The world is fast-paced, and so are our lives.
Do you want to live a happy life with good health while achieving high mental and physical wellness? Of course you do! We all want to be physically and mentally healthy, regardless of what stage we are in life.
Taking time for us can be one of the hardest things to do. As busy moms, dads, wives, employees, or whatever roles you play in life at the moment, we tend to take care of everything and everyone else first. Trust me, we’re all guilty of it.
Allowing ourselves to have more control and make ourselves a priority can seem difficult and challenging at first. It may feel or seem as if it’s an unreachable task, that’s not achievable for everyday people like you or me.
What we need to understand is that no matter who you are, your life is simply a reflection of your choices. So to achieve wellness, we must choose to. We have to decide to make the right choices so that we feel more connected to ourselves and to attain a higher level of wellness. Of course, there are endless tips that can be provided, but let’s start with what I believe are the 5 most important that will get you started on the right path.
1. Unplug
Sometimes we need to disconnect from the outside world, and that includes the work email outside of work hours. At night, give yourself at least 30 minutes away from all electronics. Put away your cell phone, and turn off the TV; instead, try reading, and I mean actual print. Not a kindle, not an article on your phone. Actual print. If you’re not a big reader, then simply “day dream.” Nurture your creativity. Think of your future goals and plans, and write them down.
2. No More Perfectionism
Learn to recognize and avoid feelings of perfectionism. For myself, this may be hardest one of all.
The psychology definition of perfectionism can be defined as:
“a person’s striving for flawlessness and setting high performance standards, accompanied by critical self-evaluations and concerns regarding others’ evaluations.”
Ouch… even the definition sounds harsh. In reality, we all know that it’s unreasonable to apply this much pressure to ourselves. Feelings of perfectionism only breed anxiety and heighten stress.
3. Positive Self-Talk Only!
Work on reducing statements that start with words like should, shouldn’t, or must. Words like these encourage negative self-talk. When we start to dictate our actions based on these thoughts we are living in the past, and/or future.
The best wellness tip to reduce stress and increase confidence is to live in the present. Do what you can now, and make the best decisions for now. Of course, considering long-term consequences (positive and negative) is important, but don’t worry so much about what you shouldn’t do, what you should have done, or what you must do next week. What are you doing now?
4. Get Moving
A healthy mind yearns for a healthy body. There’s no other way to put it. If you want your mental health to improve, then nurture your body. The benefits of exercise are endless.
5. Learn to Say No!
This is the most important tip of all. Happy people focus on their priorities and what’s going to be the most valuable use of their time. While I’m definitely not encouraging anyone to become self-centered, every decision you make should consider how you feel, and be respectful of your time. If you make everything, and everyone else a priority, how will you find time for yourself and live in the present?
Learning to say no is a skill that you must master.
Happiness and wellness are states of being that have been sought after from the beginning of time. Some achieve wellness, others their own definitions of happiness, and others live in a constant search. Start by implementing these simple tips, and you will start to feel mentally and physically healthy with a high level of overall wellness.
Final Thoughts
A happy life first begins with a choice. A choice to do everything possible to protect your emotions, sanity, feelings, and to achieve a higher level of wellness. Choose these 5 steps and you’ll be on your way to living a happy life.
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