If you measure the quality of your life by looking at external things such as your big bank account, uber exotic car, or beauty in the mirror … sooner or later your life’s gonna suck. You’re setting yourself up for a big fall.
When you come face-to-face with death, none of that’s going to matter.
What will matter is your answer to the question “Did I live a full life?” When you reflect back on it, did you love unconditionally, experience deep joy, live with passion and purpose?
Answering “Yes” to those questions means you probably took care of your mind, body and soul in ways that all the heavily marketed “wellness products” couldn’t begin to effect.
If you have a desire to have a life like that, you don’t need to spend money on the latest pills, fads and shiny objects. Instead, you need to focus on the basics. For the most part, it’s free.
Will it take work? Of course it will; after all, we’re talking about an inside job. It’s about dropping the external facade, looking inward and taking care of the things that really matter.
Here’s are 10 things you can do throughout your life to make yours the best life possible:
- Move Your Body – Aim for 30 minutes of moderate or intense exercise daily. Research shows these workouts can reduce the risk of heart disease, dementia and even cancer.
- Get Out in Nature – Spend two hours or more out in nature every week. Do this for both your mental and physical health. Combine it with hiking to get your exercise in!
- Eat Well and Stick with Real Foods – Stay away from processed and fried foods, eat your veggies, and stay as close to the source as you can. As for supplements, the latest research shows they do little for you.
- Don’t Stuff Your Feelings – Despite what social media might have you believe, you can’t be happy all the time. If you’re feeling anger, grief, etc – learn how to move through it. Ignoring it or “stuffing it down” just makes it worse. And don’t be afraid to get professional help if you need it.
- Be Vulnerable – The more vulnerable you are, the better. It’s far better than shutting off the world. While you might have been taught that “sharing your feelings” is weak, in actuality it’s usually perceived as being courageous and can help build trust and connection with others.
- Have Real-World Friendships – Digital friendships can be helpful, but there’s nothing better than having in-person connections in the real world where you can truly feel each other.
- Focus and Work in “Time Blocks” – Multi-tasking is a myth. You’ll get tons more done by eliminating distractions and giving your full attention to a task in 30-50 minute blocks of time. To get even more done, take a 10-15 minute break, then do it again.
- Don’t Force Passion; Let It Happen Organically – You can’t force passion, but that doesn’t stop people from trying. People who actively seek out something they can be immediately passionate about have what’s called a “fit mindset”. In their quest to find the perfect thing to be passionate about, set a high bar, and then give up when things get tough. Instead, it’s better to have a “development mindset” in which you place more emphasis on curiosity, understand that passion can take time, and are more likely to put less pressure on yourself and hence sustain it.
- Be in Service to Something Bigger than You – People with a strong life purpose tend to live longer and more fulfilling lives than those who don’t. And it doesn’t really matter what it is – church, nature, a cause, whatever. What matters is developing core values and connecting with something beyond yourself.
- Create the Environment that Best Supports You – Become mindful about the surroundings in your life. Do they support and inspire you, or frustrate and bring you down? Could you do a room makeover to create a better office or living space? Would leaving the crowded city and finding a smaller town make a difference? As you become more clear about what you want in life, surround yourself with the environment and social network that helps you achieve it.
None of these suggestions is rocket science. And they all skip the latest fads, food supplements and other shiny objects.
