19 Easy Steps You Can Take Everyday to Improve Your Life

Hug harder. Laugh even harder. Smile larger. Love longer.

~Unknown

Have you ever gotten the two completely confused?

I am referring to joy here. I used to believe that if I could just go through college with high marks and a degree, then I would finally be happy. I had the misconception that seeing the globe would enable me to get a sense of fulfillment. I believed that relocating to another country and landing a job of that kind would be enough to fulfill me and make me happy.

They were all successful, but only for a short period of time. They were usually accompanied by a date of expiry.

At some point, I realized that I needed to take a step back and ask myself, “If I’m not able to be completely happy right now, can I ever be?” If I wasn’t able to be grateful for all that was already in my life, then would having additional things be the solution?

No.

Then I had the notion, “If happiness is what I want, why don’t I just skip the middle step and get straight there?”

So, I did. I decided to quit putting it off until later. I stopped letting the things going on in my life determine how I felt inside. In addition to this, I stopped putting my faith in illusory locations that promised me pleasure and fulfillment.

What I came to understand is that happiness is not something that just occurs; rather, it is something that one chooses to experience. It’s a talent that can be cultivated by anybody who adopts the appropriate routines.

19 Positive Habits That Could Completely Transform Your Life

1. Appreciate more

This morning, when I woke up, I felt grateful for my comfortable bed, my amazing friends, and especially for my mother, who is the foundation of my existence. Happiness is a byproduct of appreciation. It brings to light and lends significance to the things that are important in our lives. And the more you appreciate, the more you’ll discover in your life for which you should feel gratitude.

Remind yourself, each morning when you wake up and each night when you go to sleep, of three things in your life that you are grateful for right now.

2. Invigorate oneself first thing in the morning

The mood for the remainder of the day is mostly determined by the morning. You will experience feelings of being grounded, energetic, and ready to take on the world if you have an effective morning routine.

Before you go outside of the home, try meditating, doing yoga, writing down a list of everything you like, watching motivational videos on YouTube, or listening to your favorite music. Put simply, make today a fantastic one for yourself!

3. Practice acceptance

Things don’t always work out the way we expect them to. When my plans would inevitably alter, or when the bus would be late, I’d get quite irritated. However, my resistance never resulted in any positive change; rather, it led to a downward spiral in my life. When I finally learned to accept all that came my way, I was able to free myself from needless misery.

Get comfortable with accepting things as they are. Adjust yourself to the new circumstances without adding fuel to the fire with negative feelings.

4. Always focus on the here and now

The present moment is the stage upon which everything takes place. It is the only spot in the world where one may really find bliss (or anything else for that matter). It’s the only location in the world that matters. It may seem silly, but coming to this realization completely altered the course of my life. I am able to think better, feel better, and act better in the present moment.

Utilize all five of your senses—hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, and tasting—when you go to a new location so that you may be more present in the moment.

5. Pay close attention to what is said

Listen with the intention of understanding and compassion. Give the gift of your undivided attention to the people around you. The formation of deep connections with others and a focus on the present moment both contribute significantly to one’s level of pleasure.

You should make it a goal to participate more actively in all of your interactions, whether they are with a coworker, a partner, or a total stranger on the street.

6. Set aside some cash to use as an investment in your memories

Short-term gratification from material possessions is possible, but the joy we get from experiences will last far longer. During the course of the last year, I have made very few purchases of brand-new items. Instead, I put that money toward my vacation expenses. Just the thought of those beach parties in the Caribbean, those beautiful days in Central Park, and that event in Ibiza makes my face break out into an absurdly large grin.

Only purchase stuff that you absolutely need or that make your heart skip a beat. After that, put that additional cash toward activities that, when you recall them afterwards, will elicit reactions such as “Aaah,” “Ohhh,” and “Wow” from you.

7. Make new friends

After the age of twenty, many of us cease actively seeking out new friendships. If you expand your circle of acquaintances, you’ll have a fuller social life, more opportunities to learn new things, and more room for personal development.

Try striking up a conversation with a total stranger, and you never know who you could wind up befriending. It may be for only five minutes, or it could be for the rest of your life.

8. Dream big

Dreams are beneficial; they move us in a progressive direction. They make our minds and hearts come alive, and they provide us with the motivation to keep living. Give yourself permission to have ambitious goals and dreams, and have faith that they can be accomplished.

Spend at least five minutes of each day allowing yourself to get carried away in your ideal existence. Put as much effort as you can into making it seem genuine; imagine yourself already being, doing, and possessing all your heart desires, and then generate those sensations.

9. Move forward in the direction of your desire

Now, does what you have right now seem anything like the future you’re hoping for? In such case, focus more of your time and effort on the things you wish to see flourish.

Make it a daily habit to advance yourself in the direction of your goals by taking baby steps. It’s the little things that add up.

10. Adopt an attitude of plenty, rather than one of lack

The way in which we see the world completely determines the way in which we experience the world. When you are in need, you learn to guard what you have and store it away. Giving to others is a visible statement that you have more than enough for yourself at this moment.

Don’t feel like you receive enough love? Give affection to someone else. Don’t feel like you earn enough money? Donate your money to a worthy cause or individual.

11. Make sure you give yourself time to recharge your batteries

Even though we live in a world that encourages us to do more, be more, give more, and have more, we still need downtime in order to maintain our mental and physical health. It is essential that we take in sources of energy. Take frequent rest intervals, and if you really need it, get a quick snooze.

In most cases, things that aren’t scheduled end up not being done, therefore you should make sure you prepare for some downtime.

12. Make time in your schedule for fun

Having a life is not an obligation. You did not come here to mend anything that is broken or to finish something that is on a to-do list. You came because you wanted to have fun, because you wanted to experience the thrill and wonder of being alive.

Make sure that you give yourself at least fifteen minutes a day to have fun, and that you don’t let anything interfere with that time.

13. Surround yourself with cheerful people

Attitudes are infectious. If someone is smiling at you, it’s likely that you will return the gesture. If someone is disrespectful to you, then you will most likely respond in like. You should only associate yourself with persons whose outlook you want to adopt.

Go online and watch videos of individuals with fantastic attitudes like Marie Forleo, Tony Robbins, and Regena Thomashauer if you don’t have access to any joyful people in your immediate vicinity (Mama Gena).

14. Proceed with caution

According to the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, “Nature does not haste, but everything is achieved.” Faster doesn’t imply better. Busier doesn’t mean surpassing. Don’t be in a hurry to get through life.

Slow down. Invest your mind, body, and soul into what you’re doing, and keep your attention fixed there (and only that).

15. Find ways to actively calm yourself down

It is not so much the things that occur in our life as it is how we choose to respond to them that is important. In order to improve our decision-making, we need to learn to act as our own lifeguards and distract ourselves from unhelpful ideas.

When I’m having a terrible day, I generally go for a run, meditate, or write down a list of all the things in my life that I’m grateful for. Experiment with a variety of approaches until you discover those that are successful for you.

16. Let go

Letting go isn’t always an easy task, but it’s the only way to make room for new and better experiences in your life. When we let go of something, we might experience a sense of relief and calm in our minds. The fight is done, and now there is room for whole new concepts and points of view to emerge.

You should make it a habit to let go of things that aren’t beneficial to you, such as whining, comparing yourself to other people, pessimism, errors from the past, or anxieties about the future.

17. Forgive regularly

It’s possible that someone was impolite, that someone was running late, or that they just forgot to call you back. Although forgiveness doesn’t justify bad conduct, it does set you free from its hold on you. It frees up resentment as well as any unpleasant feelings that have been attached to a person or circumstance.

It should become second nature to always forgive other people, even for the most little of transgressions.

18. Remember to pay attention to the actual world

The world of social media is always screaming for our attention through our mobile devices, including our computers, tablets, and smartphones. The actual world is meant to serve as a supplement to our lives in the digital world; it should not be the other way around.

Therefore, make an effort to focus on the here and now of your actual location (the Facebook status update can wait).

19. Remember to take care of yourself

There is a connection between our bodies, our minds, and our souls. If you alter the state of any one of them, you will automatically alter the state of the other two. Isn’t it great to have such information?

You should strive to enhance your general sense of well-being by engaging in activities on a daily basis, such as making a healthy dinner, going for a run, or watching a satisfying movie. Also, keep in mind that taking care of oneself is the same as taking care of the planet.

Take Full Ownership Of Your Joy Once And For All

It’s a source of frustration when you can’t control your own happiness. It is a certain method to put oneself on the path to unhappiness if one bases their happiness on the state of events and conditions in the outside world. Because our happiness is directly proportional to how well our lives run according to our plans and how well things go for us.

The completion of a task is not a precondition for experiencing joy. It is not about living a life devoid of difficulties or about accomplishing a certain target or aim. Instead, it’s about being in a position to appreciate where you are, regardless of the circumstances.

Do not put your happiness in the hands of chance. You may decide to claim it. Live the life that you have earned the right to live.