There isn’t and never will be a foolproof guide to living your best life. But sharing our secrets and personal advice can certainly help each other out! The following pieces of advice are ones that help me feel happier and more fulfilled each day—I live and swear by them, so I hope you find they work for you too!
1. Dedicate time to doing what you love.
It’s incredibly important to make time for what you love—whether that means getting to that yoga class every Monday, filling the bathtub to the brim with bubbles each night, or fitting in friend time after work. The little things go a long way.
2. Practice selflessness.
The best days of my life were spent in Africa, volunteering at schools and nonprofits. It felt incredibly rewarding to lend my efforts there and leave knowing I had an impact on that beautiful community’s future. So, while I’m not asking every one of you to fly to Africa, I am telling you that there’s so much value in selflessness; that your kindness, your donations, your every effort goes a long way in others’ lives as well as your own.
3. Throw off those covers in the morning.
The days spent lying in bed watching Netflix are the best ones—in theory. Every time I do so though, I end up feeling groggy, unproductive, and unfulfilled. When I instead get up, set goals for the day, and fit in even a quick workout, I feel like I’m on top of the world—and I reward myself with a little Netflix session before bed.
4. Make your clan a good one.
Your friends are direct influences on and reflections of yourself. So, find the ones that make you laugh and smile; the ones that show up at your door within a moment’s notice when you need them to; the ones that would pick you over a big slice of pizza.
5. Stay on your toes.
It’s good to get into a routine but not one that prohibits adventure or deviation every once in a while. You need to get out into the world and see all that it has to offer! That means booking a trip to Spain right now or simply signing up for a salsa class—do whatever it is that gets you out of your comfort zone. You might be nervous at first, but I promise you won’t regret it.
6. Food is fuel—choose wisely.
I’m sure you know the saying, ‘You are what you eat.’ Well, while you don’t actually become a Twizzler or a potato chip after eating so many of them (don’t worry), you likely don’t feel your best. Our bodies and our brains need healthy foods to function at our best, which means eating lots of fruits, vegetables, protein, and healthy fats! So, build your diet primarily around these staples and then, of course, still allow yourself your favorite treats.
7. Don’t just dream it, do it.
Always dreamt about writing a book? About capitalizing on your musical talents and becoming a rock star? About owning your own business? Well, dreams don’t come true unless you actually work to make them reality. So start drafting your novel, write a song, enroll in a marketing class. Do something little every day to get one step closer toward achieving your dreams.
8. Contribute to something greater than yourself.
We often spend our entire lives trying to find our purpose, figuring out our destiny. I’m definitely not telling you to do that in a moment’s notice, but you should find a way to contribute to the universe now, to something greater than yourself. That might be volunteering, working, being a great mom, taking care of your dad; it could be anything.
9. Put down your phone and fluff up your pillow.
Too many people aren’t getting an adequate amount of sleep each night. And they don’t realize the extent to which it affects their health: not only can lack of sleep make you groggy and temperamental the following day, but it can lead to the development of serious medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes. So turn off the TV, set your phone down, and go to sleep at a decent time! Future you will be grateful.
10. Count your fortunes (instead of those sheep) each night.
After you turn your TV off and set your phone on the nightstand, take a minute to reflect on your fortunes. Even on a bad day, there’s something to be thankful for such as the bed you’re sleeping in, the love of your friends and family, and the very fact that you’re alive. Acknowledging everything good in your life each night will make you happier and more appreciative to be in this crazy but amazing world.
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Taylor Bennett
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