1. Realize that only you can make your dreams come true
Take little steps every day to move closer to your dreams and ambitions. Speak to the people you need to speak to, learn the skills you need to have, and gain all the knowledge you need to know. Simply, do all of the things you need to do to reach a better quality of life; no-one else can do it for you.
2. Cut out fake people
Most people have a friend or two who isn’t worth their time. It can be hard to cut people out of your life, but surrounding yourself with loving and supportive people can make a huge difference to your well-being. Try to describe how you feel when you are around your friends in five words. Are any of those words negative? If so, it might be time that you two move in separate directions.
3. Cut out being fake
It can be hard to admit, but no one is perfect. Often people end up in difficult situations, leading to little lies which can snowball quickly. Lying and keeping up false pretenses can be stressful and exhausting, as well as lowering the quality of life you have. Try being honest every day, to everyone you meet; you may be surprised to see how well it works.
4. Understand that failure is important
This may seem cliched, but it is unarguably true. There are often hugely beneficial lessons to learn whenever you make a mistake. Failure isn’t a choice, but learning is. Make sure you get the best out of the worst whenever you can.
5. Spend some time alone
With work, hobbies, socializing and sleeping, it can be hard to actually find time to spend by yourself. However hanging out by yourself can be great for your general well being. Catch a movie, cook a meal you love – do anything that makes you happy. Learn to love yourself, and you may notice a lot of unrest in your life leaving.
6. Live life by your own expectations
Often people live life according to what other people think is best for them; their friends, their family, the media, or the society we live in. However, pleasing other people and living up to their expectations can leave you feeling like a failure, or at best stressed out. Don’t try to keep up with everyone else’s expectations, set your own and achieve them. You only get one life – personalize it, and live it.
7. Be good to your body
While joining an extreme ocean diving club could actually add more stress to your life, exercise and good food have been proven to improve your well being. If you hate running, try walking or yoga. Drink more water and buy more greens. You don’t have to become a fitness freak, but love your body as much as you can.
8. Keep exercising your mind
Not many people want to do Math once they’ve left school, but exercising your mind can help sharpen your intelligence and your mind at any age. If you hate Math, find something else that challenges you, from knitting to crosswords to learning new recipes. Keep your mind fresh and keep learning, and you may notice some restlessness leaving from your life.
9. Put aside your fears
While confronting your fear of spiders could be useful, it could admittedly also be terrifying. Specific fears like this tend to stuck, but we have already made a huge step in the right direction, if we manage to get rid of general fears like the fear of failure, or step backs, or your job. Develop a deep trust within yourself, and watch your quality of life improve.
10. Don’t hold on to negative feelings
Everyone has felt betrayal, pain, anger and resentment. How you act on these feelings determines how much they will upset you. You cannot avoid being hurt by other people, but only you can choose how you deal with pain. Let your anger over past hardships go. It is extremely likely the anger is affecting you more than anyone else.
11. Live in the present moment
Be happy and grateful for all that you have now. One day you may have more, and once you may have had less. You are travelling towards a goal, but often people find the happiest times in their lives are during the challenge, not the success.
12. Unplug from technology
Whether it is once a day or once a month, spend some time without any technology around you. In this society social media plays a huge role in most people’s free time, and often it can cause you stress, lowering your quality of life. Make the effort to enjoy some time alone without checking up on everyone else around you. Read a book, do anything you want – just log off and spend some time with yourself.
13. Actively be kind to others
Most people would class themselves as kind to others, but thinking you are doing something and actually doing it are different things. Ask yourself when you last helped someone and got nothing back in return. Was it recently? Do you feel good about it? Helping others makes most people feel great, and it adds purpose to your day. From volunteering to donating to charities, there are hundreds of ways you could raise your quality of life while helping others.
14. Don’t be a pushover
While being rude or stubborn won’t help improve your life, stick up for yourself whenever you have to; at work, at home, with family. Stand up for yourself if you believe you are being taken advantage of or wronged, because feeling this way can be stressful and upsetting – and it will only encourage others to keep taking advantage of you.
15. Make a commitment to yourself
Make a commitment to stick to all of the changes you wish to make. Promise yourself you will, and then create a plan you can stick to on a daily basis. Little changes can become big changes, and promising yourself this is the beginning of something new which means you’re much more likely to stick to it. Good luck!
