Do You Really Want to Change Your Life in the Coming Year?
Some people think that they can change their life in the coming year. They believe they will be happier, more focused, and more successful if they only change one thing. And while this is a great goal to have, it's also incredibly difficult to maintain because most people either don't know what habits are holding them back from achieving their goals or how to successfully change those habits.
That's why we've put together this list of 5 things you should do if you want to see improvement in your life this coming year!
1) Cultivate good morning rituals.
I'm sure you've heard the saying, "The early bird gets the worm". And this is absolutely true. When you get up early enough in the morning, you eliminate a lot of wasted time in your life. This means less stress, less distractions, and more time for what's truly important to you.
However, it can be incredibly difficult to make this change. We live in a culture that values sleep and is constantly trying to fit more things into our day. This overwhelming schedule can be why it seems like we're struggling to get anything done.
To counteract this, we must create good morning rituals. Here are a few to get you started:
Go to bed at the same time every night: I know you want to go to sleep earlier so you can start your day earlier, but it's better if you go to bed at the same time every night so you're not tempted by distractions as much in the morning.
(If that's not possible, try going to bed 15 minutes earlier. You'll still sleep the same amount of time, but you'll wake up earlier in the morning and be more likely to get outside.)
Get up at the same time every morning: If you're going to get up early, it's better if you have a little head start on the day. Otherwise this time will feel like an interruption and your mind won't be awake enough to enjoy it.
Spend 10-20 minutes meditating, praying, or reading in the morning: This will help you become more present in your life and stop wasting valuable moments.
Do something active during your commute to work: Getting out and moving is good for both your body and soul.
If you're religious, do your morning devotion: This is something that just feels right to me and I'm pretty sure nobody in the world can tell if you're sincere or not. It's a great way to start the day.
Get enough sleep every night: You'll be on time for work, know what's happening around town, and won't be tired when you need to be awake — this will allow you to get more things done!
2) Reach out and build relationships with people outside of your usual social circles.
Twitter is a great way to keep up with some of your favorite writers and personalities, but it can also be a depressing place. The thing about Twitter is that it's quick.
We get a few random tweets and then it's time for the next one. So we follow a lot of people, but hardly ever actually talk to them. We read their tweets when we scroll through our feeds, and retweet them when we think they're funny or right to reply, but that's about it.
The thing is, most people you want to meet in person are probably not on Twitter. And while I'm sure there are a lot of wonderful people you want to connect with on the platform, that doesn't mean you should ignore your personal social media accounts altogether.
That's why reaching out online is always important. It's even more important to make personal connections because you have more control over the interaction — this is where your relationships really take off!
Make sure you use these personal social media accounts for what they're meant for. You don't want to be too consumed with them and use them solely to spread content or gain followers. Instead, focus on making meaningful connections with people who can help you in your life.
Here are a few ways to do this:
Use your personal social media accounts: Make sure that you're only using these platforms for their original purpose — not as a way to get attention or followers. Use them well and they can be a huge asset to your personal development.
Join groups: Groups allow you to interact with people in a real way, and this is great for developing relationships because you're more likely to get past the superficial small talk. Instead of just reading someone's words, you're engaging in dialogue with them and seeing how they think after they've shared their beliefs.
Talk to others one-on-one: One of the best ways to develop meaningful relationships is to stop trying to fit everyone into your network and actually go back out into the world. Let them in, and let them get to know the real you!
3) Practice humility and gratitude.
While this may seem like a funny thing to say, it's true and has been a helpful strategy for me. Humility is all about seeing the good in others instead of the bad. When you find yourself judging someone else or putting yourself above someone else, think about what makes you special instead of what makes them not special. Try to be thankful for the things that make you unique and put those traits into perspective with everyone else's life.
For example, our society may look at an alcoholic and say bad things about them because they drink. But the truth is, they may have some amazing qualities that almost nobody else has. Maybe they're really good with children because they want to protect them from making the same mistakes. Or maybe they're really smart because alcohol allows them to be creative.
Gratitude can be a lot harder than humility but it's still just as important. With gratitude, you're focusing on what you do have instead of what you don't have or how you could improve yourself more.
For example, let's say you just got hired for a new job and it's everything you've ever wanted — your dream job. You're making more money than you ever have before and have a boss who encourages you to do your best. But then you hear about someone else who has even more money or a better job and all of the sudden, the big deal that was handed to you seems so small.
That's where gratitude comes in. Instead of focusing on what's not good about your life, focus on the good things that are already there. Maybe this person has less time with their family because they're working hard to support them without an amazing income like yours.
Conclusion
I know that many of you reading this are in your twenties and are probably still trying to figure out who you are and what you want out of life. I get it.
That's okay, I do too. But I've really come to appreciate the people in my twenties, because they have a lot more time to think about their life and to make decisions about how it should be done — so much more than someone who is 30 or 40 years old. And this is how a good 20s life can be lived: knowing your purpose and happiness, getting out there and making connections, pushing yourself through failures, creating habits that will take you from good to great...