Being happy and healthy truly is the most important thing in life, but it’s so easy to fall into a rut. As adults, we have commitments- things we do not because we enjoy them, but because we have to get them done in order to be productive. In time, we can reach a stage where nothing we do is for fun any more, and our whole lifestyle revolves around getting these tasks completed. If you feel like you’re stuck in a rut and mundane routine is running your life, here are five important questions to ask yourself if you want to make a change.
Are you looking after your body as well as you should?
It’s so important to look after your health. Unfortunately, as we get older, things can start to go wrong. While sometimes illnesses and ailments are out of our control, there’s plenty we can do to look after our bodies. Get really honest with yourself, ask yourself if you’re looking after yourself as well as you should be. Too many late nights, too much stress, a poor diet and lack of exercise are all bad lifestyle habits that can lead to health problems in the long run. If you want to live a long and happy life, it’s important to put in the work when it comes to your health. You don’t need to be perfect- you can still enjoy delicious foods, you don’t need to be in the gym seven days a week, you can still have a glass of wine and stay up too late on the odd occasion if you want to let your hair down. But aim to live healthily for the majority of the time, that way when you do indulge a little or you don’t get enough sleep or water on some occasions it’s not a huge deal for your health.
Are you going places in your career?
Most of us have to work to live, and when we spend so much time in the workplace it makes sense that if you’re not happy in your job then you’re not going to be happy throughout the rest of your life. Maybe after years of being in the same job, the role or industry no longer feels like a fit for you. As humans we’re constantly growing and evolving and our likes and wants change so it’s not uncommon for this to happen, even if it was once your dream job. Perhaps you took a job with the expectation of it being a temporary thing but are still there years later, again, it’s a very common thing to happen. Have a think about where you want to be in your career, perhaps you could take on some training or education to move up. For example, if you’re currently working as a builder or labourer, could you go back to college and qualify to become a commercial electrician, a gas engineer or a plumber? If you’re currently in a low paid office job, could taking on some more training allow you to move up to a position with more power and better pay? Perhaps you could look into starting your own business if you want to have more control over what you do, start small and work on growing your venture.
Are you still building your skills?
Speaking of skill building, work isn’t the only way to go about this. Hobbies are a great way to keep improving your skills, working your brain and meeting new people- do you have any hobbies to speak of? Have a think about what you enjoy doing, it could be anything from sports to painting to gardening. Take it up as a hobby as a way to build your skills, as humans we’re curious creatures and often at our happiest when we’re learning.
Is your relationship making you happy?
The people we have in our lives have so much impact on the way we feel. The right people help to lift us up when we’re down, push us to step out of our comfort zone, encourage our goals and are a shoulder to cry on when we’re sad. The wrong people can be toxic, leaving you feeling insecure and uncertain and not sure where you stand. They can manipulate and use, all having a huge impact on your mental health. The relationship you have with a romantic partner is possibly the one which has the biggest impact on you, this is the person you live with, spend most of your free time with, who you have kids (or are planning on having kids with) and planning a future with. For this reason, if things go wrong here it can affect the way that you feel in a big way. When it comes to people, things are rarely clear cut- there’s much more to it than being able to label someone ‘good’ or ‘bad’ as we all have traits that can fall into either and it can be a bit of a grey area. But think about the person you’re with, do they make you happy? Are the times you spend together mostly good or mostly bad, are they someone you can see yourself being with for the long haul? If they’re not then maturely agreeing to split and go your separate ways could be the best choice. It can be hurtful and painful at the time, but later on you’ll appreciate how things worked out as you can move on and find someone that’s better suited to you.
When was the last time you travelled?
Travel is often seen as a bit of a luxury, something that many of us forfeit because we believe our limited funds are better spent elsewhere. But actually, travel is incredibly good for the soul, it’s one of the best ways to expand your mind, take a break from routine and have fun. If you’re on a smaller budget, look into last minute deals– if you can afford to go abroad consider coach trips, camping, road trips, there are plenty of places to see right in the country you live in. Put together a travel bucket list and try and find ways to achieve some of those goals, even if it means saving up over a year or two. It’s totally worth it.