One good way to start is to give more and take less. This applies to many areas of life, not just money and food. It is about a giving and more flexible attitude than we may have exhibited in years past. "Give away 1% more of your income than you did last year; volunteer at a food bank in the middle of summer; go out of your way for someone who seemingly has nothing to offer you," says Kathy LeMay, founder, president, and CEO of Raising Change, a fundraising organization working for social change. "When you unleash your generosity potential, your life will be the better for it." If you are the type of person who thinks in terms of "My way or the highway" perhaps it is time to adopt a more relaxed attitude about life and be more open to compromise.
Money is important and no one can deny that. But how you deal with your finances can greatly affect the way you live from day to day. Perhaps your purchasing and money management skills could bear reexamining. Live below your means. If you do it consistently, you're automatically saving consistently. Aim to save at least 10% of what you earn after taxes—15% if you're over 35 and haven't started yet. Look at the quality of the things you buy. Does the name sell you on buying the product more than the actual use you get from it? The feeling that you are handling your money wisely can go a long way toward a more positive self image.
Good things accumulate, bad things pile up. Maybe this is the time to reduce the clutter in your living and even storage space. This is another way to decrease your stress level (and boost your mood). "Living in the midst of clutter saps your energy," says Thom Lobe, MD, owner of Rejuveneda Medical Group in Beverly Hills, California. "Clean up your mess, and it will open up your life for more positive energy." Clearing your living space is an excellent way to start clearing your mind.
Keep in touch...until it is time to lose touch. We find ourselves plugged in 24/7 through computers, cells, social media and the like. Technology has become our constant companion. A growing body of research finds that media overload can increase your risk for depression, social anxiety, job burnout, and even allergies. The solution? "Spend an hour, 10 hours, or a full day without your cell phone, Blackberry, computer, or games," urges Ashley Koff, RD, a registered dietitian in Los Angeles. Perhaps unplugging for a day should be the next topic of your Facebook status.
As goes the mind, so goes the body. A positive mental outlook is impossible to maintain on a consistent level if we are dissatisfied with our body image. This is why weight loss and body building are the top new year's resolutions for many of us. But our dreams of what we hope to achieve must be tempered with a healthy dose of reality. Set realistic goals for yourself in terms of diet and exercise and remember that if you have a setback it is not a reason to abandon your course of action. A lapse is not a relapse unless you make it so.
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