Photo by Andre Furtado
“I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Life was meant to be lived. Curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
I like to say, “If life is what we make it, why not make it awesome?” But what does “living your best life” really mean? We searched the internet for the best definition and settled on this one:
“Living my best life” is often used to express a feeling of contentment, happiness, and fulfillment. It implies that the person is making the most of their circumstances, enjoying life to the fullest, and pursuing personal goals and aspirations. It can also convey a sense of positivity and gratitude for the present moment.
Life is meant to be lived. As we “grow up” and get older, we start to take on a busy life filled with responsibilities, commitments, and all that “adulting” stuff that weighs us down. Adulting often leads to our happiness being put on the back burner. But life is short and you only get one, so put some fun back into it and LIVE it. What does that mean? It will look different to everyone, but there are some important foundational things that everyone can do to start leading their best life.
Whatever your circumstances, you can find ways to practice self-care and enjoy this one beautiful life we’ve been blessed with. To help you on your journey, here are some top tips on living your best life.
Take responsibility for your mental and physical health
That’s right, take responsibility. When you start to take responsibility, you will find that things begin to shift positively for you. Your physical and mental health impact what you do and how you feel about, well, everything! We live in a world where access to doctors and counselors is a few clicks away. We can find diet plans, exercise plans, and the latest and greatest hacks 24/7. Use these resources to find healthy recipes, and workout routines, join local meetups to build a strong community, speak to a licensed therapist, or ask an actual dermatologist a question via Teledoc. We have access to everything we need but it’s up to you to take responsibility and DO the things!
But remember, for every good source of health-related information on the web, there’s also a lot of false information online feeding you misinformation, disinformation, and pseudoscience. Simple searches for answers to common health issues like eyesight decline (trouble reading the fine print), back and neck pain, or even hearing loss can lead you down a rabbit hole of false health claims. Don’t fall for quick fixes or unverified TikTok “experts”. According to Healthline, only 2% of TikTok diet and nutrition trends are accurate. Hashtags like #celiactok, #diabetestok, and #sinustok have millions of views with a large percentage of this content published by nonmedical influencers.
What many people do is try to find quick fixes to health issues. From ear candling to putting potatoes in your socks overnight to “draw out toxins,” or adding a pinch of borax to your water to reduce inflammation and ease joint pain – false health claims from these self-proclaimed experts rule the internet. Do your due diligence and make sure your information comes from verified and reputable sources. You must consider the truths about ear candling and other quick fixes and instead, find help from a professional. This example extends to all things in your life. Make sure you get to the route of health issues that arise and deal with them accordingly. You should also take preventative steps to look after your health including a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Write a bucket list and take action
A great way to lead your best life is to write a bucket list of things you want to do. You might have ideas floating around in your head, but until you write them down you may not be serious about them or take action. What should you add to your bucket list?
- Personal goals – Start a business, Learn a new language, Join a gym or start exercising, Begin volunteering
- Travel – Take a cruise, Visit all 50 states in the USA, Go on a safari, Swim with dolphins or learn to scuba dive in the Caribbean
- Achieve specific life milestones – Get your GED, a certification, or a college degree, Get married, or start a family, Buy your dream car
- Time goals – Spend more holidays with my family, Plan a family vacation, Coach your child’s sports team
- Achieve financial goals – Pay off debt or student loans, Start an emergency fund, Create a budget, Start tithing or donating to charity
- Daring activities – Go skydiving, Climb Mount Everest, Go bungee jumping, Book a shark encounter
- Add bucket list items you’ve already done.
Think about what fun things you want to do and achieve in life, and make a plan to get them done. This might be anything from trying a new class to traveling the world. No dream is too big. Write everything down and see what you can do to make it happen.
Surround yourself with good people
Humans are social creatures, and belonging to a community is a basic survival need. Make sure you consider who you spend your time with and how they make you feel. Spend some time connecting with like-minded people who make you feel good and happy. This will help you feel good, reach your goals, and lead a good life.
“To all the other dreamers out there, don’t ever stop or let the world’s negativity disenchant you or your spirit. If you surround yourself with love and the right people, anything is possible.”
-Adam Green
Be patient. Your life won’t change overnight. This is a process – a marathon, not a sprint. Give yourself time and grace, and be open to facing setbacks. You’re only human! Self-discipline can help you unlock personal fulfillment. Take action, work on yourself, improve your habits, and live a life filled with purpose and contentment.
Life is short, so you should start living it today.
