Tag: Life

3 Tips for Being More Respectful of Your Time

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Health/Wellness. A key problem many people have is not respecting their own time. Unfortunately time management is not something that is taught across the board. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Tips for Being More Respectful of Your Time.

* * *

Pixabay CC0 License

In life, there are all sorts of resources of various types that you might have plenty of – or very little of – depending on a broad variety of circumstances.

One thing that everyone has equal access to, however, is the time available in a given day. No matter whether you are the most quick-witted and enterprising business guru in the land, or someone much more ordinary, you will never have more than 24 hours in a day to spend attending to your chores, chasing your dreams, and all the rest.

Very often, we end up convincing ourselves that the reason why we don’t do the sorts of things we would ideally want to do in life, is because we just “don’t have enough time.”

While time constraints are obviously real, it’s also true that we frequently sabotage ourselves and develop a distorted sense of what is and isn’t possible, due to the fact that we aren’t as respectful and thoughtful of our time as we should be.

In her book “168 Hours,” the writer Laura Vanderkam details many examples of successful people in a variety of fields who have nonetheless managed to juggle their hobbies and personal lives alongside fruitful careers. The secret? They always found a way to squeeze in a bit of time on a regular basis for the things they were really passionate about, even in spite of all the odds.

Vanderkam shares one particularly telling anecdote in the book, where she describes having read a publication where various members of the public waxed lyrical about the brilliant things they would do if they only had an extra 20 minutes or so a day to spend. Predictably, there were a lot of people who were apparently going to live out their dreams and pursue their hobbies if only that extra sliver of time would materialise.

Considering the fact, however, that the average person spends several hours a day watching television – this can’t help but ring a bit hollow.

Here are a few tips for being more respectful of your time in general, so that you can live your life in line with your true values, hopes, and principles.

Consider auditing your time for a while to see just where it’s actually going

In “168 Hours,” Vanderkam proposes a great exercise for raising time-awareness – that is, keeping daily “timesheets,” detailing how you spend all your time for at least a week or two at a stretch.

This isn’t necessarily meant to be a permanently ongoing exercise. The key point is that it will shine a light on just what’s actually happening with your time, so that you are no longer likely to be so inclined to feel as though the minutes and hours have just swept by in a blur.

After doing this exercise for a few days, you might be shocked to find just how much of your “working hours” were actually spent on browsing the web. Or how many of your evening leisure and relaxation hours were not actually spent on entertainment, time with friends and family, or relaxation, but were rather dedicated to checking work emails after hours.

There is a famous old saying that “what gets measured, gets improved.” By the same token, if you never actually track how you’re spending your time, you will inevitably have a very limited scope for mastering it and treating it with more respect.

Realise that outsourcing certain things is often a great way of freeing up more time

Generally speaking, it’s quite common for people to be reluctant to spend money outsourcing things that they could – if pushed – do by themselves.

Of course, it’s good to be self-reliant and not to spend money gratuitously, but both in your working life and your personal life, it will often be the case that “outsourcing” various tasks, projects, and chores, is one of the best and most reliable ways of freeing up more time that you can then spend more fruitfully.

If you are an entrepreneur, for example, there is quite a good chance that you will naturally be predisposed to try to micromanage your business as much as possible. But everyone has limited time, a limited range of skill sets, and a limited amount of energy to spend on a given day.

Bringing a third party network management company on board, for example, might therefore not only mean that this dimension of your business gets handled more effectively, but that you also suddenly find you have far more time and energy available in your day to spend on other things.

Use the power of your environment to keep you focused and on point

There is a popular idea in productivity-focused circles that suggests that willpower is the end-all-be-all when it comes to things like proper time management.

While willpower is certainly important, however, it is not a resource you can draw on endlessly in order to try and structure and arrange every aspect of your daily existence. According to the psychologist Kelly McGonigal, author of “The Willpower Instinct,” research suggests that willpower is actually a finite and expendable resource. If you try to rely on it too heavily for too many things, you’re setting yourself up for burnout and failure.

In order to be more respectful of your own time, and to manage your time more effectively, one of the most powerful things you could do would be to use the power of your environment to keep you focused and on point.

What exactly does this mean?

Well, essentially it means that as human beings we are all inclined to follow the path of least resistance, by default. The way you structure your environment can therefore serve to nudge you down more or less fruitful and intentional paths, requiring varying degrees of willpower.

When it comes to being more respectful of your time, a good environmental shift might be something like installing a web blocker on your computer to keep distracting sites at bay during certain hours. Or, surrounding yourself with people who will keep an eye on you and keep you accountable if you’re supposed to be meeting a certain deadline by a certain time.

Why Accountability Is So Important

Two of the focuses of my blog are Creating Ecosystems of Success and Health/Wellness. A little known secret of life is that accountability is critical. Accountability is an important but difficult attribute but it is essential. The following contributed post is entitled, Why Accountability Is So Important.

* * *

Photo by Helena Lopes from Pexels

Whether it is at work or home, being accountable is a vital characteristic. Accountability is the foundation of honesty, compassion, integrity, and it will help you to build deeper and more meaningful relationships.

It’s a simple concept to be truly accountable. All it requires is for you to own everything that you do, and that happens to you. From your attitude and your actions to your communication and mistakes. While it is simple in its concept, it can be hard to apply this to all areas of your life, however without it you will make your life harder, potentially hurt people and, in the long term, you won’t live a full and rounded life.

Accountability in personal relationships is essential. It helps to diffuse arguments and strengthen love. Everyone makes mistakes; however, it is how we deal with these mistakes that matters. If you can hold your hands up, apologies to the person you love and truly understand why and how your actions have affected them, they are more likely to forgive you and move on. Many people will only focus on what matters to them. This is why a lot of marriages fail. Two people are unhappy, and they are trying to communicate what is hurting them, however, if only one person is accountable, then the relationship will become unbalanced. As one person grows, the other stays the same, and it is this which divides marriages and ends love. Put simply, someone who is accountable for their actions will outgrow the relationship if you cannot do the same.

We all make stupid mistakes from time to time. Maybe you went to help a friend who was upset, and you were doing a good deed. He offered you a drink, and you agreed. As the night went on, you had a few more, and without thinking, you drove home. All you could think about was being a good friend and getting back to your family. Unfortunately, if you are stopped, the police won’t be interested in any of that. You will end up with an OUI, and your licence will be taken away. However, if you show accountability, don’t focus on excuses for your actions but admit you should have said no to the first offer of a drink and made better arrangements. If you can prove to a judge that you are accountable for your actions, and you are sorry, then you may be able to obtain a hardship license. This could mean you are able to continue to drive under licence and not lose your job. Even the law respects accountability.

At work, it is vital. We are faced with many situations in our working day that could leave us feeling bitter and resentful. Imagine you went for a promotion, you had been at the company for a long time, and you were confident that you were good enough for the position. However, your boss tells you that he has hired someone else. Instead of losing sleep over it and letting it lower your productivity, you need to speak to your boss and listen to his decisions. Listen to what he tells you, perhaps there are things you do at work that need to be improved. If you don’t find out, then you will never know and you won’t be able to improve yourself or achieve the fantastic things you are capable of. If after listening to his decisions, you still believe your boss is wrong, then accept that it is his choice and the consequences of making the wrong decision lie with him. Let it go.

You may also find a situation where one of your colleagues criticizes you. Perhaps they say that your team doesn’t think you listen and that you always seem to communicate negatively. If you defend your actions, then you will only enforce their thoughts. An accountable person will seek to listen and understand. If we make people feel a certain way, then it’s essential to know why. You should always thank someone who has the guts to talk to you; it’s tough to criticize someone, especially if you have to work with them every day.

Being accountable isn’t just about doing the right thing for other people. It is about understanding who you are and how you are perceived. Having the strength of character to question, listen and accept will make you a popular person to be around. Your life will feel much happier, and you will move forward instead of staying in the same place your whole life.

How To Become More Competent And Confident In The Things You Do

The overarching principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success. No matter what your field or passion is, you eventually want to get to the point where as competent and confident as you can be at it. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Become More Competent And Confident In The Things You Do.

* * *

https://unsplash.com/photos/TTPMpLI_2lc

Life is all about taking advantage of opportunities and getting as much out of them as you can. We don’t exactly know the specifics of why we’re here, but we can all agree that living it to the fullest is what someone should be striving for. We all have our definitions of what that entails, of course, but the fundamental point still stands.

In order for us to do that, we need to have a little confidence in our own ability. Confidence makes us get out of bed in the morning, and it gives us the boost we need in terms of completing whatever’s in front of us. Just look at all the timid and nervous people on this planet – they get very little done and live a life of regret, don’t they? It’s no disgrace, obviously, but nobody wants to miss out on what could be an amazing few decades here.

So, we’ve established that confidence absolutely makes us or breaks us. How can we build such confidence in order to get out there and live life to the max? Well, here are a few ways of doing it:

Find A Passion And Work Towards It

When we have meaning, that’s when we feel as though we’re valuable. When we’re idling and don’t really know what’s going on, we tend to feel as though we’re pointless and worthless. That can lead to overthinking, which will lead to toxic thoughts that lower our self-esteem. When we have a project to complete, we then become a little more important. We also have things to talk about with others if we feel like showing off! Whatever you like, be it computers, fishing, fighting – anything – try and work towards it and make it into something tangible and, perhaps, even profitable.

Be A Little More Social

If you’re comfortable and charismatic around others, then you’re going to feel a lot more confident in your ability to do things. After all, how we behave in front of others is the main point when confidence is the subject. Those with low confidence worry about how they’re perceived. If you worry less about the opinions of others, then you’re good to go. Get out and talk to people – realise that there’s little to be afraid of.

Know Your Rights

When you know exactly what you can and cannot do, that’s when your freedom to do things becomes a little more specific. You’re then able to go out and live out a life with more zest. If you know what you’re allowed to do, you’re then less likely to be bound or impeded by uncertainty – you know exactly how you should go about the world. Legal professionals like Police Misconduct Attorneys and alike will be able to advise you on the limits and rights you have as a person looking to make their way in life.

Adopt A Positive Mindset

Negativity gets you absolutely nowhere. When you’re negative or stressed about a certain upcoming task, you only suffer more. If you’re positive and optimistic, then you’re going to feel a lot more at ease with whatever’s thrown at you. You’ll respond to failure with the right mindset, and you’ll often attract positive outcomes. The law of attraction isn’t absolutely set-in-stone, but it’s a darn good way to live your life.

3 Reasons Why It Pays to Reduce Stress in Your Life

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Most people don’t proactively consider the effects of stress in their lives. Instead they live reactively and sometimes suffer from the effects of stress and the resulting negative health effects. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Reasons Why It Pays to Reduce Stress in Your Life.

* * *

Pixabay CC0 License

There’s no denying that life over the last hundred years has become infinitely better for the majority of people around the world, in all sorts of ways that are quite easy to track and measure – ranging from things like access to healthcare, to material well-being, and general safety.

Nonetheless, research continually finds that people are becoming increasingly more stressed as time goes on, and there seem to be a variety of colliding factors at the moment which serve to make modern life stressful and uptight in a way that can be difficult to properly get a handle on.

For all that, it can be extremely beneficial to look for ways to reduce stress in your life to the best of your ability – whether that means hiring intermediaries such as Process Servers to handle otherwise tricky and uncomfortable aspects of your work routine, or whether it simply means giving yourself more permission to take things easy at home from time to time without placing undue expectations on yourself.

Here are some reasons why it pays to reduce stress in your life.

Because you will be more empowered to make decisions and take action from a position of strength

When all is said and done, a state of chronic stress is essentially the same thing as feeling perpetually under threat and overwhelmed – which, in other words, means that you will tend to be dealing with life and its various challenges from a position of weakness.

There are various negative consequences to this, including the fact that operating from a position of perceived weakness will make you more paranoid and anxious, less likely to be proactive, and more cynical in general.

Whether you simply want to have a higher quality of life as a general thing, or whether you specifically want to perform better in a professional capacity, you will be better served by the ability to make decisions and take action from a position of strength.

Cultivating the ability to relax – and cultivating a relaxed demeanour in general – may therefore actually make you more effective and “in control” than you would otherwise be.

Because you will project a more positive and confident aura

In life and in business, there are real benefits to being able to interact with people in a generally positive and confident way – without, at the same time, falling into the trap of being arrogant or appearing overly domineering.

The more you’re able to relax in everyday life, the higher the likelihood is that you will naturally embody and exude a more positive and confident aura. This, in turn, will tend to make a better impression on the people you interact with, which will then tend to lead to a downstream cascade of other positive effects.

Because life will simply feel better across the board

Beyond the fact that it can impair your ability to work effectively, communicate effectively, and so on, being chronically stressed simply feels bad and will naturally detract from your overall quality of life and sense of well-being.

Although we all have an assortment of particular ambitions for our lives, it’s universal that people generally want to be happy, and want to be able to derive satisfaction and joy from their everyday experience of life.

Being relaxed and calm is a major component in being contented, and in being able to develop and maintain a sense of happiness, in general.

3 Tips for Staying on Top of the Important Things

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Health/Wellness. Many people have problems managing their lives. This is particularly true when shouldering responsibilities for one’s self and others. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Tips for Staying on Top of the Important Things.

Pixabay CC0 License

Everyone has certain important responsibilities that they have to attend to, as well as various chores and less pressing obligations that nonetheless have to be handled, in order to prevent significant problems from developing.

Whether you are trying to remember to change your auto insurance, or are planning a vacation getaway with a special someone, it’s essential to have effective strategies at hand in order to stay on top of the important things in life.

Here are a handful of tips for staying on top of the important things.

Simplify your life as much as possible

It’s very easy, all things considered, to forget important tasks and duties – and to procrastinate on important projects – if you have too much going on in your life at any given time.

If you’ve got dozens of different tasks to keep track of, combined with all sorts of distractions in your everyday life, and a host of decisions that need to be made on a regular basis, it will naturally be harder to get anything done.

According to the book “The Paradox of Choice,” by Barry Schwartz, an overabundance of choice is actually psychologically detrimental, while also increasing the degree to which people remain static or become so overwhelmed or otherwise complacent that they let important things slide.

So, in order to stay on top of the important things, begin by simplifying your life as much as possible. For starters, work on filtering out those distractions and decisions that don’t enrich or benefit you in some way, but that instead serve as time sinks.

Use automated tools and systems to keep yourself reminded

Part of the reason why the budgeting service You Need a Budget is so popular with such a broad audience, is because it helps to streamline a usually difficult process – namely money management. Specifically, it “automates” a lot of the irritating number crunching, and can allow you to track “scheduled” transactions and so on – but it doesn’t “automate” the overall process to the extent that it allows you to be complacent.

If you are at risk of forgetting about important pending transactions, or upcoming appointments, consider using automated tools and systems to keep yourself reminded.

Simple forgetfulness and inattention are frequently the reason for a failure to get important things done.

Use a task and project management system that requires mindful engagement and review

There are various task and project management systems out there which thrive specifically because they focus to a significant degree on promoting regular engagement and review of various tasks and projects.

David Allen’s famous “Getting Things Done” task management system, for example, involves constantly reviewing the different projects that you have to handle, so that you can continually identify and act on the “next action” down the line.

Ryder Carroll’s paper-based Bullet Journal Method, on the other hand, involves writing entries out by hand, and copying them out during regular “reviews” and “migrations.” The overall effect is that you’re forced to remain proactive and to engage with your to-do list.

Generally speaking, task and project management systems that require mindful engagement and review are going to be much more effective in terms of actually ensuring that you get things done as required.

Coronavirus Lockdown Doesn’t Make You Powerless. It’s Your Opportunity To Take Control

Two of the focuses of my blog are Current Events and Health/Wellness. The Coronavirus/Covid-19 Pandemic/Crisis has created unprecedented and complex circumstances for everyone. While the situation sorts itself out, you don’t have to let it be the end of your world as there are potential opportunities to better your life in the meantime. The following contributed post is entitled, Coronavirus Lockdown Doesn’t Make You Powerless. It’s Your Opportunity To Take Control.

* * *

How are you, dear reader? It’s okay if you need a moment to answer that question. Like the rest of us, you’re likely dealing with a completely different paradigm in every aspect of your life and work. Your day to day is likely far removed from what it was even at the start of this year. You may be grappling with unforeseen expenses potentially combined with a loss of income. You may have either or a lot less free time on your hands. You may have assumed the role of teacher as you homeschool your kids using resources provided by their school. You may be sleeping a lot less easily, even if you’re lucky enough not to have been directly impacted by the virus itself or lost anyone to it.

Image by Julia M Cameron via Pexels

You may feel as though life has spiralled out of your control right now. But fear not, dear reader. This may feel like the end. But it’s actually just the beginning…

Lockdown liberation

While in lockdown you may feel isolated. You may be cut off from the people, places and and activities that bring you meaning. But look at this not as an incarceration but a liberation! No longer do you need to define yourself by the places where you shop or the products you own. You’re no longer the clothes you wear or the car you drive. This can be a very liberating opportunity for you to redefine and reinvent yourself. Whether it’s by giving your business a new marketing push or re-engaging with new hobbies or interests. Now’s the time to pare down the distractions and focus on what really matters.

Cut unnecessary costs and take control of your budget

Now’s the time to start thinking about all those wasted costs that quickly added up in your pre-lockdown life. From the monday morning latte to the beers with the team after work on Friday. Necessity is the mother of invention. Now’s the time to make budgeting your new best friend. See how much you could save on auto insurance with a pay-per-mile company like Metromile. Invest in preparing, cooking, freezing and reheating more homemade meals. See if you can save money by switching your energy, phone or broadband providers. You might just learn that you have more control of your household budget than you thought.

Rethink your diet

Speaking of home cooked meals, the long lines and bare shelves at the grocery store might just be the shot in the arm that you needed. Now that access tro sugary, salty and fatty processed foods is restricted, it’s time to take control of your diet and start making good on those health and fitness promises you made yourself at the start of the year.

Rediscover your creativity

To paraphrase a fictional character… You’re not the car you drive, the clothes you wear or how much money you have in the bank. You are the sum total of all the things that bring your life joy and meaning. If you’re able to get that in your work, fantastic! But if you’re not, it’s time to re-engage with your old interests and rediscover your creativity. Pick up a paintbrush, dust off that manuscript you were working on or get together with some friends over video chat to make a podcast.

Whatever brings you happiness or meaning, the COVID-19 lockdown isn’t going to remove your control over your life… it might just be what hands it back.

4 Signs That Alcohol Is Taking Over Your Life

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Though it’s not normally thought of as one, alcohol can be a drug of abuse which can ravage the life of the abuser and their family. Some people don’t know once alcohol has taken hold of their lives. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Signs That Alcohol Is Taking Over Your Life.

* * *

Alcohol dependency, addiction – call it what you want, it’s a serious health issue to worry about. People with an alcohol problem are usually one step away from falling down a deep and dark path that leads to a host of health and social issues. The biggest problem with alcoholism is that it gradually bleeds its way into your life. Many people are living with alcohol problems and they don’t even realize it.

Consequently, here are some telltale signs to be wary of that show alcohol is taking over your life:

Image Source -CC0 License

You’re spending way too much money on booze

Take a look at your bank statements or have a look in your fridge at home. Do you see loads of transactions in bars or loads of money spent on alcohol in grocery stores? Is your fridge full of alcohol, and your bins packed full of empty bottles? This shows you’re buying way too much alcohol all the time. It’s an early warning sign that you’re becoming dependent on the substance. You need it in your life, and you feel compelled to have some around you to drink every single day.

You’ve been given charges for drink driving

In terms of clear warning signs, they don’t get much clearer than this. Driving while intoxicated is a terrible thing to do. If you get caught doing this, then it impacts everything from your car insurance to your livelihood. Some companies may fire you if you’re caught with a charge for a DUI, particularly if you’re caught while you’re working or if you’re still wearing your work uniform. To get to a state where you think it’s okay to drink and drive, you must have some sort of dependency on alcohol.

You wake up with a hangover every day

Do you wake up with a pounding head, dry feeling in your throat, and a feeling of slight nausea? If so, then you’re exhibiting the signs of a hangover. This happens when you drink a lot of alcohol, and it’s normal to experience this after a night out with friends once a week. But, if you have a hangover every day, then it shows you’re drinking far too much alcohol every night. Also, the signs of a hangover can also be something entirely different. It may be withdrawal symptoms from not drinking. If you start drinking and feel better, then that’s another bad sign.

You’re becoming a recluse

Are you spending less time with friends and family? Have you got into arguments with the people you care about? If so, then you may have an alcohol problem. Alcohol abuse can be damaging to your mental health, as it changes your mood. In turn, you shut yourself off from others and decide to stay inside or be by yourself. You can get annoyed easily, pushing away those you care about. If this sounds too familiar to you, then you have a problem on your hands.

Be mindful of these signs as they show that you have a genuine drinking issue. It’s important to seek out solutions right away as this can have a negative effect on your mind, body, and personal life.

5 Ways to Enrich Your Life While Working 9 to 5

Three focuses of my blog are Career Discussions, Health/Wellness and Professional Development/Skills. Many people stagnate once setting into a 9 to 5 career/job while others continue to grow and thrive. There are ways to continue thriving both personally and professionally while working your 9 to 5. The following guest post is entitled, 5 Ways to Enrich Your Life While Working 9 to 5.

* * *

Time is a precious resource not everyone has. This becomes especially relevant when you reach your adulthood. The typical set-up for most working adults is a 9-5 job. Some work for as long as 10 hours, or work during nighttime. You might be cursed with daily 3-hour commutes. Much of your adulthood will be spent on earning a living and a lot of times you won’t have a weekend well spent aside from lounging around.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t live your life to the fullest while working hard. There are many ways you can enrich your life and get the most out of every situation-if you make time for them. Here are some ways you can step out of your 9-5 box and enrich the moments in your life:

Learn New Skills

The advent of new technologies like the Internet and smartphones paved the way for easier access to things you might not know yet. More often than not, if you don’t know something, you Google it. You can go to online schools and open universities to learn something new. Better yet, you can even learn new skills from YouTube, like learning how to cook or fix the sink.

Also, if you can manage your time, you can try to go to take vocational courses from accredited institutions or continue your education and take a graduate degree. All these can add something new or further hone your skillset, which can help you in the long run.

Declutter Your Life

Take a page from Marie Kondo’s minimalistic way of living and declutter your life. Fill your life with things that spark you joy; get rid of things that don’t make you happy or you have no use of anymore. You can donate old clothes, recycle your stack of papers, or even cut contact with someone toxic from your life. When it comes to work, categorize and sort everything. Make everything in your life valuable and it’ll help you in the long run.

Practice Mindfulness

Become more self-aware. Mindfulness brings you to the forefront of your very situation instead of being stuck in the past. You can do this kind of meditation whenever you’re feeling pressured with your work, or with making a very important decision. You can do things with a clear mind. It lets you become objective; you attune to what’s happening right now, regulating your emotions.

Apart from being a good stress reliever, you gain control that otherwise would’ve been lost when you panic or freeze.

Don’t Forget to Relax

When you have no plans for the weekend, sometimes you might be thinking to yourself: “How do I make the most of my weekend?” Well, there’s more to life than doing a Netflix binge, so do whatever relaxes you. If it’s reading by a warm fireplace, then do that. If you’re more of an extrovert, try doing volunteer work. Be creative, express yourself.

Take Control of Your Narrative

“Live your life so it’s a story to tell,” says one lifehack. Sometimes, there are things that hold you back from achieving great heights. Although, other times, it’s you who’s holding you back. You need to gain the courage and confidence to step up and take a leap of faith. You know yourself well; you know well what you can do.

You don’t have to leave your 9 to 5 to do anything rewarding for your life. Go in headfirst with no regrets. If you stumble along the way or get to the finish line in the end, it’ll be a rewarding, learning experience for you.

How To Choose Where You Live

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. A major aspect of your personal wellness and that of your family is where you choose to live. The place where you live has multiple effects on your life. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Choose Where You Live.

* * *

It doesn’t matter whether you are planning to retire or you are just looking for a new place to live, deciding where to go is not a natural choice to make. There are so many cities and towns, suburbs, and municipalities to choose from. It’s always smart to look at your options and move to what you feel is the best location for you.

But where do you begin? Choosing where to live takes research. You’ll need to know where the jobs are and how the real estate market is looking (and Peter Barlin makes this easy for Austin!). You need to see if you will have the right amenities in your new place, and you need to find out whether you are in the right place for everything that you will need. So, what do you need to consider when choosing where you should live the rest of your life?

Image Source

  1. Town Size. Whether you covet the city or you swoon after the suburbs, you need to choose the size of the town that works for you. You want to find somewhere to live based on your needs, and it starts with the size. The internet is invaluable for this, as you can find out what the populations are for all the areas you are interested in.
  2. The Weather. If you hate rain, Seattle is not a good idea. If you love the sunshine, then Miami could be for you. The weather affects your mood, and it affects everything that you want to do – especially if you love the outdoor life. Choose the right climate for you, and you’ll be able to enjoy the new area in which you are basing your life.
  3. Entertainment. Are you looking for a quiet life, or do you hope for jazz clubs and buzz? Living within the right area can make a big difference in the way you look at life. It would help if you considered what you enjoy and what’s close by to you. There’s no use in feeling isolated and living so far away. Be aware, though, that the more built-up the area, the more expensive it can become.
  4. Employment. Are you moving for your job? Do you hope to find a new job when you do eventually move? These are essential questions that you need to answer because without doing so, you’re going to find it hard to settle without means to pay your way.
  5. Amenities. Are you moving with children? Well, you’ll need to consider schools you may also want to know about public transport and local hospitals just in case you need this. You will need to live somewhere that ticks all the boxes, whether that’s a town or city to start with!
  6. The Great Outdoors. Nature is a big deal for a lot of people, especially if you love hiking and walking to new areas. Beaches are also a big deal if you love water sports. Choose your area based on your interests, and you can’t go wrong.

(Big and Small) Lifestyle Changes for Better Mental Health

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Arguably our most important aspect of health is our mental health. There things we can do to maintain and foster good mental health. The following contributed post is entitled, (Big and Small) Lifestyle Changes for Better Mental Health.

* * *

Pixabay – CCO Licence

So many of us struggle with our mental health that is is becoming a very serious epidemic. Obviously, if you are feeling very unwell, it is useful to visit a doctor or therapist and see what they have to offer, but there are lots of lifestyle changes, with big and small, that if you are able, could help you to live a happier, healthier less stressful life too.

Combining doctor’s advice with the following ideas may prove to be useful to you on your wellness journey…

Eat an Enhanced Diet

Although it’s unlikely to be the whole story, there is a lot of evidence to suggest that the way we eat can impact upon our mental wellbeing, as we all know it does with our physical health. Whole foods such as fruits and vegetables, legumes and whole grains have been found to boost mood, as have omega-3 rich foods, while trans fats and junk food have been found to be unhelpful, perhaps due to the fact that they change the bacteria in our guts for the worse. So, by adding more good foods and reducing the number of unhealthy foods we eat, we can easily increase our sense of wellbeing.

Change Your Job

If you do a job that you hate, which is hard work for you and which sees you get few rewards, it’s easy to start feeling stressed out, anxious and depressed. It’s a big step, but if you feel able to take the leap, retraining for a job you know you’ll love could be just what you need to get you out of your funk. Whether you find farming land for sale and ditch the office for a life living on the land or you quit the call center and start work in the office, shaking up your work so that it’s more in line with who you are could be the start of things looking up. Be brave.

Meditating

Meditating is something you can do in 5-15 minutes each day, but it can be completely transformational for your mental health. Learning how to be more mindful; how to go with the flow more; and how to stop identifying with every negative thought you have, can bring you a peace of mind you never thought possible. Meditation has been shown to improve symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety, so make it a part of your everyday life.

Travel the World

Taking off and traveling the world might not be practical, and if you’re feeling very mentally well, it might not feel remotely possible, but seeing more of the world when you are able to do so, can really help boost your mental health. Seeing new things and having new experiences can shock you back into the present and put life into perspective for you. It can teach you new things about yourself and show you what you’re really made of. Even if you can only travel to the next state, getting out of your current environment could do you the world of good.

Make as many positive changes, as big or small as you can manage, and your wellness levels will soon start to soar!