Perhaps one of the most underappreciated aspects of life is this: every day you’re here is another chance to be better than you were the day before.
Day-to-day trivialities often get in the way, however, and we get bogged down with mundane tasks. There comes a time for most of us, however, when we embark on a quest for greater fulfillment in our lives. If you seek to continually improve your life, here are 10 simple things you can do every day, starting today.
#1 Spend time with those you love most.
For most of us, there aren’t many things in this world more important than the relationships we have with those we’re closest to, so make it a point to spend quality time with your loved ones every single day. Don’t let geographic boundaries deter you either—pick up the phone or send an email if you can’t see someone in person. Reach out to a friend or family member you haven’t spoken with in a while. Let them know you’re thinking about them.
#2 Say “please” and “thank you” more often.
These days it seems like we live in a “It’s all about me” world. While having good manners may be a lost art, practicing politeness daily can make life a little better for those you interact with. And this, in turn, can help improve your life. The world is a crazy place filled with dreadful acts of violence and sadness, but one small action can set in motion a far-reaching chain of events that can yield miraculous results. Make a someone’s day by thanking them and telling them how much you appreciate them.
#3 Laugh out loud.
Laughing is one of the most therapeutic things you can do for yourself every day, according to research, so spend time with funny friends or watch your favorite television comedy. And when you’re wasting a few minutes watching a funny video at work, definitely do not feel bad about it.
#4 Prepare at least one healthy meal.
Getting healthy meals on the table in a hurry takes less time than you might think. It’s all about being prepared. There’s a direct correlation between the foods you eat and your level of happiness. Spend time preparing one (or more) healthy meals every day, and try eating more of these foods:
#5 Find time for exercise.
Exercise may not be on the top of your priority list some days, but here’s why it should be: exercising every day (even just 15 minutes) can help you lower your blood pressure and reduce your body fat.
#6 Say “I love you”.
Think about someone you’ve lost in your life whom you cared about deeply. What’s the one thing you would say to him/her if you had the chance? You’d probably tell him/her how much you loved them, right? Don’t take time for granted … because you never know when yours will be up.
#7 Listen to music.
Jamming some tunes is another scientifically-proven way to improve your life and make every day a little better. Classical music, in particular, has been shown to help improve your mood, lower your blood pressure, and help you sleep.
#8 Perform a random act of kindness.
Let’s face it: helping other people feels good. If you want to improve your life, help others improve theirs first, so give a dollar to a homeless person. Compliment someone at your office. Offer to do a friend a favor without asking for anything in return. The universe will reward you back many times over.
#9 Carve out some time to be alone with your thoughts.
Improving your life means cultivating positive thoughts on a regular basis. To do this, you need time to let go and recharge. Try this: spend 5 minutes when you wake up and 5 minutes before you go to bed relaxing. Lay there and focus on taking slow, deep breaths. Let the thoughts flow through your head like clouds. Do this every day and you’ll be amazed with the results.
#10 Learn something new.
People who are content with their life share this in common: they never, ever stop learning. Make it a point to feed yourself knowledge every day, whether it be in the form of books, websites, television, etc. While you’re here, learn as much as you can about as much as you can.
