How You Can Make Easy Changes That Will Improve Your Life
It may be easier than you think with a few easy adjustments to your mindset.
“Of all the people you will know in a lifetime, you are the only one you will never leave or lose. To the question of your life, you are the only answer. To the problems of your life, you are the only solution.” ~Jo Coudert
Sometimes life can feel like a hot mess. Maybe it is, or perhaps your perception is off-balance, out of focus, and messed up.
Do not look for someone else to blame for the funk you find you are feeling. Stop, take a breath, and look at yourself.
It may be time for a re-set.
Take one step at a time.
When I was working for someone else, I was the queen of multi-tasking. I was good at it. Sometimes I felt pressured, but I also liked the challenge.
I was a single parent, working full time and going to college, and it worked for me at that moment in time. Now, it doesn’t.
My life has changed, and my technique had to change, as well. So, now I am embracing mono-tasking — the art of doing one thing at a time and doing it well.
Now I chose one task to focus on each day and work for a specified time while minimizing potential interruptions. The goal each day is to designate a slot of time and work on one project and forget about things like social media that suck priceless time out of the day.
Do not overthink it.
I often tend to overthink, and my mind will run rampant with all the possibilities, which can be exhausting.
Slow down. It is easy to become so immersed in the possibilities that you lose focus on the one small thing you need to do right now. Keep it simple. Take the first step, and then move on to the next.
Your time has value.
“Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.” ~Harvey Mackay
It is common for all of us to lose track of time. We become immersed in completing a task and may spend more time than intended.
It is good for our soul to step back, take a breath, and refocus.
Go outside, take a walk, or listen to music.
When you come back to your task, you will be relaxed, have a clearer vision, and better understand the best way to proceed.
Find a support system.
I like doing things on my own, and I do not like asking for help. I am stubborn, and I am independent.
Not such a bad thing, right?
That is only partially true. Not asking for help is one of my faults. At times it can be overwhelming.
It is important to ask for help. In your personal life, do not be afraid to ask family or friends. If you do not have that option, and can afford it, hire someone to help with all the things you do not understand or cannot do.
If it is work-related, it is okay to ask for help. You may be hesitant and feel it is a sign of weakness to admit you need assistance, but it is a sign of strength. You are showing that you are self-aware and also self-assured enough to know when you need additional input from your boss and colleagues. It shows you value your team and everyone's role in completing projects.
Enlist whatever help you can; it is important and will make your life easier and eliminate stress.
Don’t be a “Negative Nancy.”
Although we try to look at each of our experiences with a positive attitude, it can be challenging to maintain. If you question yourself, even for a moment, it is easy to let negativity fill any void in your thinking.
Why do we do that? Human nature, I suppose, but when it does happen, chose not to listen to the negative voices you find chattering in your head.
Make a habit of valuing yourself. Each of us has limitless capabilities, we just have to believe, and we have to remind ourselves of our successes. Pat yourself on the back and reward yourself for your achievements.
Challenge yourself.
“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” ~Winston Churchill
Change your mindset. It is easy to believe you cannot do something rather than think you can.
It does not take any effort to stay the same and not improve, but there is no reward in that. It is easy to remain stagnant and not grow, but what does that get you? Nothing.
I am getting a bit older, and it would be easy to putter around the house and not change, but that would be boring.
The world is full of beautiful adventures to take at any age. Our brains have the capability of learning new things until the end of time. Why waste that?
Take care of yourself.
Life can be hectic, and we may not value ourselves enough to realize that it is essential to fuel our minds and our bodies.
Take a breath, slow down, and relax. Eat healthy foods, exercise, spend time with the people who matter. Rest.
Challenge yourself to learn something new every day. The possibilities are endless. A few sources are Hackaday, Codecademy, Big Think, and Craftsy.
Check out this article published at Inc.com for more places to learn: https://www.inc.com/larry-kim/40-amazing-places-to-learn-something-new-every-day.html.
Understand who you are.
“The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself.” ~Thales
It is easy to lose sight of who we are, who we are becoming. We are subject to many influences, and every day we make choices. They may be small, instant adjustments that we do not spend much time analyzing, but over time they can have a cumulative effect.
We change without knowing, good or bad, and over time the effect can be massive.
Who are you? I think it is crucial to ask ourselves that question.
You can have a life plan but get lost in it. Make sure you understand what you have accomplished and how it makes you feel.
Do not forget to ask yourself if you are happy.
Life is not perfect.
There is no such thing as perfection. We are human, and we are flawed. I believe that is what makes us beautiful.
Our flaws tell a story of who we are, what kind of life we have lived so far, and how we have reacted to them.
Embrace your life and accept that there will be ups and downs. You may have failures, and some may bring you to your knees. That is okay. Get up, dust yourself off, and start again.
You are stronger than you think. Each of us has strengths and weaknesses, and they flavor whatever we do. Embrace your imperfections.
Stop trying to ‘fix’ yourself; you’re NOT broken! You are perfectly imperfect and powerful beyond measure.” ~ Steve Maraboli
I started writing this article quite some time ago and somehow forgot to publish it. My life got in the way and turned everything upside down.
It has been difficult to stay on track, but reading my own words has helped bring me back. I believe in what I have written here. I hope it may help you as well.