People often think that satisfaction in life is only found through struggle and hours upon hours of labor. And while it is true that nothing good comes easy and all good things take a bit of time, there are certain things we can do, simple things that can make an enormous difference in our lives.
Let us look at some of them.
Taking Care of Your Home
Aside from work, most of us will spend the vast majority of the time in our lives in our apartments or houses. It is especially true now, a time in which the covid-19 global pandemic has lead to a dramatic increase in work-from-home arrangements for employees in all industries and business fields. And while they cannot speak, the walls, floors, rooms, and roof in your place are an integral part of your life.
So, why not take care of them as best you can? Why not keep them clean and enhance them every once in a while with energy-efficient vinyl windows, a new door, or a set of lights? Keep in mind that, the only one who will benefit from doing these things is you.
When It’s Time to Work
One of the greatest gifts we all have is the ability to sleep. While we sleep, we can forget about the problems in our lives, give time for our bodies to heal, and recover from the stresses of the daily grind. How lucky we would all be if we could spend more hours doing it.
Sadly, the truth is we cannot. We have to work to feed ourselves and our families and make ends meet. We have to work to pay for the rent, bills, and all other expenses. But that doesn’t mean we cannot and don’t need to take a break. It doesn’t mean we cannot procrastinate a little if the circumstances allow it. After all, when it’s time to work, it is time to work. But when it isn’t, we also shouldn’t have to.
Starting a Family
Not all of us are meant to get married, let alone have kids. For different reasons, many people stay single their entire lives and manage just fine. In some cases, it is a personal choice whereas, in others, it has something to do with our bodies or the specific circumstances around us. Whatever the case may be, we don’t know what is going on in the lives of others, and thus, we should treat them with respect.
Still, those with families few times regret having them, particularly as they get older and the years begin to pile up. Instead, they cherish having someone to talk to. They are grateful for their kids and how the challenges of raising them have made them better human beings.
The Things We Have
We will never have as much as we want or feel we deserve. It takes a lot of time, introspection, honesty, and acceptance to realize that perhaps those who have more than us are more motivated, they work longer hours, take less time off, and make fewer excuses. Because of this, envy and jealousy is a predominantly human feeling, one that oftentimes consumes our thoughts, filling us with stress.
Yet, it doesn’t have to be like this. We can look at the things we have, no matter how big or small they are. By practicing gratitude, we are putting out positive energy into the world which in turn allows us to do more, leading to better things coming our way.
A Lifetime of Habits
Some studies claim it takes around three months to build a habit. Others say it is only about 21 days. Whatever the case might be, if you are going to live close to 80 years, it is not a substantial amount of time. In fact, it is a matter of making small decisions daily and having the courage and strength to stick to them. Soon enough, they will become automatic, and you won’t even think about them.
The danger however is found in building the wrong ones. For if a habit is built in less than a month, oftentimes it takes a lifetime to get rid of it, not to mention pain, discouragement, and quite often a lot of money.
If you want a happier, healthier everyday life, take care of your home and find time out of your busy schedule to relax. If you have the financial means to do it, consider finding that special someone in your life and starting a family. Finally, learn the power of gratitude and take the necessary steps to build good habits. Your life is only a few choices away from taking a turn for the better.
