As we get older, responsibilities pile up making it easy to fall into a routine and lose focus on what makes us truly happy. Follow these ten tips on how to live, not just exist and you’ll be able to embrace the curveballs of life with a better outlook.
1. Learn new skills.
Take the time to be your own teacher. The more knowledge you have, the better you’ll feel. You’ll have more topics of conversation to offer and could maybe even make some extra cash selling whatever you learn to make. Let yourself get lost in the trial and error of conquering something new.
2. Let your loved ones know how you feel about them.
There’s no point in holding back how much you enjoy someone’s company. Regardless of whether it’s your close friends, significant other, or family, anyone who cares about you wouldn’t mind getting that reminder that they mean a lot to you. You don’t have to get too mushy every time you see them, but a few more I love you’s never hurt.
3. Write in a journal.
As a writer, I may be biased towards this one, but I feel that using a journal as an outlet to free emotions, plans, rants or whatever else you want is a great stress reliever and allows more space for other things in your mind. You’ll be able to concentrate more on what and who is right in front of you.
4. Help strangers.
We can learn a lot from Patch Adams. Pay it forward by performing random acts of kindness every once in a while. Remind yourself and others that there’s still plenty of good in the world by doing something small solely to improve someone’s happiness. You’ll feel more alive than you ever have by brightening someone’s day.
5. Spend time with the ones that matter.
Don’t try to be a people pleaser to everyone. Quit agreeing to go to places you don’t have an interest in going to with people you’re not a huge fan of just to be polite. Spend your precious time with your family, best friends and your love and you’re guaranteed to have a wonderful time, even if you’re just congregated in your living room drinking wine together.
6. Make a Bucket List.
It may sound cliche, but taking the time to write down major things you want to do or see will make you more passionate about actually doing them. Also, experiencing other cultures may help provide insight on how you want to live.
7. Don’t take your job too seriously.
No one wants to look back on their life and realize they missed out on so many things because they always agreed to stay late at work. Money is vital when it comes to planning vacations and doing things you actually enjoy, but don’t get so stressed you forget what it means to have fun.
8. Read Books.
A lot of people, myself included, always claim they want to read more books, but never make time to find ones that will catch their interest. It doesn’t take that much effort and once you find a genre you enjoy, you’ll be hooked. You’ll feel more educated and productive if you replace TV time with an hour of reading.
9. Do at least one productive thing a day.
Whether it’s exercising, cleaning, or cooking a delicious dinner, do something that will result in a positive and healthy outcome. We have a finite number of days on Earth; why spend most of them being lazy?
10. Disconnect.
Pick up your head when you’re walking instead of looking like a zombie staring at your phone. Turn off your computer and explore what’s in the real world rather than what is on Facebook — It’ll still be there when you come back.
About the Author/s
Lauren is a writer and blogger for The Digest. A lifelong Sussex County resident, Lauren has adventured out of the sticks of northwest New Jersey to join The Digest team. When she is not commuting in rush hour traffic, she is typically frolicking outdoors or cheering on the Yankees.
