It is true that after Covid, most of us have been experiencing a decline in the quality of our lives, and overall happiness. Whether you had to suffer the loss of a loved one, have been laid-off, or have simply become less sociable, the pandemic certainly did leave its mark on us all, and even the economy is still in shambles. However, there are little things you can do to regain control over your life and happiness.
Find a way to move as much as possible
It may seem obvious, but a sedentary life is proven to be an unhappy one. Researchers have shown that shutting yourself in your home, sitting and lying around for hours every day, doing next to nothing, may actually trigger a depressive episode. Suddenly, we can become increasingly more uncomfortable with the idea of going outside, even if it is to run errands.
That is why you should always find a way to move your body, get some fresh air and sunlight. Whether you decide to go for a jog, go to the park, or even walk your dog, movement and light exercise helps you produce more serotonin and endorphins, which act as antidepressants.
Photo by Caley Vanular on Unsplash
Work out
Mind you, going on light strolls or jogging are not enough to keep your body healthy and toned. While light movement is enjoyable, a twenty-minute jog will not help you with chronic pain, which so many people suffer from. Usually, chronic muscle or tendon pain severely decreases the quality of life, and it may even prevent us from doing things we enjoy.
This is when you should seriously start thinking about joining a gym and hiring a personal trainer. So many common issues are caused by weak or imbalanced muscles paired with hours of sitting at your desk. This includes knee pain, back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain and even headaches. Strengthening your muscles will not only relieve these issues, but you may end up looking amazing in the process.
Socialize with friends
This may surprise you, but there are folks that go regularly to the gym, have a fulfilling schedule and still feel like something is missing. If you are one of those people, ask yourself this: “When was the last time I went out with my friends?”
While focusing on self-improvement is great, you should not forget about the people in your life, or else you might lose them. So, at least once a month clear your schedule and arrange to meet up with your friends, at least for a cup of coffee, and have some fun.
Photo by Josh Willink: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-and-woman-holding-hands-while-walking-at-park-1690732/
Don’t neglect your love life
Obviously just as you should not neglect your mental and physical health, you should not neglect your social life, and it does not only consist of friends. It is paramount for a healthy human being to have a fulfilling love life, as well.
Luckily, in this day and age, it has never been easier to find what you are looking for when it comes to the dating world – whether it is a serious relationship, a short summer romance, an adventurous fling – there is an app for everything. Even sugar dating is just a click away, and, hey, we are not here to judge. You should feel free to meet your romantic and sexual needs and desires, that is the only way for you to ever truly be happy.
Consider therapy
There are only so many things a person can do to improve their wellbeing alone. Sometimes there are deeper issues we need to deal with, some of which you may even not be aware of. Just like you should look after your physical health, you should also pay even more attention to your mental health.
It often happens that by healing mentally, as a result you start looking after your body as well. So, maybe consider going to therapy to resolve some of the issues you are probably struggling with alone.
Photo by Lala Azizli on Unsplash
Change what needs changing
You should know better than anyone what is making you unhappy, and you do not need us to tell you that. The best piece of advice we can give you is to listen to what your body is telling you, and act accordingly. Is your work stressing you too much? Are you unhappy in your relationship? Do you think you need to eat healthier?
Chances are you already know what you need to do, however you may be choosing to ignore these urges. Well, you should not. The only thing you should do is take action – find a better job, fix or end your relationship, or cut out the processed sugar.
Wrapping up
The path to self-improvement and well-being is never an easy one. So many people choose to stay miserable, rather than make small changes to increase their quality of life. Do not be like most people, find the strength to invest in yourself. After all, we only get one life.
About the author: Mike Johnston is an experienced blogger and editor with a background in creative writing and digital media. He’s produced thousands of pages of original, engaging content for numerous online publications throughout his career. Mike’s specialties are travel and lifestyle, but he also often writes about business, careers, and work-life balance.
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