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Do you feel stuck in a dead-end job? Is your bathroom scale your worst enemy? Do you feel completely hopeless? Change is difficult, and most people find themselves repeating the same mistakes day after day. Simply because that’s the only thing they know. I’ve been there. I’ve managed to change. Here’s my simple 5-step guide, that made me able to change for the better. You’ll be surprised how easy it is.
Organize Your Economy
While I was younger, I didn’t worry much about economy. Along came a baby, and all of a sudden our economic situation changed. Who would’ve thought it was so expensive to become a parent?
If you’re one out of many people, who’s always broke, this advice is for you: Put yourself on a budget.
It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. An Excel- or Google Sheet will do. Or you could simply write it down on a piece of paper.
Write down all your fixed expenses: Rent/mortgage payment, insurance fees, phone bill, etc. Even your Netflix subscription should be noted here.
Having all this written down gives you an overview of your monthly fixed expenses. Afterward, you can easily calculate how much money you have left. That money could be split into the number of weeks within a month, and put in a jar each. That way you’ll always know how much money you have, and you won’t accidentally spend too much. This is also a great way of saving up money because if the jar isn’t empty at the end of the week, it could simply go back to your bank account or to a dedicated savings jar.
Having a healthy economy is beneficial in many ways. First of all, it will lift a heavy burden off your shoulders, and your bank will start to like you. You’ll even be able to save up money, instead of just spending them all.
Make a Weekly Dinner Menu
Going to the grocery store usually leads to extra expenses, because you spontaneously buy something you didn’t really need. Everyone can relate.
What you want to do, is plan your dinners one week ahead. That way you’ll be able to make a shopping list before entering the store, and you’ll know exactly what to get. It will not only save you a ton of money, but it will also save you a lot of time during those busy weekdays, as you can simply stroll around your local store on a Sunday afternoon while picking up all the items you need for an entire week.
This is especially great if you’re on a diet or just want to eat a little healthier than usual, as it gives you the opportunity to come up with ideas for new recipes at home, instead of buying the same items week after week, or ending up buying take-away because it’s easier.
Keep Your House Neat and Clean
“Cleaning and organizing is a practice not a project”, said Meagan Francis once. And boy is she right.
Becoming a better person doesn’t necessarily mean you have to reinvent yourself, but some of your old (and unhealthy) habits should be sacrificed to make room for better habits. Keeping your house neat and clean is one of the most important practices in turning your life around. It should be done on a regular basis, long before everything starts to pile up around you.
Another great benefit of keeping your home clean and tidy, is the improved indoor climate. Keeping the dust away and having a few green plants inside, will most likely make you feel better. It is also important to open a window once in a while, preferably once or twice a day, to get some fresh air inside.
Start Working Out
Working out on a regular basis has a lot of benefits. Most importantly it can make you feel happier, but it can also make you lose weight and raise your energy level. If you’re struggling with falling asleep at night, a good workout might solve it for you as well.
Back when I started working out, I quickly felt stronger and more healthy. It gave me more energy, and everyday tasks felt easier than ever.
You don’t have to go to the gym 4-5 times every week and lift heavy weights, you can also go for a regular bike ride, run a few miles, or even join a team sport and meet new friends as an added benefit.
Get Rid of Toxic Friends
Most people know someone who’s always turning something positive into something negative. “The glass is half empty”, they’d probably say. Those “friends” won’t do you any good, and you should seriously consider if they’re worth keeping or not. I’ve had a lot of those friends myself, and I am happy I got rid of them over time. It gave me more time for my real friends, who support me and believe in me. In return, I will feel much better, and therefore I am able to help them as well. It’s a win for everyone.
Getting rid of all the negative energy makes room for more positive energy, which will be highly beneficial for you. It will motivate you to strive for something better, because moral support means a lot.
Bonus advice: Have patience
It takes more than a few weeks to change for the better. Sometimes it takes a few additional steps before you get there, but as long as you keep walking in the right direction, you’ll eventually end up in a better place.
Having faith in yourself and your ability to do good, is key. If you’re willing to make those necessary sacrifices, you will become a better version of yourself within a year.
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