I know some people wait until the very last days of the year to take a look back at all the things they've accomplished and to make some new resolutions and intentions for the next year. But I want you to know that you can start over anytime. There is no deadline or special day to do so.
Today, I wanted to share some ideas and easy ways to have a major life upgrade. I'm talking about simple tips to refresh, reinvent, and refocus your lifestyle and mindset.
I want all of you to truly regain your focus and take control of your life. This post will help you realign your lifestyle and mindset in order to be ready to conquer and be your best self.
Before you start implementing any changes, it is essential to know what areas of your life need readjusting. I know this can be a bit overwhelming, especially with the busy lifestyles we all lead nowadays.
I find that a very easy but thorough way to do a mini life audit is by using a Wellness Wheel. This tool was designed to evaluate 8 key areas -or dimensions- of your life to help you gain perspective and have a clear picture of how balanced your life is. By evaluating each dimension using a scale of 1-10, you will identify areas that aren't complying to your expectations and assess the ones that are thriving.
Once you completed your Wellness Wheel, you are ready for the next stage: planning your lifestyle and mindset realignment. Below, I share some simple tips to refocus and balance these eight dimensions of wellness.
1. Emotional
Emotional well-being refers to all the aspects related to your mental health, the quality of your thoughts and how you manage your feelings and emotions towards yourself and your environment.
How to balance and improve the quality of your thoughts and emotions?
Keep a journal
I know you've probably read this advice over and over again, but trust me, this has been such a great help for me. Whenever I start feeling anxious or I've been dealing with depressive episodes, the first think that calms my mind is writing it all down. I feel a sense of relief and I get a clear understanding of what it is that I'm actually feeling. This helps me take a step back and understand my emotions better.
Let go of toxic people and situations
I've come to the realization that most of my anxious thoughts or the sadness I feel is usually caused by what other people do or say to me. I'm a highly sensitive person and I tend to pick up on other's energy and vibes. I really get affected by how other people behave and I tend to be very perceptive of their actions, emotions and underlying motivations.
So I've really made it my mission to surround myself with people that are kind and honest. If I sense that a person only contacts me when they need something but don't bother to ask how I am doing any other time, I've cut ties with them. I've also learned that whatever someone else's opinions about my life are, it's not important. I will live my life in a way that makes me happy and gives me peace of mind.
2. Physical
Having a healthy body is key to actually enjoying your life. You can have many goals, passion projects and ideas in your mind but if you're sick, you feel fatigued or are suffering from a chronic illness, chances are you won't have the energy and motivation to do anything.
How to achieve holistic health?
Change your daily habits
Many of us lead very busy lives and barely have time to do anything besides work. But it's necessary to leave this mindset behind. If you truly want to reinvent your life, you need to make your health a priority now. Stop thinking you are young and that you can do it later in life. Because I'm here to tell you, you can't.
You need to start taking care of your physical well-being right now. You, better than anyone, know exactly what areas of your routine and habits need readjusting. Here's a list with some general suggestions to help you get started:
-Implement healthy eating habits.
-Incorporate exercise into your routine.
-Take your supplements, vitamins and minerals.
-Get regular check-ups.
-Limit alcohol.
-Learn to take days off to rest and recharge.
-Correct your sleeping habits.
-Learn to make time for things that matter and make you happy.
-Control stressful situations in your life by prioritizing your core values.
3. Environmental
One of the biggest reason people feel frustrated, stressed and unsatisfied with their life is caused by living in a messy, unorganized and cluttered space. Your mind can't be at ease when it is surrounded by a dirty and untidy environment.
How to turn your living space into an inspiring oasis?
Your home should be a sanctuary to your mind, body and soul, not a dump of chaos. If you want to learn how to tackle the clutter in your life for good, check out my Living a Clutter-Free Life series, where I talk about how clutter impacts your mental health, how clutter affects your productivity and I share some easy steps to get rid of clutter (with a free E-book included).
4. Recreational
Raise your hand if you spend all week long working? Whether it's investing your time in your job, your business, your side-hustles and even house chores or admin tasks, adulting seems to be a hectic and boring time in our life. Where did the days of going for ice cream, or on a walk to the beach go?
Suddenly, we have no time to do things just because they bring us happiness and enjoyment. It's either stay busy and be productive or sleep to recharge your energy so you can stay busy and be productive again.
This mindset is making all of us miserable. And I don't want any of you to spend another ten years living like this. I want you to be happy, joyful and actually enjoy your life.
How to make time for your passions/hobbies and bring fun back into your life?
If we truly want to be free from the overworked and miserable lifestyle, we need to make some big changes. You can start with small actions, like investing one hour a week to do something just for fun. Maybe you want to take singing lessons, or go to a sculpting class. Even if it's just for one hour, do something because you truly enjoy it.
As this becomes part of your lifestyle, start setting apart more time. Maybe go on a weekend trip to a small town, go for a beach getaway or go antique shopping.
What I really want you to do is shift your mindset and understand that you deserve to be happy. Life is not a prison where you're forced to work like crazy, pay bills and debts, and feel tired and miserable all the time.
Right now, it may seem like you have no choice, but ask yourself this: has living this way for the past ten years make you a truly happy and accomplished person? Are you content with your life? Or do you wish to have a different life experience in the next decade? At first, the change will scare you, but the way I see it, you might as well try something new. You only have good things to gain.
5. Financial
We all aspire to be financially prosperous and afford a good quality of life. The lifestyle you choose is a personal decision, so I won't attempt to tell you how to spend your hard-earned money.
All I can suggest is that, if you're currently finding yourself stressed about money, there are some ways to make the situation better. You've probably heard all the experts' suggestions on the importance of paying your debt, removing unnecessary expenses and allocating some money towards a savings account.
I am by no means a financial guru, so my suggestion-and one that I implement on my life to achieve financial freedom- is having multiple sources of income with a specific focus on passive income. I know not everyone wants to be a blogger or designer. And you don't have to. But be mindful of the fact that you can have an income thanks to the internet. I wrote a post talking about some simple ways to create passive income online.
I also suggest that you think about working for yourself. I don't want you to quit your job just like that. But try to understand that you can't always be dependent on a corporation to provide you with your livelihood. I know they offer competitive salaries and benefits, but to them you're dispensable. One day, they can close the company, fire you, hire someone else, etc. And just like that, you're left without a source of income.
For millennials, job-hunting has become so difficult, that it is not even consider a safe choice. Older generations might not understand this because they lived in a time where having a college degree meant getting a high-paid job. For us, it's a little harder and really expensive.
Nowadays, younger generations are taking advantage of technology and opting for different career paths like becoming freelancers or business owners.
Even if at the beginning, your income is small, the important thing is to take the first step and build your brand. I promise you there will be a moment where you start to enjoy the benefits and the hard work will pay off.
6. Intellectual
I want you to imagine the next ten years of your life. Where do you see yourself? What are your aspirations? Now think about how you can bring those to life. Maybe you dream of seeing yourself in places that right now seem unattainable. But don't let your current situation limit you.
The best way to prepare yourself for a thriving next ten years is to learn to identify change, embrace it and prepare yourself. Maybe you want to make a career change or move to a new country. Nothing is stopping you. And if you feel like you lack certain skills or abilities, then invest your time into learning and mastering them.
It's important to commit to a continuous learning process. There are so many interests, topics and areas of knowledge for your mind to discover.
How to become a well-read, cultured, and interesting adult?
-Foster a curious, unprejudiced and open mindset.
-Learn to respect and tolerate people's differences.
-Appreciate art in its different forms of expression.
-Read books, poetry, articles, blog posts: whatever interests you- just read more!
-Don't consume meaningless content.
-Travel and appreciate the beauty of other cultures.
-Learn something new regularly: a new word, a new language, a new song.
7. Social
Interacting with other individuals is an important part of life. But before you go out of your way to make plans for the weekend, take a moment to analyze the type of relationships you're fostering.
I'm not asking you to be a loner but I want you to think about the type of people you're attracting to your life. I don't want you to take dramatic, problematic and toxic relationships into the next decade of your life.
If someone is always gossiping, complaining, being negative, loading you with problems and causing you stress or anxiety, then it is time to let them go. You need to learn to set boundaries that protect your energy and peace of mind.
8. Spiritual
This life is filled with mystery and wonder. I truly believe that in order to actually live with purpose and intention, it is important to understand that there is a bigger picture to our existence.
Whether you believe in a god or a force of energy, finding and understanding the connection between our purpose and the greater good of humanity is a truly humbling experience.
How to live intentionally and align with your purpose?
-Every day make some time to appreciate the things around you. Look at the trees, marvel at the stars, take a deep breath, feel the sun in your skin.
-Reflect and be grateful for the life you're living.
-Think about how you can contribute to make this world a better place.
-Always be kind and positive towards yourself and others.
We've reached the end of your lifestyle and mindset realignment. I know each one of you has different needs and not all of the 8 dimension of wellness might need to be readjusted. The important thing is that you commit to starting a new phase in your life. And the perfect time is now!
Don't wait until the new year to start new habits.
Also, keep in mind that this is a process. You're not going to build the perfect life in a day. You need to be patient with yourself, embrace your current situation, and take things one day at a time.
Thank you so much for reading.
Until next time.
Gabriela Fernández
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