Change is a conceptual necessity that is rarely executed. That's because saying goodbye to your bad habits and lifestyle that lead you to feel unhappy, unhealthy and unfulfilled can be daunting. But the changes you make will help improve your current situation, and the new things that you incorporate into your daily life will lead to happiness in the long run.
Getting ready for a big change is never easy and takes time. So, if you're feeling frustrated about the effort it's taking — or just afraid — take a deep breath and remind yourself that nobody ever said changing was quick or easy.
However, the rewards of successful lifestyle changes are worth the effort: improved relationships with family and friends, more energy, better health, successfully reaching goals in all areas of life, and so many others!
Ready to take action towards a happier and healthier life? Follow this guide.
How Do You Know You're Ready for Change?
If you can't stand the status quo any longer and want to tweak certain things you do on a daily basis, that is a clear sign that you're on your way to changing yourself for the better. Here below are other indicators that you seriously want to make improvements in your current life to ensure the future you want:
- You feel unmotivated or helpless
- Your bad habits or addictions are holding you back from the kind of lifestyle you want to have
- You feel like everything you do gets you into bad situations
- Something comes up every time you try to keep a positive routine going
The first thing that needs to happen is taking responsibility for how you feel and what's going on in your life. It takes some work, but once this shift in thinking happens, the process of reaching the goals in your life will be a whole lot easier. Ready to make the shift?
Source: Dotdash
7 Steps to Get You Ready for Change
Most people think and talk about change, but the truth is, the only way we'll begin our journey to self-discovery and personal development is by starting with ourselves first. This means taking care of your physical health, mental wellbeing, emotional stability and social life. All areas of our current life need attention so this one thing can finally happen. These seven simple steps will assist you in determining which areas of your life require direct action in order to see great results.
1. Make a list of things you want to change in your life
Take a moment to consider what activities or events take place on a daily basis. Which ones make you feel fulfilled and happy at the end of the day, and which ones simply drain your energy without adding value to your life? Make a list of all of them. You don't have to finish your list in one day; if you truly think about the activities you've been doing for years, it may take a week or so.
2. Identify the areas of your life that need the most change
By the time you've completed the first step, chances are the areas in which you need the most change will be more obvious to you than they were before. To validate what areas of your life require change, identify your goals by thinking of what you want, how badly you want it and why you want it.
3. Create a plan of action to achieve your goals
Don't try to overhaul everything about yourself all at once; it's too hard for the human mind to maintain that focus. Write down all the steps of how you intend to achieve your goals so nothing gets forgotten. The steps don't have to be in the same order as the goal. You can start with the biggest one and work your way down.
4. Take small steps towards your goal
Promise yourself not to make any impulsive changes. If you're trying to lose weight, for instance, don't drastically cut out certain food items from your diet. Do it gradually, keeping in mind that some changes will take time and require the assistance of others. A trained nutritionist can help you make changes to your eating habits and shop for healthier pantry goods.
5. Be patient and stay focused on your goal
Don't be discouraged if you fall off track. Staying patient and focused on your goal is the best way to avoid getting discouraged. If you feel as if the change isn't happening as quickly as you'd like, remind yourself that it takes time. Remember the phrase, "Rome wasn't built in a day". Take a step back and re-evaluate the situation and the steps you're taking if the change seems too difficult to make. You'll get there eventually, even if the process takes a bit longer than expected.
6. Keep the big picture in mind
Having the big picture in mind from the start will help you stay focused throughout the process of transforming your life since it will keep you optimistic about the end result. If you're having trouble remembering why you're making the changes, jot down reminders on paper and post them somewhere visible, such as the refrigerator or your bathroom mirror. If your motivation starts to wane, you might find it helpful to go back and read these reminders. Instead of feeling that all your hard work was for nothing, you'll be able to see yourself achieving your goals at the end of the process.
7. Celebrate every accomplishment
Learning to appreciate yourself and your efforts is one of the most important steps to success in your quest for transformation. However small those achievements may seem now, they can eventually lead to a better version of you. Plus, significant moments along the way will help keep you motivated and encourage you to not give up on your goals. So, make it a point to always celebrate the small wins and stay on the path towards the bigger goals.
Making changes in your life doesn't mean you have to give up on the good things—the only ones that will go are the bad habits, toxic relationships and things that hold you back from being the person you were meant to be.
