Did you know that you do not have to make major changes in order have a better life? Did you know that you do not have to wait a long time to see big results by making little changes?
If you want to change your life, you can take one or several baby steps. Just take those steps consistently, and you will see great results!
Choose one or more from the list below, and practice daily for at least sixty days. Your life will look much different after those sixty days.
Make your bed.
Many people swear by making their beds right after getting out of them. They say it helps them to feel a sense of accomplishment before even leaving their bedrooms in the morning. If it works for them, it can work for you, too!
I agree with this. On mornings when I feel rushed and do not want to take the extra time to make my bed, I try to do it anyway. It helps to alleviate some of my stress and makes me feel good later in the day when I walk into my bedroom and see how tidy a nicely made bed can make the room look.
Drink water.
Make sure you drink plenty of pure, clean water daily and constantly throughout the day. Drinking a bunch of water all at one time will not be enough to sustain you during the day.
Dehydration can wreak havoc on your entire body. It can cause your joints to hurt, making movement difficult. It can make it difficult to remember those things that are important to you. It can cause constipation. It can make your skin look wrinkled.
The list could go on…
Just make sure you drink plenty of water.
Breathe deeply.
Through your nose, take a slow, long, deep belly breath. Hold it for a couple seconds, and slowly release it. Notice how the air feels flowing in through your nose into your body. Notice how the air feels when you hold and release it. Feel the oxygen flowing through your body.
I like to do this several times a day whether I am feeling stressed or calm. It opens up my lungs and simply makes me feel great!
Stop eating sugar.
You will be amazed how much better you will feel if you stop eating sugar. If you are addicted to it, you will not feel so great in the beginning as your body detoxes from the sugar. However, after you kick the habit, you will have more energy, a clearer mind, and so many other benefits.
Keep a food journal.
With all of the responsibilities you have, it is very difficult to remember everything you ate, so it is important for you to keep a food journal. Simply writing down everything you eat will help you to be more mindful of the things you choose to put in your mouth. Keeping this journal will also help you to figure out if you are eating any foods that are a problem for you.
Slow down, and eat mindfully.
Eat your meals slowly. Savor each bite. Take time to really taste and enjoy your food.
Do something nice for someone else.
Do something nice without expecting anything in return.
Volunteer at an animal shelter. If you are in line at a store, let someone in front of you. Pay the toll for the next person behind you at the toll booth. Buy tea for a friend.
There are so many things you can do for others. Add your own ideas to this list.
Not only will you be doing something nice for someone else, which in and of itself is rewarding, knowing you were kind to someone else can improve your mood, too.
Take time for yourself.
Spend some time doing something that you love to do for yourself.
Get a massage. Get a mani-pedi. Schedule time on your calendar where you do something for you and only you.
Try to schedule something daily–even if it is for only five or ten minutes. Just make sure you let all other distractions go. Turn off your computer and phone, and make it all about you!
Take a walk.
If you are feeling stressed, get up, and take a walk. Just a five minute break from whatever it is that is causing your stress will help you to approach the problem with a clearer mind.
(…and you get extra points if you incorporate deep breathing into your walks!)
Get up, and move.
The more you move, the more you will be able to accomplish. Moving more will help you to be more fit.
The strange thing is: if you have too much energy, moving more will help you burn energy, but if you do not have enough energy, moving more will help you to have more energy. I cannot really explain how that works, but it is true!
Try it from whatever side you happen to be on.
Make a success list.
Rather than making a To Do List, make a Success List. Write down all the awesome things you have done. Add at least one thing to it daily. Refer back to it when you are feeling down or are feeling like you are not making progress toward your goals.
Dream.
This world would not be what it is today without dreamers. Keep dreaming. Embrace your dreams.
You have the ability to create whatever it is that you want.
Laugh daily.
Watch your favorite comedy. Visit a funny website. Do an online search for whatever it is that you find funny…whether that is cats acting goofy, dogs chasing their tails, or whatever funny means to you.
Just…laugh!
Recognize your talents.
Everyone…and I mean Everyone (YOU included)…has some sort of talent.
Are you a great cook? Are you a great parent? Can you read a thick book in two days? Are you able to easily understand things that others don’t get? Can you knit a sweater?
There most certainly is something you can do that no one else can do. If you do not already know what that is, find it because it is there.
Quit judging.
You and I and everyone else are doing the best we can. Thus, stop judging yourself and others. You never know what is happening in someone else’s life. It is possible that the server who messed up your order just received some horrible news about a close family member or friend. The person flying up the shoulder of the road might be rushing to help someone in need.
You just never know what is going on in other peoples’ lives.
Stop complaining about petty stuff.
Did you catch every red light on the way to work? Did someone cut you off in traffic? Did the cashier at the store snap at you?
Let it go!
Holding onto these things only makes you feel bad. Complaining causes negativity in your life and the lives of those to whom you are complaining.
Turn off all your screens.
An hour or more before you go to bed, turn off all your screens. This includes computers, tablets, smartphones, televisions, and anything else with a screen. The light from these screens interferes with your sleep patterns. Therefore, give them a rest, and you will be able to sleep better.
If you need something to do, pick up a real book made with paper and ink.
Take things a step further, and turn off the screens during the day, too. Go outside, and enjoy the sunshine.
Get plenty of sleep.
You might think that staying up late is beneficial.
You can finally clean the house or do the laundry now that the kids are in bed. You can work on your website or blog since your partner went to bed.
However, it is really important that you get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Only you can know how much sleep is right for your body. If you need an alarm clock to wake up in the morning, you are not getting enough sleep.
Appreciate.
Appreciate your abilities. Appreciate life. Appreciate nature. Appreciate others. Appreciate everything!
As you can see, these are all small things. However, small things can make a such a big difference.
Are you going to try one or more of these things for at least sixty days? If you are, leave a comment below, and let me know what you choose. After sixty days, you are welcome to come back to this post and leave a comment below letting everyone know how things worked out for you.
Do you have another easy life-changing suggestion? Feel free to leave that suggestion in the comments section below.
