10 Ways To Makeover Your Life

Life can be tough. The news depresses us, our jobs stress us out and we put all this extra pressure on ourselves to look flawless as we try to balance it all. The truth is, most of us struggle at some point, but the trick is to identify when “enough is enough” and do something about it. There’s no need to wait until the New Year to give your life a makeover, you can start right now. 

#1.    Identify Your Stressors

Often, we have more than one stressor, therefore, lessening the load might seem impossible. As soon as you sit down and identify what exactly is stressing you out, you become closer to finding solutions.

We recommend taking a blank sheet of paper and setting yourself a timer for two minutes. Fill the paper with everything that is causing you anxiety, stress or worry. After the two minutes are up, number your stressors; with number one being the biggest cause of stress. Then, start with Number One and write down three potential ways you can diminish that stressor. We’re magicians, you’re welcome!

#2.    Prioritize Your Most Important Goal

Much like your stressors, your goals deserve due diligence. Writing down your goals in order of importance may seem like a pointless task, but seeing your goals clearly written out makes you manifest your goals into reality.

According to a study by Psychology Professor Dr. Gail Matthews, from the Dominican University, “Those who wrote their goals accomplished significantly more than those who did not write their goals.” The study also concludes that writing progress reports and public commitment (e.g. telling your friends), contributed significantly to accomplishing goals. Pens at the ready, people. Or iPhones…

#3.    Exercise Consistently Not Religiously

This one might seem obvious. We all know that exercise is vital for our health; consistency with exercise can massively increase our life span and diminish our chances of developing cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and even Alzheimer’s. However, exercise can also help with mental health and overall happiness. The trick is to exercise consistently, rather than religiously. “Exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy. Happy people don’t shoot their husbands, they just don’t…”

Nowadays, there are so many apps that make working out much more realistic for busy people. We recommend Butt Workout and Fitness App; which allows you to choose from various seven-minute workouts. You can do them in your bedroom, a hotel room, in the park or on your lunch break. Out of excuses yet?

#4.    Find Your Church

Whatever you love, do it often. If it’s yoga, head to the studio once a week for your favorite class or load up a YouTube video and fit in a quick session before work. If live music is your jam, make sure you’re signed up for pre-sale tickets to see your favorite bands. If you’re a runner, invest in some supportive sneakers and make a commitment to pound the pavement every Sunday, rain or shine. 

The point is, whatever your therapy, indulge in that. Don’t feel guilty about it. Make time for it. Let it heal you and bring you faith. #NAMASTE

#5.    Check-In On Your Finances

This one is a bit boring; we know. Keep an eye on those pennies. It can be tempting to turn a blind eye to your financial situation; only checking your bank statement on payday and pretending that you didn’t pay for half the bar’s drinks on Friday night. But, come on, let’s be real. How are you going to be a financially independent, successful, confident badass, if you’re constantly in denial about your finances? 

We recommend the Emma app for help tracking your finances. The cleverly built app links up with your bank account to create reports for your spending, manage your subscriptions and tell you if you are sticking to your budgets. Work until your bank statement looks like a phone number, girl!

#6.    Give Back In Some Way

Life is all about the goodness you leave behind. Try to look outside of yourself and see what you can do for others. It’s a beautiful thing to help those in need, so whether that’s volunteering at a soup kitchen at the weekend, running a 10K race for charity, or fundraising for issues that matter to you, do not let the challenge of the task keep from starting.

It can be overwhelming because the thought of letting other people down, is so much worse than the idea of letting yourself down. Start small and work your way up. It all matters! 

#7.    Call A Family Member

You might be feeling guilty about this one but drop that guilt like it’s hot. Try to take some time, at least once a week, to reach out to a family member or friend you maybe haven’t spoken to in a while. 

Maybe someone is sick and in need of a mood-lift? Perhaps your sister is having a tough time at work and needs some advice? What about your friend who is doing some solo traveling around America? Whoever it is, check-in with that person and nurture that relationship. That is adulting, for real. 

#8.    Try Something New

One of the best New Years' resolutions I made this year was to try something new every month. It can be anything from trying out a new restaurant that’s just opened, a dance class, an archery class, a cooking class, pottery, whatever! 

The most important thing is to have fun with it. Don’t let it become another annoying item on your To Do List or another stressor. Instead, let it become that exciting thing you look forward to every month. After all, you never know who you’ll meet, where you’ll go and what might happen. Plus, you might just get some hilarious dinner party stories out of it. “And then this pigeon just flew in and…” 

#9.    Get Outside

Even if it’s just for five minutes a day, get yourself outside. Don’t tell me there are too many people, it’s too polluted or it’s raining because I live in London… 

Walk to work instead of taking the bus, go for a wander around on your lunch break or go find a park to sit in, rather than eating at the canteen. Going outside can really help provide some much-needed perspective on a bad day too. It helps to realize how many people are out there, living all sorts of interesting, weird and wonderful lives. You can do that too! You have the power to change your circumstances, so get out there and change them. 

#10.    Let It Go

You know all that anger you’re carrying from that guy that cut you off while you were driving into work this morning? Or how about your boss who keeps undermining your potential? Or maybe it’s your grandmother who keeps calling you to ask why you still, STILL don’t have a boyfriend, while friends of yours are getting engaged? Repeat after me: LET. IT. GO.

There are honestly no rules for how you do this but get that anger out of you, and fast. Anger has an awful habit of bursting out at inopportune moments if we let it live in us…not so cute. The best way to avoid this is to find your coping strategy. Whether it’s a hot bath, a long walk, baking, boxing or screaming into a pillow, just do it and let it all go. No one needs a Christian Bale-style meltdown on their resume. 

We all have the power to makeover our lives. The first step is to commit. The second step is action. We’re right here with you girl, so go slay.

 

Next up, 3 Tips On How To Support A Friend Through A Breakup