Consider joining a gym or local sports team. Exercising with other
people can help keep you motivated, and will make exercise more fun.
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2
Eat well. Remember that
you are what you eat. Whether you want to lose weight or simply improve
your overall health, what you eat matters.
- Your diet should consist of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and
whole grains. Read food labels and stay away from foods that contain
artificial coloring, aspartame, and other chemicals. Eat sugar and empty
carbohydrates in moderation.
- If you suffer from anxiety or depression, then cut down on alcohol and caffeine, as these substances will make matters worse.[4]
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3
Get a makeover.
Makeovers aren't just about looking better, necessarily. The simple act
of getting a haircut or buying different clothes can make you feel like a
new person. Whether you're unhappy with your look or simply bored with
it, try to mix things up.
- Change your wardrobe. Get rid of clothes that make you feel frumpy,
sloppy, or otherwise bad about yourself. Make an effort to look your
best on a daily basis. This doesn't necessarily mean dressing fancy or
formal; rather, find clothes that are figure-flattering, stylish (in
your opinion), affordable, and age-appropriate.
- Change your hairstyle. Get a haircut or dye your hair a different
color. Women with long hair should consider getting layers, bangs, or a
short bob.
- Men can drastically change their appearance using facial hair. Try
getting a beard, moustache, or goatee. If you are a man who has always
had facial hair, try shaving it off for a change.
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