Life is filled with countless sources of joy, from your amazing friends and loving family to your meaningful career or fulfilling hobbies and everything in between.
But let’s be honest—we all get a little lost sometimes. Maybe you’re feeling like you’ve lost your spark, or perhaps you’re struggling to find direction. Don’t worry, though. There are many ways to gain it all back. The path to a brighter future is just a few simple changes away!
Whether you’re seeking to reignite your sense of gratitude or regain your independence, we’ve got you covered with both big and small life changes that will have you feeling like your best self in no time. Even if you don’t think you need to make a change, you might just benefit from a few of the following ideas.
So, let’s dive in and discover the happiness and success that awaits you!
1. Live in the Moment
If you want to be truly happy in life, start living in the moment more often. Try not to think about how happy you “might” be once you achieve a certain goal or acquire a certain thing; be happy with the present moment rather than looking too far ahead.
Put away your phone and soak in the world around you. As soon as you can start appreciating the little things in life, you will have a much more positive attitude about everything.
2. Help Others and Be Selfless
Being kind and generous to others can bring a lot of positivity back into your life. When you make the effort to help someone out, you’ll not only make them feel awesome, but you’ll also feel pretty great yourself.
Plus, when you’re known for being a kind and selfless person, people are more likely to want to hang out with you and return the favor when you need a little help yourself.
And the best part? Being selfless doesn’t cost a thing! So why not make it a part of your daily routine?
Whether it’s holding the door open for someone, offering to help a friend, or just lending an ear when someone needs to talk, there are countless ways to make a positive impact on the people around you.
3. Start Saying No
You don’t always have to do everything people ask you to. If you want to be happy, you need to learn to say no more often. Maintaining your personal boundaries is an important aspect of self-care and should be respected by those around you.
From being persuaded into going out for drinks again on a Friday night or being asked by a coworker to take on a project outside of your area of expertise, you shouldn’t have to do it if you don’t want to.
Learn how to say no sometimes and give yourself a much-needed break. You will feel relieved as soon as you start having the power again.
4. Reassess Your Relationships
Everyone should strive to be a kind and decent human being, but as we know, there are a lot of rude and miserable people out there. When the people in your life aren’t bringing you good vibes and support, you need to start reassessing who you have around.
If people are bringing you down or giving you a hard time, it might be time to say goodbye to them. Having toxic people in your life will never be healthy. Do everything you can to appreciate the good people you have and forget the bad.
5. Find the Good in Everyone
When someone treats you badly, try to look at the situation from a different perspective. The other person might be going through something difficult in their life, which has caused them to take it out on you. Be empathetic whenever possible and try to find the good in everyone you encounter in your daily life.
6. Pursue a Hobby You Love
You probably don’t love your job, which is why you need to find a hobby you love. Going out and pursuing something you truly enjoy is unbeatable and can negate the dread of your day job.
Whether it’s gaming, reading, swimming, cooking, or gardening, there are so many different ways that you can find happiness and contentment for yourself. As soon as you have found the hobby that makes you feel great about yourself, make sure to prioritize it and make time for it in your daily or weekly routine.
7. Work Hard to Achieve Your Dreams
The world is full of opportunities, and you deserve to pursue the things that bring you enjoy. Whether you dream of starting your own business, traveling the world, or pursuing a creative passion, there’s nothing stopping you from taking that first step. Whatever you want to do with your life, you should have the confidence to go out there and do it.
If you face challenges or setbacks along the way, remember that every step forward is a step closer to realizing your goals. So don’t be afraid to take risks and pursue what makes you happy.
8. Be More Independent
When you rely on somebody else to do everyday things for you, it can start to bring you down. You might not even realize it, but having to ask for help constantly isn’t helping your independence levels at all.
For example, if you always rely on someone for a ride, why not head to driving school? Having that confidence and freedom to go wherever you want will give you a huge boost in self-esteem, allowing you to gain the happiness and success you deserve.
Learning to do something new also gives you a sense of accomplishment, expands your horizons, and helps you to adapt and stay resilient while enhancing your overall quality of life.
9. Smile Everyday
Aim to smile every single day, even if you don’t feel like it. Smiling is infectious and will have a positive effect on all of the people around you.
Whether you’re giggling at a joke or reading a funny book, there are so many ways that you can have a good laugh daily. Even when you don’t feel particularly happy, you should try to put a smile on your face, so that you can uplift your own spirit and spread the love amongst other people around you too.
10. Get Organized
I don’t know about you, but I am extra stressed when my surroundings are a mess. Staying organized and not collecting clutter would be ideal, but a little decluttering and tidying up can really do wonders.
Beyond your environment, staying organized will also make life easier. You won’t miss appointments or deadlines if you use planners and digital tools or plan your day the night before.
11. Scroll Less and Read More
You can read about literally everything online, so make it a habit to read interesting articles, blogs, and books rather than scrolling through memes. Your life will be better for it, as you are replacing something negative with something positive.
12. Find a Solution, Not a Problem
We all have problems, but most of them will be irrelevant in a month or a year. So, rather than dwelling on the problem, find a solution. Being able to solve problems will get you far in life, from managing your household to impressing your boss.
13. Stay Open to Feedback
The people who know you best can be a valuable resource for determining what areas you need to work on. Constructive criticism is an opportunity to grow and improve, even though it can sometimes be hard to hear and accept.
Keep in mind that staying open to feedback doesn’t mean accepting everything people say you need to change. Consider who’s saying it, and only accept feedback from people you trust and respect.
14. Listen To Your Body
Having a good life includes being physically well. So, pay attention to what your body is telling you and act accordingly. Of course, getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising are important, but it goes beyond that. Having a sore back and wrists from sitting at a computer all day is also bad for you and is something you can fix with a few small changes.
15. Limit Your Decision Making
Decision fatigue is real. Trying to pick an outfit, what to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, what route to take to work, etc. – these sorts of things may seem trivial, but we make hundreds of decisions every day, and it really adds up.
Limiting your decision-making by creating habits and routines. Some examples include meal planning, creating a capsule wardrobe, using a chore chart, and using automation tools.
16. Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself
Don’t beat yourself up about it when life doesn’t quite go your way. It can be very difficult to deal with a failed situation, but never take it out on yourself – it isn’t helpful.
Pick yourself back up and look towards the more positive things in your life. Soon enough you will get used to knock-backs and become a much stronger and more resilient person as a result of this.
Easy Life Changes You Can Make Today for a Better Life
Don’t take your life as it is now – strive for something better. Stay strong and make the changes you need. Sometimes, life throws curve balls our way, so be prepared to handle anything. You have the power to achieve whatever you want in your life.
The best is truly yet to come!
Amanda Kay, the founder of My Life, I Guess, provides valuable career advice and support for anyone striving to make a living and, more importantly, make a life. Whether it's navigating job searches, learning new skills, overcoming unemployment, or dealing with debt, My Life, I Guess has been a go-to resource for career guidance and financial stability since 2013. Amanda's expertise and relatable approach have been featured in trusted publications such as MSN, Credit.com, Yahoo! Finance, the Ladders and Fairygodboss.