Last Updated on August 15, 2023 by Angela Vaz
For most of my life, I believed that you’ll be happy if you have everything under your control.
But with time and enough obstacles, I’ve realized that the opposite is true.
If you’re looking to understand how to let loose and be yourself, you’ve come to the right place.
I have practiced each of the strategies I will talk about, and I have found that they have made a remarkable change in my life.
I feel happier, more free, and content.
I’ve found peace.
And I credit it all to learning to let go and move with the flow.
Let’s begin!
But before that really quick, get my free guide on how to really reset your life.
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Why should you let loose?
We are constantly running about trying to be “busy.”
In today’s world, productivity is measured by how much we do and how less time we get work done.
But at the end of the day, we are not machines.
We can’t just churn out content or work without taking a break.
We’re going to run ourselves into the ground.
And by taking a break, I’m not talking about just lying down on the couch and watching T.V. – that’s just automation. I’m talking about actually letting loose and having fun.
I’m talking about permitting yourself to let go and let your mind and body do what it wants to rejuvenate and recharge.
In short, you need to let loose and be yourself to find happiness.
If you let loose, you will discover your drive, your life purpose.
There are so many benefits to being yourself.
A lot of people ask me where I get my drive.
I currently maintain 3 blogs and regularly write content on all of them. I also write eBooks and send out weekly newsletters. All my illustrations for my first blog are hand-drawn by me.
And here’s the kicker, my work comprises only a quarter of my day.
I make time to recharge to:
- Play with my pups
- Journal and meditate
- Study business, art, and psychology
- Exercise
- Cook
And so much more.
I don’t try to do it all.
But I do take breaks.
I try not to overthink everything. Being an overthinker and an anxious person, NOT to overthink.
But it has led me to find so much peace and joy.
And in this post, I want to discuss how I went from trying to control everything to simply letting go.
Ready?
Let’s dive in!
How to let loose and be yourself: 23 underrated and effortless tips!
1. Create something fun and for you
As a Writer and Artist, I may be biased.
But this is by far one of the best tips I can give you that works for me splendidly.
Whenever I am overwhelmed, feel trapped by decisions, or just need to breathe, I create.
I take up passion projects once in a while.
It can be anything you wish:
- Write a poem
- Write a short story
- Create a scrapbook
- Work on a journal
- Invent a new recipe
- Draw a picture with a ballpoint pen
- Build a birdhouse
- Knit a scarf
Let your imagination run wild.
Create something for you.
It doesn’t have to go up on Social Media. It doesn’t have to have an outcome. Its only purpose is to make you happy.
In 2015, psychologist and art therapist Dr. Cathy Malchiodi cited multiple studies confirming that being creative can:
- Increase positive emotions
- Lessen depressive symptoms
- Reduce stress
- Decrease anxiety
- Improve immune system functioning.
You can read the complete study here.
So, do something fun once in a while.
Create and let loose!
If you’re looking for a fun class to discover a new passion, take an online class on Domestika! It’s so much fun! Use STRAYCURLS-10 to get a 10% discount on any course you buy!
2. Learn to trust the process
Because of the digital age, we are acclimatized to quick wins.
If we attempt to do something that doesn’t produce a result quickly, we feel it’s a failure.
It happens when we try to learn something new or do something meaningful.
But here’s the truth: nothing worth having comes without hard work and time.
- Becoming a Doctor
- Getting over a breakup
- Moving on from losing a loved one
- Building a business
- Nurturing a relationship
- Learning a skill
All of these things take time and effort.
It doesn’t happen in a day.
And sometimes, it takes longer to get a result.
So, trust the process. And as long as you’re doing something every day to move in the right direction, know that you will get there.
I picked up this tip from this beautiful book that changed my life.
3. Don’t be obsessed with the outcome
Don’t fixate on the result.
Learn to enjoy the journey.
No matter what walk in life you are in:
- Cooking a dish
- Starting a new venture
- Working on a project
- Entering a new relationship
- Having a baby
- Learning a language or a skill
Learn to enjoy the journey – the everyday toils of the process.
It can be so easy to focus on the result or want the outcome so desperately, but life comprises the in-betweens, the tiny, everyday moments.
They all add up to make up our life.
My point is, you should relish every moment you spend doing something.
Take pleasure and be present.
Here are a few posts to help you:
4. Stop thinking about what other people think
Most people are too busy thinking about their lives and their problems.
And although we believe that they may be thinking about us, I can assure you that they aren’t.
Sure, people gossip.
But it’s not going to be over 2 minutes of focusing on someone else before moving on to their worries.
So, learn to stop obsessing about what people think of you.
Life is short.
We don’t know how much time we have left on this planet.
So, live for you.
Don’t live for others – it’s not worth it in the long run.
Do what makes you happy.
5. Learn to say no to people
As I pointed out earlier, our time is invaluable.
And if you’re constantly trying to do things that don’t make you happy to satisfy other people, you are wasting your time.
If you’re tired by the end of the working week and want to relax, say no to the office party.
If you don’t want to do a favor for someone, learn to say no politely.
Realize that every time you say yes to things you don’t want to do, you’re denying yourself the opportunity to do something you want to do.
6. Learn to take away only the good
Life is full of ups and downs.
And at times, it can feel like we’re fighting an uphill battle.
In one month in 2021, I lost my mom to cancer and went through a devastating breakup.
I felt like my whole world was closing in on me.
And I knew I needed to spend a lot of time healing to get through that calamity and become myself again.
After reading multiple books on healing and self-love, I learned that the only way to get through loss is to take away the good and leave the bad.
It’s hard to see the silver lining when we go through loss.
But each heartbreak and loss carry within them many life lessons.
Take the life lessons and pay attention to them.
It may be very subtle, but the learning will be great. For instance, the life lesson might be:
- To be more patient
- To be kinder and loving
- How to love without bounds
- How to be more compassionate to others
- To let go and let live
- How to adapt and survive
All of these roadblocks or setbacks will teach you something great. It may take a while to see the lesson, but it is worth it.
This is the best way to let loose and be yourself.
7. Value experiences more than possessions
As a person who’s spent a lot of her life collecting and hoarding stationery and books, I realized that none of these bring me everlasting joy.
But experiences are what will set you free.
They will make you feel alive and bring you so much peace and happiness.
Experiences and memories allow you to focus on the present; they give you freedom.
That’s the whole basis of Minimalism and Mindfulness.
You don’t need to throw out all of your possessions, but you can declutter your home to serve you and not the other way around.
Here are a few ways to simplify your life with minimalism:
- Go digital – Keep all your receipts and bills on your Inbox or Notes app instead of printing them out.
- Buy more consumables like toilet paper, coffee, etc., instead of clothes, accessories, and decorative pieces.
- Don’t shop unless necessary. Curbing your shopping will help you declutter extensively because you’re no longer adding to the stuff in your house!
Adopting minimalism has allowed me to live more freely.
I spend more time with my family, friends, and dogs. I spend time doing activities instead of sitting with my things, and my happiness has increased tenfold.
So, get rid of possessions that are cluttering your home. Please give it to someone who needs it or sell it.
It will give you more freedom.
8. Your health and wellbeing should be your priority
So many people sacrifice their health and sleep for other things.
They either work themselves to the bone or socialize till the late hours of the night till they pass out from sheer exhaustion.
If you cannot remember the last time you had 8 hours of sleep a night, you desperately need to rest.
Remember, we are human.
Our brains can only work for so much time before they need to rest.
And if you don’t rest or don’t eat nutritious food, your health will be negatively impacted.
This will affect your life physically and mentally.
So, learn to take care of yourself and keep your health at your utmost priority.
9. Rid yourself of toxic people
The quality of your life greatly depends on the people you choose to surround yourself with.
If you are constantly among energy vampires, you’ll feel tired and mentally exhausted for most of your life.
Identify the people that drain you and cut them out of your life.
Your life will dramatically improve once you make this change.
Once you’ve identified your toxic friends or family members, learn to draw boundaries.
And if all else fails, you may have to cut them off completely so that you can move forward in your life.
This is the best way to let loose and be yourself.
When you cut out all the negativity from your life, you will find nothing but joy and peace.
10. Limit or get rid of toxic habits
Do you really want to let loose and be yourself?
Then get rid of toxic habits and limiting behaviors that are preventing you from living a whole and happy life.
Examples of toxic habits include:
- Engaging in trivial gossip
- Constantly comparing yourself to others
- Forcing other people to change
- Playing the victim in every situation
- Inability to wait or be patient
And so many more.
To live a good life, you must aim to become a better person. It won’t just benefit others, but it will also change your life for the better!
Getting rid of toxic habits won’t happen immediately.
It’s more about adopting better habits and then staying consistent with them.
Remember what I said earlier?
Nothing worth having comes easy.
But making these small changes will really help you find yourself.
11. Let go of control
You don’t have any control over what happens to you.
But you can control how you react to it.
Life is not easy.
We are often faced with challenges that may seem impossible at the moment.
But there is always a way to get past it or overcome it.
So, learn to let go and move with the flow.
Part of letting loose and being yourself is learning to move with the tide.
12. Don’t overthink your decisions
Once you’ve made a decision, learn to stick by it.
Moving back and forth will only lead to huge time waste.
Remember, you cannot undo the past.
And when you made the decision, you did the best you could with the available resources.
So, trust yourself and learn to stick by your decisions.
13. Be open and kind
Learn to listen to everything without judging or criticizing.
Everyone’s story is different.
And although it can be tempting to jump to conclusions or assume we know best, it is essential to keep an open mind and listen without apprehension.
Be kind and accepting.
You will build very fruitful and strong relationships with others when you show nothing but kindness and love.
14. Learn to take things in your stride
Sometimes bad things happen.
Your day might not go as planned.
Events will ruin your productivity or plans for the day.
Or you might just go through some problem that will rob you of your joy and peace of mind.
It’s okay.
Learn to take things in your stride and do what you can with your resources.
The best way to let loose and be yourself is to move into a stage of acceptance and love.
15. Live and let live
Holding a grudge or holding onto anger is detrimental only to you.
It doesn’t benefit anyone.
Nothing good comes out of anger, hatred or envy.
Let it go.
Focus on your own path, your life.
Let go of everything negative. It is the only way you will be able to live a fruitful and happy life – a life of peace and tranquility.
Forgive people. It’s okay to not want to communicate with them again, you can always cut them out of your life. But don’t hold any negative feelings in your heart.
It will do more harm than good.
16. Remember to breathe
As humans, we are always doing something or the other.
When was the last time you relaxed?
As in just sitting by yourself and doing nothing but breathe?
Take a few moments to take deep breaths if it’s been a while.
Just breathe.
You can do it anywhere. You don’t even have to get off your desk.
Just take some large deep breaths.
It will clear your mind, give you a fresh perspective and help elevate your mood.
Give it a shot.
Practice meditation every day, even for 5-10 minutes.
I use the Headspace app, and I love it!
17. Take a break
Yes, we spend most of our lives working, eating, or sleeping.
But it is essential to take breaks:
- Take walks
- Stretch from time to time
- Play with your kids and dogs
- Read an article that will teach you something new
- Watch a comedy bit online
- Read a book
- Play a puzzle
Do something that will relax you and give your mind and body a nice refresh to come back to your task or responsibility fully renewed!
18. Learn to adapt
If something goes wrong, understand that it’s not the end of the world (although it might feel like it at the time).
Take some time to think about the situation and form a Plan B.
Then, shift gears and move forward with the new plan.
Although we wish life would come with a manual, it doesn’t.
We spend most of our lives figuring things out or adapting to change.
So, it’s completely okay to make mistakes.
As long as those mistakes don’t deter you from your goals.
19. Forgive yourself for the mistakes you make
Most of the stress we have in our lives is due to holding ourselves to high standards.
We are human.
We make mistakes.
And it’s okay to make mistakes.
The best way to learn is to fail.
If you dwell on every mistake you make and constantly ruminate over how it’s the worst thing, you will never move forward.
You’re going to hamper your growth.
So, learn to let go of the past and move forward.
Accept the mistake you’ve made and forgive yourself for it.
It’s the only way to let loose, be yourself, and find peace.
20. Know your values and stick to them
Many people let go of their values to blend in with society.
We are social creatures, and the need to want to be a part of the community is vital.
So, when we are faced with either being ourselves and being alone or abandoning our values and making friends quickly, we often choose the latter.
However, this will only lead to misery in the long run.
Why?
Because it’s not you.
To let loose and be yourself, you need to be who you are.
Stick to your values and find people who respect the same. If your values surround love, honesty, and kindness, you are on the right path.
21. Pick up a skill that makes your heart sing
Remember that life is what you make of it at the end of the day.
The whole point of life is to do something that makes your heart sing, that gives your life meaning and purpose.
So, if there is something that you’ve always been meaning to do, do it.
Have you always wanted to play the violin? Learn how to do that!
Have you always wanted to write and publish a novel? Start writing now!
Do something that you’ve been putting off for months or years.
There’s never a right time to start.
Opportunities are flying past you every single day.
And we are so lucky to live in a day and age where we can learn how to do almost anything from the internet.
I pick up online courses from Domestika almost every week to learn something new.
22. Learn from others
If ever in life you find yourself stuck or unable to think, look to others for help.
Read stories and instances of people who have been in similar situations and see how they overcame their difficulties.
I remember not being able to get over my breakup or find happiness alone, so I started reading books and watching videos on how people adapted and learned to live alone without being lonely.
It took a while but knowing that so many people have gone through the same difficulties as I helped motivate me to find the answer.
23. Keep an open mind
The key to living a happy life is understanding that life is transient and being able to go with the flow.
Sometimes, life will get hard. And sometimes it will try to teach us new things.
But if we are adamant and close-minded, we will miss out on most life lessons.
This will lead us to become angry, stubborn, and very rigid.
So, let loose and be yourself.
Keep an open mind.
And be open to learning new things.
Every day is a chance to learn something new.
How do I let loose and have fun?
It’s all about balance.
You shouldn’t overwork yourself and at the same time you need to take breaks so that you can recharge yourself and fuel your creativity.
At any cost, your health should be your priority.
Remember to not take life too seriously, life is short.
Take each day as it comes.
Conclusion
I hope this post helped you learn how to let loose and be yourself.
I do understand that some of these strategies are difficult and will take some time to follow through, but they will make a vast difference in your life.
Take care, and I wish you nothing but the best!
Here are a few more posts you’ll enjoy!
- 45 fun things to do on a Friday night if you’re alone
- 15 ways to get a fresh start this year!
- The best dating advice for single women!
- How to enjoy the little things in life
- The Single Girl’s bucket list: 35 fun things to do right now!
- 55 fun things to do that don’t involve eating food!
- 13 easy ways to live in the present moment
- 13 ways to make every day count
- How to take complete control of your life and improve it right now
- 25 personal goal examples to help you become a better person
- How to become 1% better at anything every day
