Sometimes in life, perhaps at key events like marriages, births or deaths of loved ones, we often reflect on how well we are living our lives. Of course, this self-reflection can happen at any point in life.
If you’re finding yourself pondering how much you have accomplished or how well you’ve lived, it’s clear to see you’re at a time in your life when you’re self-appraising. With any self-reflection or self-appraisal there comes a goal, a destination or an aim and you might be left wondering how you can live well.
The daily grind
For many of us, it is easy to slip into a rut or a boring daily schedule. Some people, though, thrive on this and find a sense of security by having a routine. For them, this is a good thing – they are living well. But, if you’re finding yourself bored with your daily life, it’s perhaps time to think about changing a few things.
Existence Vs. Living
If you’re going from A to B without much active participation and thought, you’re probably just existing. To live means to initiate events or actions, to think of goals, to make plans and to work to achieve them. It also means learning from your experiences, even if you keep falling short of your goals.
Being lonely and being busy
Many people say that keeping busy staves away feelings of loneliness, self-pity and depression. Being busy also means that we’re probably having more contact with other people, which is a good thing for most people. Humans generally thrive from social interaction and companionship. Being busy, interacting with others means you are living rather than existing.
Cutting corners in your life
Are you someone who cuts corners every now and then? Perhaps you feel as though you don’t have enough time or energy? Maybe it’s a lack of resources that is stopping you. Cutting corners occasionally doesn’t mean you’re not living well. However, if it’s something you see yourself doing a lot, it’s perhaps time to reassess.
Give things your all
Living well, particularly as you age, means that you need to go into things wholeheartedly. With maximum effort in whatever you do, you can safely say you’re living well. The feedback of pride will also help to reinforce you to continue committing to living well.
Ideas to help you make sure you’re living well
- Put the maximum effort in all that you do
- Live in the present – try not to worry about the past, you can’t change it – try not to worry about the future, it’s not here yet.
- Make sure you’re surrounded by people who you relate to, get on with and whose company you enjoy
- Make an effort to learn something new every day – a new fact, a new word, a new understanding
- Don’t feel guilty, if you’ve made mistakes, forgive yourself
- Don’t hold grudges
- Try to do something nice for someone else without expecting anything in return
- Look for beauty all around you – laughter, the sunrise, the warm touch of a hand, the scent of your favourite candle
- Explore something that you’re curious about.
- Strive to follow your dreams and your goals and be positive about your chances of reaching them
- Don’t give up
- Always be accountable for your own actions – own up to mistakes and learn from them
- Try to be thankful each day for the good things in your life as well as for the lessons you learn from the challenging things in your life
Looking after yourself physically
Lots of the things above are more to do with living well inside your mind. A healthy body is just as important as a healthy mind. Living well means looking after yourself physically as well as mentally.
Diet
Eat well, drink plenty. Try to have a varied diet. Don’t deprive yourself of the things you love but savour them and make them a special part of your day or week. Don’t overindulge – remember, nothing tastes as good as that first bite!
Exercise
Stay physically active. Try to incorporate other things into your activities. For example, a walk in the beauty of the countryside is just as good for your mind as it is for your body!
Sleep
Make sleep a priority. After all, you’ll enjoy the rest of your life much more if you’re well-rested. Remember, eating well and exercising will help you sleep well.
In summary
Living well requires a synergy. You need to live well mentally and physically. It is vital to remember that living means more than simply existing. Your life should be satisfying, enriched and productive. You should love and be loved. So, in order to achieve a life well-lived, you need to be committed and determined to living well and, if you veer off the road, don’t beat yourself up about it – simply pick up where you left off.