Terms of Use: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License. It is attributed to Sascha Wenninger, and the original version can be found here.
The New Year is fast approaching and it’s time for millions of people to start thinking about their resolutions. These ideas can fall into many categories, but almost all of them are geared to improving our lives.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, we only get one shot at this life, so it’s imperative that we make the most of it. January 1st (OK, 2nd due to the hangover) seems like the perfect time to make changes for the better. But you don’t have to wait, and can start the upgrade work immediately.
Reading this post is confirmation that you aren’t 100% happy, so there’s no excuse to delay the process any longer. Start now, and you’ll be well on the way to the new and improved you by January. Continue these methods into the New Year, and 2016 is set to be one full of far greater happiness.
Taking Care Of Your Appearance
For most people, self-improvement starts with physical looks. We live in a world that’s obsessed by appearances, and upgrading yours will inevitably make you happier. Some would argue that it’s a shame we live in such a society, but nobody can deny the importance of these factors.
Let’s face it, the first thing that you are likely to be judged on is body shape. You don’t have to look like a magazine model. However, it is important to build a positive physique through healthy diet and exercise. There’s still room to have a cheat day here and there, but looking after your health will bring benefits to your appearance as well as your internal performance.
When it comes to exercise, try to maintain a degree of enjoyment by teaming up with a buddy and playing a variety of sports. If physical activity starts to become a chore, you’ll be far more likely to give it up.
Body image isn’t the only important physical feature to take care of, though. Your smile says a lot about you, and can also be the key to setting your levels of confidence. A winning grin will elicit a friendlier, more assured vibe. Professional dental work can help you rediscover those charms. Alternatively, home teeth whitening products will bring an equally telling improvement.
Other key areas to look after include the eyes. They are fundamental to all human communication, and females can benefit greatly from subtle makeup.
Meanwhile, your skin is also another area to keep in great health. This can be achieved through a number of products such as moisturisers. However, one of the best ways to improve your natural glow is to get a better night’s sleep. Therefore, enhancing your bedroom with a better mattress and thicker curtains could be a secret weapon. As well as the physical benefits, it will leave you in a far better frame of mind too.
Looking after your body is a package deal, and requires you to take care of all aspects at once. Believe us, though, the rewards of doing so are huge. As well as feeling better in yourself, seeing a better reflection will work wonders for your ego. Let’s face it, the compliments from friends and family aren’t going to do any harm either.
Improving your body image and physical features will provide the perfect platform. But you can take those ideas even further by paying extra attention to your style. Great outfits can make a world of difference. Whatever you do, always be sure to choose great footwear too.
When we look the part, we feel the part too. Take care of these aspects, and you’ll soon notice that it influences other aspects of your life too. Quite frankly, if you’re looking for a great way to begin a long-term upgrade, this is one of the best options available.
Improve Mental Wellbeing Too
Treating your physical condition is important, especially as it’s something you will be judged on by most people that you meet. However, it’s arguably even more important to think about your mental and emotional health. This is an area that other people won’t notice, so it’s your responsibility to keep it in great condition.
Putting yourself in a happier place will impact your life in many positive ways. One of the best ways to do this is by removing negative influences. Detoxing from alcohol, for example, can help you gain back your independence. Ultimately, this will make you a far, far happier person.
Drink isn’t the only element to consider blocking, though. If there’s a substance or habit that is bringing negativity into your life, making this upgrade should be your main target.
Your emotional wellbeing is comprised of various aspects. Unfortunately, the fact nobody else can see what’s going on can make it hard to gain help. This is especially true if you are unwilling to make the first move. However, it’s important to realise that mental conditions like depression can have huge consequences. Whatever you do, never allow yourself to suffer in silence. As they say, a problem shared is a problem halved.
Happiness is directly linked to self-satisfaction in life too. Therefore, setting out to achieve goals can be a great way to keep yourself in good condition. Moreover, achieving those targets will open up new doors and opportunities. While it’s important to push yourself to the limit, don’t set the bar too high. After all, failure could just make things worse. And if you do fall, pick yourself back up. Perseverance is key to your success.
It’s also important to embrace the influence of other people in your life too. Humans naturally crave their fellow man, and you are no different. It’s easy to let modern life get in the way of those relationships, but it’s important to make time for the most important people in your life. They are the people that will enrich your life the most.
Similarly, you should use this opportunity in life to explore the world. Change your mindset to appreciate the present. It’s important to build for the future, but you should still do the things you want to do. After all, nobody ever lays in their deathbed remember the thousands of emails they wrote out. If you want to gain more from this life, then now is the time to do it. You never know what’s around the corner.
Finally, another key element is to continually strive for better. The human mind is built to grow, and education is vital. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to sign up for a degree.
Simply learning a new skill or language can enrich your life forever.
Invest in your mental health as well as those physical features, and you should see great things develop.
Gain Direction
As touched on in the above section, a little spontaneity is great in life. Nevertheless, having long-term goals is still important. We all have visions of the perfect life that we’d like to lead. But those dreams will only be achieved if you work for it.
One of the first steps to achieving this is to get organised. Improving the structure of your life is a great way to enhance your life, in general, but one area that needs huge attention is getting your priorities in order. The sooner you do this, the sooner you’ll make better decisions for both your short-term and long-term future.
Once you know those goals, you can start to work your way towards them. Whether that be gaining success at work, being a better family man or simply affording a newer car. Having a plan of action will make it far more likely to happen, especially if you act on those aspirations. It ties in nicely with the earlier point about continued growth too.
Another key lesson to learn is that you don’t have to do everything alone. Help is available in a whole list of different life aspects. Embracing the assistance can be crucial for achieving a better you. After all, we’ve all got strengths and weaknesses. Letting others compensate for your downfalls will benefit you greatly.
Whether it’s talking to a professional life coach or simply using the business help of an accountant doesn’t matter. Essentially, if someone else’s input can improve your output, then it’s a step in the right direction.
Regardless of what your main aims are, regaining control of your finances is crucial too. Money isn’t the most important thing in the world, but its influence cannot be overlooked. Whether it’s finding ways to repay your debts or acquire better savings, this should be an area you look to improve with immediate effect.
If you are serious about building a better you, then this is the time to make a fresh start. Decluttering your property is a very therapeutic way to achieve this, and can open up your options for building a better home. Moreover, it trains your mind to let go of unnecessary items and focus on the positives.
And once you’ve gained that winning mindset, there’s no limit to what can be achieved.