Find Meaning In Every Day: 7 Tips

“If today were the last day of your life, would you want to do what you are about to do today?” An infamous quote and important question posed by the world-renowned Steve Jobs. The entrepreneur, inventor, and industrial designer dedicated his life to advancing in the world of technology. He grabbed each day by the horns and went on to become one of the most successful, idolized individuals in the 21st century—not just for his beloved inventions and innovative mind, but his approach to life.

Jobs was sure to take advantage of every day, and he advised others to do the same. For the only way to live a meaningful life is to live meaningful days. This can, of course, be difficult at times, but putting in a little effort to have a happy, productive, or otherwise-meaningful day can go a long way. Just follow these 7 simple tips:

1) Enjoy your work.

Many of us spend the majority of our days, lives at our jobs—therefore, it’s important we find joy and meaning in our work, as explained by Jobs at Stanford University’s commencement ceremony in 2005: “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” So set out each day to enjoy your job again, to stop merely running through the motions. Or, if you can’t, consider making a career change—it’s never too late.

2) Keep good company.

The relationships we choose to maintain and attend to are incredibly important. If you engage with negative individuals, chances are you’ll adapt a negative attitude too. Similarly, if you spend time with lazy individuals, you’ll become lazier yourself. Therefore, you should choose your social circle wisely, and enjoy every second you get to spend with the special people in your life.

3) Prioritize.

Don’t let the mundane cloud your mind—instead, think about what’s most important and shift your focus to that. Do you have work in an hour? Start getting ready. Was your grandma feeling sick yesterday? Give her a call. Feeling a little off? Take some time to meditate. Do whatever you feel is most pressing or even the most appealing! It’s your day, and you get to choose how you spend it—which means Netflix can take priority if you so desire.

4) Give back to the world.

Find a way to give back and channel some positive vibes into the world each day: volunteer at the animal shelter; pick up trash you pass on the sidewalk; donate to the canned food drive being held at work; and treat everybody you encounter with kindness. Not only will you spread some joy to the people around you, but you’ll benefit immensely from simply giving back to the world.

5) Try something new.

If you’re struggling to feel enlightened or excited about life, then try something new! You could challenge yourself to do something new each day, like taking a different route to work or making a new recipe—or you could pick up a new hobby like martial arts or baking and incorporate that new, fun activity into every day. It’s important to spice up your life every now and then!

6) Create.

You don’t have to be a modern-day Picasso—you don’t even have to paint! Just create something: a song, a cake, wall art, a puzzle, a flower arrangement, a dance, a storyline, a web design… the list never ends. We’re meant to innovate, and doing so will absolutely help you find meaning each day.

7) Be mindful.

Last, but certainly not least, practice mindfulness. Simply focus on the present moment: Where are you? What are you doing? How does it feel? Cast away those uneasy feelings about the past or future and shift your focus to right now. Go ahead give it a try—doing so will prove to reduce your stress levels, boost your self-esteem, and improve your overall health. Furthermore, you’ll be a whole lot happier and lead a more meaningful life!

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