A new year has only just begun and already it is filled with ever changing variants, climate events, and politics. We are worn out by the unknowns ahead. Finding the motivation to live our best lives hardly seems attainable or even worth it in a world that seems to be spinning out of control.
Don’t let this bleak point of view become your story. In fact your story should be leading you to live your best life ever. You are in charge of your life and have control over what happens to you no matter what is going on in the world right now. As Joe Lewis once said, “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” Now is the time to stop dwelling on things you cannot change and start focusing on you. This is your year to start doing life right.
Stop Wasting Time
The forty hour workweek disappeared for most of us decades ago with many of us putting in long hours well into our evenings and the weekends. A recent study showed however, that business leaders and executives are wasting on average close to 22 hours a week. The temptation to do other things while working is great, and too many people succumb to the myriad offerings the internet provides. Take a moment to think about your own actions on the job. How often do you open a video sent by a friend, or find yourself discussing the results of last night’s game with colleagues? Are you a procrastinator, putting off deadlines to the last minute? Wasted time adds pressure to your already pressed for time day. This simply creates more stress which can ultimately affect your health. What things can you avoid doing that have been wasting your time? Stop wasting those precious minutes. They add up to wasted hours. Soon you will discover you have extra time at the end of your day to do the things that you have been missing out on.
Be The Best You
You know your strengths and weaknesses. It’s time to play to your strengths and avoid situations where your weaknesses show through. Uncomfortable in a large group setting? Don’t feel you have to accept every party invitation because that’s what’s expected. You know you connect better in smaller, more intimate settings. If a large party is about connecting with clients, be sure to invite them individually to meet with you so your strengths will shine. You are special, there is no one else like you. You know what you like to eat, how you like to dress, and how you like to relax. You know yourself better than anyone, so do a self assessment, play to your strengths, and let yourself shine.
Journal Towards Self Discovery
One of the most time honored habits towards self discovery is writing in a journal. Journaling allows you to examine your day, the mistakes, the small victories, the conversations, the missed opportunities, and most importantly, the things you learned about yourself. Keeping a journal is a fantastic way to decompress after a long day. Once you make journaling a daily habit you will discover the process to be very relaxing and illuminating.
Give Of Yourself
You have heard your entire life that it is better to give than receive. Well now there is science that backs this up. Several studies have proven that giving to others causes regions in the brain to release endorphins that cause you to feel good all over. It can be the gift of your time or the gift of money to your favorite charity. It can also be giving to family and friends meaningful things such as specially chosen birthday greeting cards or presents that show intentional thought about the recipient. When you give of yourself, you build closer, more meaningful relationships that will give back to you.
Look After Your Physical Self
If you haven’t had a full physical in recent years, now is the time to be proactive and treat yourself. This will become your baseline for the best ways to take care of your body. If you ace your results, fantastic, keep doing what you are doing. If there is something amiss, don’t fret. The point of a physical is so you can discover what’s wrong early and do something about it. Chances are, most of us can do something to improve our bodies whether it’s a change in diet or an increase in exercise. Your body stays with you throughout your life so take care of it.
Live In The Moment
We only get one chance to live this life and you don’t want to miss a moment of it. Living in the moment allows you to become an active participant in life and not a bystander waiting for the next thing to happen. You are relating to the physical world around you and begin to take greater pleasure in it. You also pay closer attention to your own thinking, helping you to become more purposeful. Too often we find ourselves reflecting on the past, wishing for what used to be, or thinking ahead of how we want things to be. It is most important to enjoy what is happening all around you at the time it is happening. Remember, the present is a gift. So enjoy it!
By making these few tweaks to your daily routines, it won’t be long until you and those around you recognize that you are finally living your best life!
