1. Exercise regularly
In modern life we move our bodies less and less, and this has enormous consequences for our physical and mental well-being. Like Dr. Bob Butler once said:
Takeaway:
No time to go to the gym or join a club? Good, 7 minutes
of well-planned exercises, or something else minimalist workouts
might be all you need.
2. Eat better
Joshua Rosenthal, author of Integrative nutrition
proposes us to:
says that if you take just one piece of advice from his book, it should be: eat two large salads a day – the salad is the main course
.
Takeaway:
two huge salads a day + more water
3. Sleep more
4. Meditate
It gives you more focus, better memory and emotional resilience.
According to Shawn Anchor: “ In fact, research shows that regular meditation can permanently rewire the brain to increase happiness levels
”. Another academic, Dr. Herbert Benson from Harvard Medical School, also found in his research that meditation had a positive effect in treating anxiety, depression, obsessive thinking and hostility.
There are a few good platforms to get you started with meditation:
5. Keep a diary
Some people like to use paper diaries, others like to use apps (like the very popular Day One). iOS
And Mac
). How much and how often you write is up to you. What should you write about? Here are some triggers:
Takeaway:
start a journal, even if it’s just a few lines a day.
6. Practice smiling
7. Less TV time
tell us:
Much of the danger of excessive television also applies to media consumed through our computers, phones and tablets.
Takeaway:
Cut your TV time in half. Instead, pick up a book, have meaningful conversations, or listen to podcasts.
8. Simple life = happy life
Too many options or choices makes us unhappy.
Too much activity distracts and stresses us out, preventing true fulfillment.
Eating too much makes us fat and destroys our health.
The list is almost endless. But “less is more”, so let’s keep it short?
The reason it’s so hard to simplify is because we humans fear loss. We dread the thought of missing out on an opportunity or a friendship, or giving away the pants we spent a lot of money on but only wore once three years ago. The problem is that we don’t realize how much this tendency actually slows us down and overloads our lives.
Here are some (maybe painful) exercises you can try:
Feel the space that is freed up when everything that is not really necessary is put aside.
Takeaway:
simplify your life. Try the exercises suggested above.
9. Keep a beginner’s mind
There are many options, but with the expert there are few“
That’s a quote from Zen Mind Beginner’s Mind
, one of my favorite bedside books from my teenage years. The Japanese term for this is ‘Sho Shin’.
A beginner’s mind is full of energy and openness. It is willing to take on any challenge because it has no idea of how things should be. That’s why there’s so much joy and excitement in starting something new, whether it’s a new hobby, learning a new skill, or starting a new business or career.
The real enemy of the beginner’s mind is laziness and the desire for comfort. It closes us off to what we currently have and prevents us from growing to new heights.
Takeaway:
Keep a hungry mind open. Leave room for the unexpected, for serendipity.
10. Write down your goals
“Why would I write it down? I know them…’, you might say. But wait, look at this, from Forbes magazine:
Takeaway:
Stop for a moment and write down your three most important long-term goals in life. Are they translated for you into short-term goals and concrete actions?
11. Foster close relationships
There are also studies linking marriage, or a long-term relationship, to higher life satisfaction. “ Intimacy, commitment, and support bear emotional fruit for most people
”, reports psychologist David Myers.
Takeaway:
nurturing meaningful, close relationships pays off.
12. Give, volunteer, serve
Serving releases ‘happiness chemicals’ such as dopamine and oxytocin (called the ‘compassion hormone’ by many). This, of course, assumes that you give or serve from a caring heart, not out of obligation or social pressure, and that you do so in a way that is balanced with your own personal needs.
In the words of Professor Martin Seligman, ‘father’ of Positive psychology
:
Takeaway:
occasionally
do something good for someone who can never repay you.
13. Spend time in nature
Takeaway:
spend some more time in nature.
14. Cultivate morning rituals
You have to experiment and see what works in your lifestyle. Fun things to include are:
After that’s done, it’s a good time to check email, news, and social media. Or just continue working.
Takeaway:
what’s the best way to start your day?
15. Pause, look, continue
To see well, you don’t always have to look. You cannot solve a problem with the same level of thinking that created it.
We have a cult of speed and hustle in our society. But being busy is not the same as being productive. It can often be an escape from something.
To live better, we need to create space to breathe and think. We have to praise the slowness
more.
Nothing will happen if you miss that next update, phone call or tweet.
Takeaway:
to delay. Take a break when you need to. Create space to stop and think outside the box