Have you heard “Be healthy, be happy,” enough but you still don’t have any clear direction? If you feel like you are in a rut or not getting anywhere—like a hamster on a wheel—you can feel downright defeated. If you want to get out of your rut once and for all and discover increased health and happiness this year, here are some things you can do.
Mix it Up. Usually when I tell people to mix it up, I mean change up the types of exercise they do so they A.) Don’t get bored. And, B.) They don’t get stuck in a rut. Sticking to the same routine can be very convenient, but at some point, that same routine may not give you any new results. While those are important ways to mix up your exercise, it’s also important to mix up your daily routine. Things won’t be any different this year if you do what you’ve always done. At any second of any day you can decide to do things differently. You can change your life with small tweaks to your routine. Here are some suggestions to get you started … Get up early in the morning so you can have some quiet time to yourself before everyone else gets up. Be present and connect with what’s going on in your life. Trade healthy eating tips and recipes with a friend. Take a yoga class. Get absorbed in a good book. Take a different way home from work—a change of scenery can boost your mood. Play peaceful music as you fall asleep at night. If you put your mind to it, you can thing of numerous ways to improve your life. View each day as a blank canvas and you are the artist! Create!
Make an irritation list. Of course I want you to think positive thoughts so you can feel positive, but oftentimes what’s getting us down are a bunch of little irritants rather than one looming problem. If that sounds like you, capture all of those irritating things down on paper. Once you do, it’s your mission to get rid of a few each week. Switch your mind to solution-thinking and ask yourself how you can reduce your list of those nagging things that weigh heavy on your mood.
Buy a journal. Often people get down in the dumps because they are on autopilot, going through their days just doing what they have to do. They are disconnected from their emotions and real thoughts. Writing in a journal or a notebook allows you to connect … with you. It may surprise you what comes off the tip of your pen and your thinking on paper may lead to some new distinctions or insights for you. Turning to 100 percent non-judgmental blank pages can be just the cathartic activity you need.
Plug into gratitude. It’s the key to happiness … seriously. How can you be unhappy when you are thinking about all the amazing things about your life? If you get in a habit of thinking thankfully throughout the day (list things you are grateful for in your head) I guarantee you will feel happier.
Ditch deprivation. Ditch the doing without mindset. Aim to eat healthy most of the time, but don’t pledge to swear off your favorite foods. Just reduce. Have one time per week when you enjoy a treat. If you are choosing healthy most of the time, you don’t have to worry about some of the time. Ditching deprivation is really important to your mindset because if you feel like you are deprived, you may give up on a healthy lifestyle altogether. Treat your week like you have one free pass to indulge a little on something. It will keep you on track.
Identify what’s fun for you. Too many people act like they will have fun … LATER. Have you ever seen this bumper sticker? Don’t Postpone Joy. It’s so true. If you save your fun for later, later may never happen. Even if you are life is crazy hectic, get fun on the schedule. Plan it if you have to. Surely you can easily identify what’s fun for you (a pedicure, a good book, a date night or a movie?)—so go do it.
Remember, if you keep doing what you have always done, you will get what you’ve always got. Choose to be different this year.