Last Updated on July 16, 2024 by Angela Vaz
If you’re constantly feeling stuck, read this post I wrote earlier this week.
But if you’re feeling unmotivated and low overall, maybe you’re looking for tips on how to get your life together.
You’re tired of seeing others accomplish so much and want the same.
You’re determined to improve your life.
And that’s why I’m writing this post.
I’ve always felt I needed an invisible push to leave my comfort zone.
Only once I adopted these habits – did I notice my life-changing for the better.
I found love. I do what I love for a living (writing and drawing), read all the books I want in the comfort of my own home, and cook cozy meals while cuddling my pooches.
And I could do all that just by modifying my habits and adopting better ones.
I don’t believe in gatekeeping, so let’s dive in!
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1. I adopted a morning routine I genuinely love
This doesn’t happen in one day, so don’t beat yourself up if you can’t do it immediately.
These habits take time to build.
So, please be patient.
I’ve spent years crafting a morning routine I love.
It takes a while, but it’s worth it because it refreshes and energizes you.
I even talk about how you can build a morning routine you can stick to and be super consistent with.
Because you may not have control over every area of your life – but your morning routine is ENTIRELY yours.
And that gives you power.
You don’t have to follow YouTube tutorials to follow someone else’s routine. Make one that works for YOU.
Do something you love in the morning – this will motivate you to wake up early and claim those few extra minutes for yourself!
For instance, I love to read.
So, this motivates me to wake up 30 minutes early to squeeze in some reading before I get to my chores.
I used to wake up at 7.
After a while, I felt like I didn’t have enough time – so I started waking up at 5:30.
But this wasn’t nearly enough for me (since I have quite a few errands), and after a few years, I tweaked this to wake up at 4:00 am.
Your morning routine doesn’t have to be so drastic.
Just waking up 30 minutes or 1 hour earlier is enough to accomplish whatever you need.
Let’s say you want to draw/play the piano/dance.
Do it in the early hours when nobody else has woken up – it will make you feel alive.
Enjoy that quiet time, and do not open your phone or scroll on social media.
This also gives you a burst of energy that will help you stay focused and motivated the entire day.
Because your morning routine will set the mood for the entire day – I urge you to keep it simple.
Focus on grounding yourself.
You can also meditate, journal, and do some light stretching.
This will help you build some good habits and help you stay consistent and productive.
Similarly, develop a night routine – doing this will help you unwind properly so you go to bed rested and peaceful.
2. Sleep at least 8 hours a day
My partner needs only 7 hours of sleep a day. He can also manage with 6.
It doesn’t matter what time he goes to bed – he’ll wake up 6-7 hours later on the dot.
I, on the other hand, require 8 hours of sleep.
Sometimes 9.
Anything less, and I become groggy.
Everybody requires a different amount of sleep. It’s not universally 8.
To know how much, listen to your body.
Go to bed earlier and see when you naturally wake up.
Experiment with different timings to find a schedule that works for you.
Most people drown themselves in caffeine when they wake up groggy, and I understand that this is a hard habit to kick.
But you’re only numbing your body’s thirst for sleep.
So, try to get proper sleep.
Your body will recharge and repair itself – you’ll hold on to less water and not feel lethargic during the day.
If you have trouble sleeping, here are a few ways to get better sleep:
- Darken your room entirely with blackout curtains.
- Decrease the temperature of your room to fall asleep more easily.
- Use a weighted blanket – it helps me fall asleep faster.
- Have a night-time routine to prepare your brain to fall asleep.
- Read a little or meditate before bed – this gives your mind time to relax and release anxiety before sleeping.
Getting enough sleep will drastically improve the quality of your life.
3. Don’t feel sad when people leave your life
People come and go.
It’s the circle of life.
We all evolve at different speeds and directions.
And it’s okay when you and your partner/friend are not in the same place you were a few years ago.
This only means you now enjoy different things and are no longer compatible.
Let go gently and peacefully, and never harbor anger or resentment.
It isn’t going to help you in any way.
When I found out my first ex (who I was married to for almost 5 years) was cheating on me, I let him go.
I never said a word to him or took revenge.
Although, it took me a long time to release those feelings of hatred and disgust I had for him.
And I didn’t do it for him; I did it for me.
I wanted peace.
I’ve found my life so freeing and beautiful because I never get mad when people leave.
It makes room for something bigger.
I now have a lovely partner and some of the best friends I could possibly have.
It would never have happened had I to sit in a box of fury and stew about my ex.
So, things worked out. =)
Take with you the lessons from the relationship and move on.
4. Build consistency
You can start all the successful habits in the world, but none of it matters if you aren’t consistent.
I need you to understand something – motivation comes and goes.
It isn’t permanent.
But if we did things only when we felt motivated, we’d not get anywhere in life.
No matter who you look at or what they’ve accomplished, they’ll all tell you one thing: They showed up every day.
That’s it.
This one tip will help you build any habit you want.
Whether you want to study something or build a business – you just need to show up every single day.
And you’ll notice your life changing.
People will even be drawn to you – it’s just that magical.
5. Invest in your future
I remember loving drawing so much when I moved to a new city.
I created a standard website and uploaded some of my drawings for fun.
I was a computer science engineer without knowing I could monetize my passion.
I built websites for a living, and I genuinely hated it. It was so dull.
One day, a client saw my website and told me she wanted those hand-drawn logos I’d made for myself.
It was the first $200 I had made doing something I loved!
That gave me the confidence to do more.
Until then, I had only been drawing with a black pen, scanning the drawing with a phone camera, and coloring it with software.
I knew I needed to improve my drawing skills, so I made a significant investment in a drawing tablet.
So, I saved up for 6 months by making websites until I could buy a beautiful drawing tablet. I also took online courses to improve my art.
It was the best decision of my life.
I now draw and write for a living and couldn’t be happier.
6. Become mindful
Have you noticed how easy it is to advise people who face problems?
But when you experience the same problem, seeing the situation with that clarity becomes almost impossible.
This is the superpower of being mindful.
And one way to be mindful is to meditate.
Meditation allows you to observe your life from a distance more objectively.
It allows you to zoom out and watch the situation from a distance without getting carried away with your emotions and feelings.
Meditation and mindfulness changed my life.
- It taught me to accept the grief of losing a mom to cancer.
- It taught me to let go of my anger towards my ex for cheating on me.
- It taught me to make peace with the fact that I was going to lose my dog (my soulmate) to chronic kidney disease.
I have realized that life is transient and constantly changing – only because I started practicing this simple, transformative habit.
Spend a few minutes each day in meditation or deep breathing exercises. Self-reflection is equally essential.
Regularly assess your habits, goals, and feelings.
This practice can help you identify what’s holding you back and find strategies for moving forward if you ever get stuck.
7. Move more
All my life, I’ve been a couch potato.
I am pretty productive, but I’ve never experienced the kind of happiness and activity that I do now.
Moving more genuinely killed my lethargy.
It has made me feel more alive.
My skin is glowing, and my hair fall has reduced drastically.
I used to be a massive tea/coffee drinker, but I can now manage just one cup daily!
A tiny morning walk with my pups, followed by a light treadmill walk, gives me an energy boost that lasts till the afternoon.
I’ve never been this person – who enjoyed moving, but now I look forward to it.
It’s tough initially, but you’ll feel entirely different within a month.
Incorporate any movement in your day.
- Please park your car a bit further and walk to it.
- Take the stairs when you can.
- Dance in the kitchen while you’re preparing a meal you love.
- Sway your hips when vacuuming or air-strum while listening to rock music.
Honestly, be creative.
Do something you love – playing hoops, swimming, aerobics, or lifting weights, go for it.
Most people exercise for health reasons or want to look fit, but they continue exercising because of how it makes them feel.
Those endorphins quite literally charge you!
Consistency is vital, so make it a non-negotiable.
And watch how you increase your happy hormones and dopamine!
8. Track your finances
Set a budget every month/year and track how much you’re spending.
I use this app, Expense, and because I’ve been using it for many years, it’s become a strong habit.
I love how I add every expense and category, and at the end of the month, I can see how much I’ve spent on takeout/commuting/etc.
This is also helpful if you (and your partner) are trying to save money for something important.
My partner and I sit down at the end of the month to review all our expenses—it’s so insightful, and we can see what we can improve to be more precise.
It also helps us stay very organized, and we can allocate funds to future vacations.
9. Cut out pointless addictions
Cutting out habits is more accessible than developing one.
Let’s say you want to become a better version of yourself. You want good skin or a fit body. You want to climb a set of stairs without losing breath.
Before doing anything else, look at your current habits and see if it serves you.
If you’re drinking way too much alcohol or smoking way too many cigarettes, try reducing it or cutting it out completely.
It is going to get in the way of your goals.
I used to drink 2-3 times a week at one point.
It started as a social lubricant and eventually became the new norm because I was always catching up with my friends or going on dates.
I never realized that it made my acne worse and made me feel so lethargic during the day.
I didn’t make the connection until I stopped it for a month and saw how my life improved.
I had so much energy.
My skin started healing, and my cystic acne was reduced a lot!
I stopped craving greasy food daily, and my monthly cycle became more regulated.
This helped me reduce my bloating.
My whole life improved within 30 days.
And now I have a drink once in 2 months. It’s lost its charm, and I’m pretty okay with it.
10. Stop looking at social media
People on social media advertise their best 5 seconds of the day/month/year.
They do not show the tears behind every success.
When we consume reel after reel, we are filled with feelings of not being enough or limited adequacy, making us feel unmotivated and tired.
The day I stopped opening Instagram/TikTok, my life became better.
I still craved that quick dopamine rush but switched up my habit. Now, I read, walk, or play with my dogs.
I get that this is not a very practical approach.
So, the next best thing is to watch inspirational videos.
Listen to a podcast. Or watch YouTube.
Let’s say you want to get fit. By watching more videos geared toward fitness, you’ll motivate yourself to eat better or move more.
Just don’t consume social media aimlessly – and see how you feel.
You’ll notice an uplift in your mood within a few days.
11. Stop buying more things
We have been driven to consumerism thanks to having products shoved in our faces everywhere we go.
Moving away from constantly buying things is challenging, but minimalism has made my life so beautiful.
I still buy stuff, but only when required.
It has freed up so much money for better experiences, like good-quality, yummy food or board games, that my partner and I can enjoy with our friends.
We have started valuing experiences and memories more.
So, instead of always buying things to make them happy, spend more quality time with the people or pets you love.
This will boost serotonin and oxytocin, making you feel more happy and content.
I no longer spend on decor or clothes unless needed.
12. Know what you want in life
Happy people are very clear about their lives and their wants.
This is for you if you feel like you’re in a rat race and just running with no clear goal.
Take a break.
Stop forcing yourself to do things for the sake of doing them.
I used to hold meetups, and many women confessed to me that they never wanted to be in a particular job but just found themselves doing it because their parents or peers pressured them to.
Take time out of your life to figure out what you want.
It doesn’t happen in one day or a week.
It takes time.
Here are a few more posts that you might enjoy!
- The 1% rule: how to Improve yourself every day in 10 minutes
- 35 honest ways to COMPLETELY get your life together
- 20 quotes to help you wake up early
- How to Stop Overanalyzing Everything
- Finding peace: How to stop thinking about someone who has hurt you
- 7 Tiny Habits to get you out of your Lazy Girl Era
- How to not let things bother you
