Most days you’re stuck in a daily routine that is slowly becoming very dull? And waking up to a new day doesn’t feel exciting, because it just means starting the cycle all over again.
It feels like a trap. You have to get up and get to work to pay the bills.
And the constant stress of trying to keep it all together is wearing on you.
If it feels like your life has come to a halt, and you aren’t sure if it’s ever going to get any better, you’ve come to the right place!
The truth is, you don’t have to live on a hamster wheel for the rest of your life.
There are things you can do every day to improve your life. And I’m not talking about things you think you “should” be doing, like being more successful or making more money.
I’m talking about the things you enjoy. Whether that’s reading a book, sitting out in the sun, or playing with puppies.
Doing more of the things that fill up your cup will drastically improve your life.
1. Write down everything you’ve ever wanted to do
Think about the things you’ve always wanted to try in your life.
Write those down, and then write down why they haven’t happened yet.
What is holding you back from trying these things today? Tomorrow? Is it fear, or a legit reason like lack of money?
It all starts with your own mindset on how you view your life.
Maybe you think that you need to stay at a job for a few years to get promoted, and make more money, then you can afford to travel more.
After it’s all out in front of you, think about how you can start doing these things on this list.
Once you determine your reason why, write down how you could actually make it happen this year.
If you want to travel more, you don’t need that much money to start.
Circle the top 3 items on your list, and start focusing on how you can make these things a reality.
This will help you get off the hamster wheel, and pay attention to the things that actually bring you happiness.
2. Spend time finding authenticity
Do you know that one favorite song you keep coming back to?
The song that got you through breakups, shitty jobs, and the song that just gets you?
That’s authenticity.
It’s what makes you feel like you belong.
Or when you spend time with someone who you instantly click with and can spend hours talking to.
Now, let me ask you when was the last time you felt that way?
Does your daily life consist of basically doing things that you don’t fully believe in, but you do anyway because you have to?
Life can start to feel empty when you don’t experience those moments that tug at your heartstrings.
It can actually turn into a dark and gloomy world when you lose sight of what your purpose is.
So, start looking for authentic things that truly lift your spirits.
Where is it that you belong?
Some things that bring authenticity are:
- Friends and/or family
- Finding a new album
- A hobby
- Going back to your favorite place as a kid or anything else you can think of!
3. Practice Gratitude
It’s easier to be negative than it is to be grateful.
And to think “Once I get this, my life will be better”.
Chasing after materialistic things isn’t what will bring you happiness.
But, for some reason our society makes us believe that having a new car or a better job will get us closer to it.
Unfortunately, thinking this way will only leave you feeling confused and empty.
It’s why a lot of people have a mid-life crisis later on in life.
They spent 20 years working so hard for all of these “things”, but never took the time to understand what is real happiness.
The good news is you can start today practicing gratitude.
Look around at your life right now and think about all of the good you have in it.
I understand that life is not easy at times, and sometimes it’s very hard to see the good.
But, even if it’s just the bed you get to sleep in. Or your dog, or your best friend.
Write down all of the good things in your life, and think about these things daily.
Practicing gratitude is free and feeling good about what you have right now won’t make you feel like you have to go out and buy something to feel better.
4. Learn something new every day
Learning can improve your life because it teaches you more about life.
It gives you more confidence and challenges you to push your limits.
Learning something new also brings excitement to your day because you don’t know what to expect.
Some ways you can start learning more are:
- Practicing a new language
- Taking a class at a local community college
- Reading a non-fiction book about history
- Starting a new hobby like knitting or drawing
5. Change up your daily routine
Routines are good and bad for the same reason: they are mindless.
They don’t require much thought from your brain, so you can focus on other things while you do them.
Daily habits like waking up at the same time, brushing your teeth, or working out are great, and I would suggest keeping up with those to help improve your health.
But, things like your commute to work can change.
If your whole life has turned into one big routine, you might find it hard to find excitement in the day.
Instead, Google a different route you could take to work. Or, do you live close enough that you could ride your bike?
You have the most control over your day during the hours you’re at home.
Think about how you can change up those times.
Maybe you don’t have to spend an hour cooking every night.
You could get takeout and spend that time working on a new hobby.
Also, changing up your morning and evening routine can be enough to improve your life.
Whenever you find that your days are all becoming too similar, try changing up your routine.
6. Work on getting enough sleep every night
I get it, sleep is usually what goes out the window when you run out of time during the day.
Our lives are crazy busy at times, and it just makes sense to miss out on some sleep here and there.
But, sleep is so important for your health and quality of life.
Not sleeping enough can cause:
- Moodiness
- Depression
- Inability to focus
- Overeating
All of these things can ruin your mood.
If you aren’t getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night, try to work on making this a priority.
It can and will definitely improve your daily mood, which will help improve your overall life!
7. De-Clutter
Look around your home, and find the things that you haven’t touched in the last 2 years.
Clutter can impact your happiness, because it feels like you’re life is a mess.
Work on getting rid of the things that don’t provide much value in your life anymore.
That might be cleaning out your closet, or distancing yourself from toxic people.
Evaluate where your life is at right now, and think about the things you could get rid of that would help improve your life.
8. Practice being more kind
Kindness goes a looong way. For other people, as well as for you.
Helping others can actually make you feel much better about yourself.
Our world is turning into a place where looking at your phone while you walk is more acceptable than looking someone in the eye and smiling at them.
We are becoming anti-social, which is making it difficult to put more good out into the world.
I get that we all have places to be and limited time.
But, that isn’t really an excuse to be rude to other people.
Being kind isn’t a sign of weakness, and if you can practice it every day, you will feel like a much nicer person.
9. Put yourself first
If you do relate to feeling stuck on a hamster wheel, then you aren’t putting yourself first enough.
It’s not a selfish thing to do, so get that thought out of your head!
Putting yourself first is actually one of the best ways you can be there for other people.
Once your cup is full, then you will have the patience and tolerance to be around people who need you most.
If you don’t, then you’re cup will be sucked dry and you’ll feel irritated and impatient with everyone.
This is also a great way to improve your life.
Listening to your body and doing the things you love will make your days a lot more exciting.
It will also give you much more control over how you truly want to live your life.
10. Let go of your excuses
Do you want to try new things, but think of every excuse in the book not to do it?
Coming up with excuses is very easy to do.
And once you get used to making excuses, there won’t be enough reasons to try out something new.
So, start by letting go of all the excuses that are holding you back.
If you want to try something new, like start a business, travel, or buy a house, take all of the excuses out of it.
Come up with a realistic way to make it happen for yourself.
If it’s what you truly want with your heart and soul there should be NO reason why it can’t happen for you.
Even if it feels like the craziest idea in the world, get rid of the thoughts that trick you into believing it will never happen.
Everything is worth trying out, even if it doesn’t end up being what you wanted.
It’s much better to test the waters than to never try in the first place. So just do it!
