Article Written By Charley Sunday
It’s important to stop doing certain things to improve your life and achieve happiness. Sometimes it’s hard to recognize the things that hold you back, but if you identify these bad habits, you can start breaking them and become a happier person overall. Below are eight things you should stop doing to improve your life.
1. Stop Being Negative
When you’re in a bad mood, everything seems negative — and it’s even harder to see things in a positive light. Instead of focusing on what’s wrong with your life, consider what you have going for you and appreciate these positives more often.
2. Stop Stressing Yourself Out
When you’re stressed, Harvard Medical School notes that it can cause you to overeat and make poor food choices. The key is learning how to handle your stress and not to let it take over your life. Or better yet, remove stress altogether. Learn some ways to remove or reduce your daily stress levels so you don’t take them out on your body and yourself. One great way is to spend more time in nature. Just pack a tent, blanket, and some cold drinks, and away you go!
3. Stop Falling Into a Rut
There are two reasons you should try not to get stuck in a rut. First, living a routine life doesn’t allow you to take advantage of opportunities as they come up. Second, getting stuck in a rut can create stress and limit how fulfilled you feel each day. If your rut is financial or somehow linked to your current home, look into how much equity you have in your house. You may be able to refinance to manage higher interest debt or move to a new place for a new beginning.
4. Stop Neglecting Yourself
Neglecting your needs is a recipe for unhappiness. Permit yourself to make your happiness a priority. Get up 15 minutes earlier to fit in yoga or another form of exercise. Also, make it a point to compliment yourself at least once every day — it will help improve your self-confidence and motivate you as you tackle your goals.
5. Stop Putting Off Health Insurance
When it comes to health insurance, procrastination can be a critical mistake. Even if you feel like you don’t need it today, you should always make sure that your health is properly covered. This is especially important for freelancers as many companies do not offer the same health insurance coverage that salaried employees receive. As a freelancer, taking that extra step to get acquainted with different healthcare plans and making sure you have them in place can delightfully provide peace of mind in times of uncertainty. Finding the right healthcare plan doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming; look at online reviews, reach out to providers directly and research online forums to find a plan that provides coverage most suitable for your individual needs.
6. Stop Not Exercising
Exercise is critical to your physical and mental health. It has a very tangible effect on stress and weight management as well. While it might not seem worth an hour out of your day when you could be doing something else, think about how much more productive you could be at work or how much better you’ll feel overall if you take time for exercise daily.
7. Stop Eating Poorly
To get on a healthy eating track, take control of what you put in your body every day. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, measure portions carefully, and be mindful of fats, carbs, sugar, and salt. Everyday Health points out that eating better will help you feel better — and lead a longer life, too. You might also want to invest in a quality range hood for your kitchen, since it can help keep the air clean while cooking those healthy meals.
8. Stop Living With Clutter
A clean, organized, and decluttered home helps create a more positive atmosphere. So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed at home, take some time to clean up and get organized. Set a goal for this cleaning session, and work until you obtain it.
Clutter can be a cause or aggravating factor in stress and fatigue, so decluttering is important for your health. Decluttering can be time consuming when you begin, but with regular upkeep it goes much quicker.
Take Action
Stop putting things off and making excuses. If something is bothering you, find time in your schedule to address it rather than letting it fester. And look for opportunities to get out of harmful routines and into a better, healthier lifestyle. Whether it’s fixing your finances, adding more exercise, cooking healthier meals or taming clutter. Simple changes can lead to big results for improved overall wellbeing.
