Have you ever heard of the saying ‘life is what we make o it’? It has taken me such a long time to realise this. I am in control of my life. I know that I can’t control others actions but I can control how I react to them. I have realised that the smallest changes can make so much difference to my wood and out look. These are some of the small changes I have started to make:
Self Care
For me, self care can mean so many things; drinking a hot(!) cup of tea, meditating,spending time with loved ones. and often it is the more simplier actions that I find bring me the most benefit. Simply carving out time for myself to do something just for me can be the best way to spend a few hours. Modern life doesn’t always make it easy to take time out just for ourselves but I know now that it really does make all the difference.
Change Your Surroundings
Do you ever feel like you are trapped in the same four walls? If you work from home it is often very easy to feel like this. As part of my job I do get invited to events but often they seem to all come at once. Take this time of year, there are so many invites currently flying around to social events, drinks, get togethers and tasting new seasonal menus. It’s fun to get out and socialise but sometimes I wish it was more spaced out. What I try to do, and I am needing to do this more frequently, is go to a local coffee shop and spend the morning or afternoon working there. I’m lucky in that I have a nice selection of coffee shops and bars that I am able to work from with the use of their free internet.
It’s lovely to not only have a different set of four walls to look at but I try to combine it with lunch with a friend or my other half so there is the social aspect too. Some weeks I go quite a few days of not actually leaving the house so the fresh air on the way there and back is always welcome.
Changing your surroundings can also mean giving a room a mini makeover. A new feature wall or some new cushions are inexpensive changes make on a budget and can easily be done in a weekend. This also brings me to the next change you can make.
Declutter Your Surroundings
Personally I feel so much better in myself when my mind isn’t cluttered. It can be so difficut not to become overwhelmed by thinking about many things all at the same time. The same applies to my surroundings. I think if we are all honest, modern life means we have so many possessions many of which if I’m honest really don’t get used and many things just sit in cupboards unused and quite frankly unloved.
I have been slowly going through possessions this year and being honest about whether items have meaning in my life. There really are plenty of things that I don’t need or don’t love and I try to collecy a box of bits to either recycle or take to a local charity shop every month. There are items that have sentimental value and I know right now I’m not ready to let them go but I really have so many things that don’t have a sentimental value and I just seem to be keeping them in case they are needed in the future.
It has been a very enlightening journey and has made me question so much in my life but has also simplified things. There’s a long way to go yet. I haven’t even began to look at anything up the loft. When the time comes around I’ll need someone to go up there for me asdue to my mobility there is no way I can climb up the loft ladder but for now the contents of the loft are out of sight and out of mind!
I would add declutter the people in your life too. Toxic people should never have a place in your life or your heart. Removing people is not always easy especially if they are family but I can honestly say it was one of the best things I did when I removed toxic people from my life.
Keep A Gratitude Diary
Keeping a list of things you are grateful for each day can help to ground you so much. Being grateful for me doesn’t mean the material things I know I am lucky to have. It’s the things money can’t buy like people, nature and adventures. It really can be the most simple things that make life good. You can read more about keeping a gratitude journal here. We all have so much to be thankful for and seeing it in black and white is a reminder of that fact. Personally by keeping a titude diary I have been able to mentally simplfy my life and this has made ahuge different to my wellbeing.
Make Plans
It has taken me so long to action realise that in order for me to achieve my goals in life and to improve things that I firsed to actually decide where I want to be then actually plan how to get there. Nothing really just falls in to our laps. We need to work hard and believe we can change things and sadly nothing our hearts truly desires will come easy. Write down your dreams and remind yourself of what you want from life to help keep you focused and motivated.
Embrace The Positive
To make positive changes to our lives we need to be constantly embracing the progress we make. Nothing comes easy and nothing will truly change overnight but with baby steps we can recah our goals in time. The way to process is to focus on the positive. Too often in life we concentrate of the negative aspects but by celebrating the good you will stat to feel more content in your own shoes. I know it can be hard especially as we are all doing so much and there’s a lot to feel down about but if you focus on the positive it totally changes your outlook. This doesn’t mean, don’t reach out for help and support if you need it.
Eat Well
Good nutricious food is essential for our health. However you eat, be it a meat eater, vegetarian or vegan by eating fruit and veg and limiting sugar, white carbohydrates and all the ready meals packed with additives can make such a difference to your health. I have a number of chronic illnesses and I’m lly aware that the right food will never cure me but eating well can help me feeling less sluggish and does improve my mood. I know how much more energy I get from removing the junk we all grab at times when we are busy. By taking time to plan what I’ll be eating and also batch cooking I find it much more easier to eat well.
Surround Yourself With The Things You Love
I know I wrote earlier about vingtter but that doesn’t mean you remove everything you own. Instead pick the things you love and make them prominate in your home.
Thank Someone
It’s such a simple thing to tell someone in our lives that we are thankful for all they do especially just for being there. Thank strangers too. A little kindness goes a long way and can really make a huge difference to others.
Help Others
Do something kind for someone today even if it’s something as simple as opening a door for someone or even a simple smile. If you have elderly neighbours living on their own offer to pick up some milk and bread for them while you are doing your shopping. It doesn’t have to be something elaborate but can make all the difference to someone else’s day.
Stop The Comparisons
Stop comparing yourself to others. We are all lead such different lives and go through such varied life experiences. It is so important to remember things aren’t always what they seem on the surface. The saying ‘walk a mile in my shoes’ is so true. You never really know what is going on in someones life behind closed doors. It’s also not healthy and can have negative impacts on your mental wellbeing if you are trying to compare yourself to a fictional ‘perfect’ life. Focus on your life not what you perseve others lives to be.
What actions do you take to make your life more happier?
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