Feeling happy and satisfied with your life isn't always easy. We often get distracted by commitments, work, technology and health problems. If you don't like some aspects of your current life, you can make a commitment to yourself and decide to make the necessary changes to make yourself more fulfilled and happy. Continue reading the article and find out how to change your days thanks to a series of objectives that cover different areas, such as health, fitness, work, leisure and social life.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Analyzing Your Life
Step 1. Define the meaning you give to your life
It is an extremely subjective concept. What you need to do is stop and think and understand what is really important to you. What results do you want to achieve? Where do you want to go? What makes you happy? Only by focusing on these kinds of things can you begin to understand how to change your life.
Don't let others determine the meaning of your life. As is well known, most people tend to approach the concept of a meaningful and fulfilling life with a series of results related to the main human needs, such as having children, forming a family, having fun experiences or making a career, but the reality is that what matters most are the things "you" think are important
Step 2. Keep a journal
Reflect on your life and write down what are the things that make you excited and which ones you just can't stand. Studies have shown that those who write in a journal enjoy a greater sense of well-being. Writing also gives you the opportunity to notice any patterns that characterize your life, both positive and negative. More specifically, keeping a journal can help you clarify your thoughts and feelings, allowing you to get to know yourself better, relieve stress, and solve some problems by gaining new perspectives.
Find out which writing method is best for you. You can use pen and paper or write a digital diary on your laptop. The important thing is to write down your thoughts on "paper" and think about it
Step 3. Talk about your life with others
Sometimes the act of expressing our feelings to another person allows us to better understand what our wants and needs are. Also, the listener may help you see things in a light you have not yet considered.
If you don't want to share your personal thoughts with a friend or family member, consider seeing a therapist. The so-called "talk therapy" can prove to be very effective both in treating any latent emotional disorders and in helping you to express and clarify your thoughts
Step 4. Break your life down into individual spheres
It lists the main areas that characterize it, relating for example to work, spirituality, health, leisure, community, charity and social relations. Once this is done, stop and think and determine your degree of happiness and satisfaction with each of them. Normally turning your life around means establishing a balance between the spheres that you consider most important.
Keep in mind the phrase "everything in moderation". Reduce activities that do not respect this assumption to have a more balanced life
Step 5. Find ways to spend more time on areas that are currently neglected
For example, if you find that you are not doing enough for your community and your health, stop and think and reschedule your daily routine so that you have more time to dedicate to these specific areas.
- Continuing with our example, you could create a list of charities you'd like to know more about.
- Regarding your health, you may want to review your spending plans to try to find the money to pay for a gym membership. Also, you might want to take some time to gather information about the local sports teams you might join.
- If you are particularly overburdened with commitments (including financial ones), it means that it is time to stop and think and find a way to make some cuts to start having some time and resources available. The best way to start is to focus on those areas of your life that you are spending too much time on (work for example).
Step 6. Review your life several times a year
Analyze its current state (your diary will be a valuable ally) to understand if the changes you have made have served to make it more satisfying. The best way to find out is to ask yourself if you feel happier. Remember not to attach too much importance to what others think about your life: after all, you are the only one who lives it.
Remember that changing isn't always easy and takes time, so be patient. Try to make small, gradual changes. Over time you will get to know yourself better and know exactly what makes you happy
Part 2 of 4: Making Plans for Your Life
Step 1. Learn to let go of the things you cannot control
Some things in life are inevitable and largely, or completely, out of our control. Its part of the game. But even if you can't change certain circumstances, you can still decide to approach them with a different attitude. Wanting to keep your grip on the things you can't control is a source of considerable stress that can sometimes backfire on you.
Whenever you find that you have focused on something you cannot master, put it in writing on a sheet of paper, put it in a box and forget about it. Leaving stressful situations or people behind will allow you to have more energy to devote to the things you can handle
Step 2. Live in the present
Instead of always focusing only on future goals, think about how you can transform today's day for the better. Constantly staying projected on distant events forces you to neglect real life. The present moment is the only thing really available to you. While this is not an exhortation to live each day as if it were your last, because in most cases it is not, the best choice you can make is to spend some time daily enjoying the present moment. To live more in the present, you can:
- Dedicate yourself to only one task at a time, avoiding "multitasking".
- Schedule some free time between a daily commitment and the other so as not to feel in a hurry and to be able to stop and reflect from time to time.
- Find 5-10 minutes each day of doing absolutely nothing but sitting quietly.
- Eat slowly and focus on the flavors and texture of the food.
Step 3. Do something new every week
Get a list of the activities organized in your city, join a friend's programs or browse the web to find fun initiatives in the area where you live. Take some risks and try something new, alone, with your partner or with a friend. The goal is to experience something unusual while keeping an open mind. Engaging in a new business can have numerous benefits, such as:
- Give you the courage to face other unknown situations.
- Fighting boredom.
- Allow yourself to become a better person through new experiences.
Step 4. Learn something new
Read books or articles or take a course online or in person, the web is full of interesting and free material. Adult education centers also offer economic courses covering a wide range of subjects, including photography, IT, foreign languages and social media. Discover also the numerous courses and lessons made available by the following sites (material in Italian or subtitled is also available):
- https://www.coursera.org/
- https://www.uninettunouniversity.net/it/mooc.aspx
- https://www.unipd.it/mooc
Part 3 of 4: Setting Business Limits
Step 1. Don't work on weekends
Always schedule two days a week to dedicate to yourself and / or your family. Make work weekends the exception, not the norm. If you can reduce the hours you spend working, you will be able to allocate more time to other important areas of your life.
Always keep this metaphor in mind: work commitments are like gas, they never stop expanding if they get the chance. They will ask you for more and more time. There is always a chance to work harder! There is always more work to do! Therefore, limit yourself to working on weekdays
Step 2. Once back home, turn off all your electronic devices
Ask your family to do the same for several hours a day so that you can communicate. Research suggests that the less we check our emails the happier we are, so turn off your cell phone and spend quality time with the people you love.
Step 3. Take some risks at work
Volunteer for a project or do more than what was asked of you. By taking the initiative and using all your skills, the work could become more rewarding.
That said, remember that balance is a key aspect of a happy life. Therefore ask yourself if it is really worth spending more time and energy at work to achieve a higher level of satisfaction at the expense of other important spheres of your life. Only you can answer this question
Step 4. Always keep in mind the reasons that drive you to work
Most people work to be able to enjoy life. If you spend all your days working and don't have the time to be with your family or to do the things you love, then you need to find ways to work less.
Some people derive great satisfaction from their work and see it as their purpose in life; if you recognize yourself in this description, the best thing you can do is to dedicate yourself to it with all your passion. What matters most is what "you" consider important and capable of making you happy
Part 4 of 4: Improving Your Health
Step 1. Exercise
Training your heart and muscles for at least 30 minutes a day will allow you to live a longer and healthier life. Experiment with some of the following ideas to improve your fitness:
- Plan outdoor adventure activities with your family. Indulge in a physical activity that you enjoy several evenings a week or on weekends. Try hiking, biking or any other sport, or explore your city on foot.
- Join a sports team or club. If you are attracted to the idea of being part of a team, join a football, volleyball or basketball team. Your city certainly offers several opportunities even in the evening or on weekends.
- Experience a new type of training. If you're into the gym, try a new class or run or walk outdoors. End the routine.
Step 2. Walk in nature
Experiencing the wonder of nature can arouse feelings of awe and happiness. Go to a natural environment whenever you can, you will reap enormous benefits both physically and mentally.
Step 3. Get enough sleep
Give yourself eight hours of sleep and one hour each day to prepare for the new day. Also, dedicate an hour to your evening routine to leave fatigue behind and relax before bed; as a result you will feel calmer and happier. Establish and respect fixed times, a regular sleep pattern allows you to fall asleep more easily.
Sleep in a room free of lights and noises. Also avoid drinks that contain caffeine during the last hours of the day, otherwise you may have a hard time falling asleep
Step 4. Volunteer
Donate some of your time and connect with the people who need your help. Research has shown that volunteering can make us feel happier, more fulfilled and empathetic.
Find a charity to volunteer at; you can search online, ask friends and neighbors, or look up information in a local newspaper
Step 5. Develop a social networking system that can support you in case of need
Schedule at least one hour a week to dedicate yourself to the people you think are important, without any distractions. Doing so will help you increase your mental well-being and reduce stress: social relationships are in fact of extreme importance for health.
