If you’ve ever wanted to engage in a little self-improvement and work on yourself, the time has never been better. Right now, many people are reinventing themselves. You can, too. In fact, taking control of your life can be as simple as focusing on bettering yourself financially and physically.
Below are several tips to help you make great strides toward living a healthier lifestyle that you dream about.
Consider Switching Careers
You don’t have to go out and quit your job tomorrow, of course, but ask yourself this question: “Does my work fulfill me anymore?” Many individuals change careers throughout their lives, and switching to a different profession could help you achieve more, eventually earn more, and feel less burned out.
How will you know what career path would excite you? Try a few gigs after work to see which energizes you. Some good side hustles to make money can include creating crafts and selling them online in a marketplace like Etsy; working for a company like Uber as an independent contractor; or selling items like housewares, makeup, or jewelry as an independent consultant.
Of course, if you want to make sure that you’re getting into a field that needs new talent, do a little research. For instance, let’s say you’ve always enjoyed healthcare and communications. As of a few years ago, 90% of medical workers said their companies didn’t have expert marketers. Consequently, you could potentially get your foot in the door and become a health-related marketer superstar.
Take Care of Any Nagging Bad Habits
Over time, bad habits such as smoking and even substance abuse can lead to deteriorating health and wellness. If you’ve struggled for years, or even decades, with a bad habit, make the coming months time to overcome your behaviors.
It can be tough to overcome addictions and poor coping mechanisms alone. Look for a therapy professional who can be a guide and coach. Remember: Counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists are trained to help you. They realize that about half the population deals with mental health issues sometimes. There’s no shame in wanting to feel better for yourself and those around you.
Get Yourself in the Best Shape of Your Life
You might be a single mom in her 40s or a grandma in your 70s. Either way, you have the power to take better care of your physical health. For instance, why not start to work out every day for at least 30 minutes? You could even download an app on your phone to track your daily steps, which should be at least 8,000 every 24 hours.
As part of your work to get fitter, start considering the way you’re eating. It’s fine to indulge occasionally, but every meal should be balanced and not filled with too many calories, fats, or unhealthy items. Save dessert for a couple of times a week, rather than every night.
By taking little steps such as making your own meals instead of eating a lot of fast food dinners, you can slowly change the way your body looks and feels. You’ll sleep better, your clothes will look better, and you’ll feel more mentally refreshed. Be sure to drink loads of H2O instead of soda or alcohol for an added health and natural energy boost.
Consider Investing in Real Estate
Do you have a little nest egg saved up that you’d like to grow? Many financially savvy people swear by investing in real estate. In fact, more than eight out of 10 people who make real estate investments say they’ll make another in the future.
To be sure, finding, buying, and reselling properties can take some work. You may have to make home updates on the houses or buildings you purchase. This takes time and money up front, but the goal is to get that money back, as well as more.
Another way to make real estate work for you is to become a landlord. You can do the landlord alone or hire a property management company to take care of the ins and outs. Either way, you should start to see an attractive return on an investment after several years. Just remember that unless you’re going to get into heavy-duty house flipping, you need to be patient with your real estate dividends.
Spend Less Time With Your Screen
Most of us have the bad habit of plopping down at the end of a workday only to sit in front of screens. We binge watch shows on our tablets and TVs, or scour the Internet on our laptops and phones. All that screen time can lead to a deterioration in your mental and physical health. After all, you’re generally not filling your mind with anything useful, and you’re probably not moving your body while you interact with your devices.
Make a pact with yourself to lower your average daily screen time as much as possible. As an example, you may want to track how much you’re on your smartphone during the day. Is it two hours? Three? Five? Many people spend more time on their phones than they presume. After you have a baseline number, work to reduce it by about 25%. If your baseline is four hours a day, aim for three hours of screen time each day instead.
Over time, you’ll find yourself less interested in what’s on your phone or computer and more engaged with family and friends, not to mention your favorite hobbies.
Declutter Your Living Spaces
A final way to restore your physical health and provide a sense of mental relief is to clean up your home or apartment. Decluttering is a little work up front, but provides a tremendous sense of satisfaction. Many experts and studies have shown that reducing clutter in an environment can lead to less anxiety and depressive thoughts.
If you need some assistance to declutter, you can hire a professional organization. Professional organizers will work with you to not just figure out what to throw out or give away, but how to create a balanced, harmonious atmosphere.
It’s never too late to take control of your life. Even if you just work on a few of the abovementioned tips, you’ll be certain to make impressive progress. By next year at this time, you could feel like a whole new person!
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