The Dalai Lama once said, “A new way of thinking has become the necessary condition for responsible living and acting.”
There are things outside of your control and this knowledge can cause negative feelings, such as stress, fear and low mood. So when you feel life is pulling you in various uncontrollable directions it may be time to take back control of your life. Not by being too unhealthily controlling, but by changing your way of thinking and doing things.
Only you can create the happy and fulfilling life you want. But it won’t happen with procrastination or waiting for others to do it. The effort you put in today will give you rewards tomorrow. So get going. Here are some tips to help you take back your life:
Make health and well-being a priority
How well you feel, how clear minded you are and your energy levels depend on your self care. There are four key areas you should set goals and plan into your day:
•Heathy eating
•Staying active
•Relaxation/recharging
•Quality sleep
There is great book around these key areas of health by British physician and podcaster Dr Chatterjee’s called The 4 Pillars.
Set Goals
Setting goals is a great way to stay focused, have a sense of motivation. Think of it this way, although there are many things outside of your control, there are some things within your circle of influence. Setting goals is a mechanism that will allow you to manage those things that are within your control in a way that will allow you to create the kind of life you want.
Create healthy daily rituals
Creating daily rituals is a great way to get the most out of every day and get out of a rut.
It doesn’t have to be a rigid routine, but do base it around what you want to achieve everyday. It may include a good wake up routine, healthy eating goals, exercise, work goals activity, life goal activity, to-do list tick off, social interaction, recharge time and bedtime routine. Do it everyday for two weeks so that it then becomes a normal routine for you long term.
Practice positive thinking
It is so easy to slip into constant negative thinking which then infects every part of your life. Start each day by practicing positive self-talk about what the day will bring, how you look, how you feel etc. Be grateful for things that happen and the kind actions of others. Be less serious, use humour and lighten up.
Even if it feels unreal, even if the day throws mud in your face... shake it off and return to practicing being more positive. ‘This too shall pass’ and ‘tomorrow is a new day’ mindsets do work to get back on track.
Set boundaries for draining people
There’s a fine line between the kindness connection of lending a sympathetic and supportive ear in times of need... and being constantly drained by someone’s offloading of negativity.
People often feel pressure to listen to constant complainers because they are kind and don’t want to be rude. Sometimes you’ll find yourself in situations where you’ll need to regroup and choose a different way to respond. So if you have people in your life who are constantly negative or draining you can choose to spend less time with them or respond differently to their negativity. Even better put more energy into spending time with positive and supportive people.
Reduce social media consumption
Social media has many benefits including connection, interaction, knowledge, fun and business support. But you won’t get through that to-do list or work toward your goals if you are distracted by social media.
Over use is also proven to trigger a dopamine release, the hormone in brain that is also triggered by drugs and other addictions, leaving people fatigued, addicted, unmotivated and depressed. It can also exacerbate feelings of disconnect, trigger anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and general isolation.
Limit use by checking it for limited periods during the day only.