Five things you can do to give your life a lift
Everyone has their unique definition of what makes a good life. However, there are common factors that impact our happiness.
For example, if we have poor relationships with our family and friends, it’s hard to be happy. It’s also tough to keep a smile on our face when we’re battling pain or are crippled by anxiety or stress.
If you feel like your life could do with a lift here are five things you can do.
1) Get a positive outlook
We can’t always control the things that happen to us. But what we do have power over is our response to them. We can choose to focus on the negative, and see ourselves as passive victims, or we can seek out positives in a situation, or look for choices we can make to improve the situation.
This might sound simplistic – and in some circumstances, such as miscarriages of justice, it may seem extremely difficult – but allowing life to defeat us, or someone else’s decisions or motivations to destroy our inner peace of mind is, to some extent, a choice we have.
Choose how you want to feel about life, the outlook you want to have, and then make decisions and take actions that help to realise it. Sometimes the difference between a good and a bad day is simply perspective.
2) Try to exercise regularly
When it comes to feeling happy, exercise is like a superpower. Experts believe that regular exercise regulates blood flow and helps to keep your body free from some diseases. Regular exercise can also boost your happiness levels and reduce stress.
And yet, too many of us have mostly sedentary jobs and don’t make time for exercise. So find some kind of activity you enjoy – whether it’s walking, yoga, running, cycling, swimming… anything! And ensure you do it regularly.
3) Manage pain
It’s hard to feel happiness and contentment when you’re experiencing pain. Bit just because you might live with chronic pain, it doesn’t mean that you need to give up any expectations of a good quality of life.
Learning to manage pain can help to increase your quality of life considerably. Obviously the most important step is to seek professional medical help – there are doctors who specialise in pain management. But there are also things you can do to help your pain yourself – depending on the type of pain you have and its cause.
Massages and therapeutic sessions with the latest TENS units can help some people to manage pain. Many affordable and compact electronic devices can relive your body pains, and help to restore your happiness.
4) Get a good night’s sleep
You cannot underestimate the benefits of good sleep. If you sleep for between seven to eight hours a night you’ll give you body time to recuperate and your brain a chance to de-stress, ready for a new day.
Of course, telling someone to get a good night’s sleep is easy – but many people struggle to sleep well. If you find sleep elusive, try some basic good sleep hygiene, including avoiding caffeine and exercise in the evenings, sticking to a nightly routine, and keeping your bedroom cool, dark and free from electronic devices.
5) Avoid stressors and ask for help
Stress is common for many people today. From health and money worries, to tricky relationships and work – there are many reasons why we worry and get stressed.
If stress is impacting your life negatively, then it’s a good idea to take action, rather than simply hoping it will go away. If there’s a clear trigger for your stress, find ways to avoid it if possible. Avoid people who are difficult, and if you can’t try not to let them control or upset you.
If work is making you unhappy, think about any changes you can make in your role, or look for a new one. Even if that’s not a quick solution, sometimes simply making plans for escape can help bolster your feelings and give you hope.
It’s also important to get professional help for stress if it’s having a significant impact on your life and/or mental health. There are many mental health experts who can help you better manage stress and resolve the causes.
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