We all want to live happier, healthier, better lives. That's why we do things like watch what we eat, hang out with our friends, and put up a profile on an internet dating site. We're looking for ways to improve our level of happiness-- our quality of life.
Despite what some people think, quality of life doesn't have too much to do with what you have or how much money you make. It's much more about how you feel from day to day. Do you have the things you need? Are you a happy person? Do you have the ability to make positive changes in your life? Do you look forward to the future?
Improving your quality of life is about living a life that's happy, content, and relatively stress-free. Want to do this in your own life? Read on for five ways to easily improve your quality of life.
Forgive somebody who did you wrong.
Everybody is a little different about whom they can forgive, and when. But holding on to grudges and old anger is a quick way to feel not only unhappy about the person that hurt you, but about yourself, too. The truth is, holding onto your old angers doesn't hurt the person you're angry at--it really just hurts you.
Did your last boyfriend or girlfriend cheat on you with some floozy he or she met on an internet dating site? Well, it's time for a little forgiveness. And not because of any religion or because it's morally the right thing to do. Forgive that person --and anybody else you've been carrying a grudge against-- for yourself. It'll feel like you've had a weight lifted off.
Remember, most of the time the mistakes people make are much more about them than they are about you. You don't have to accept a hurtful person back into your life. But forgiving him or her can help you to move on more happily.
Figure out what makes you happy.
There are always going to be things in your life that you don't want to do. Obligations, responsibilities, chores. And that makes it even more important to spend the rest of your time doing things that make you feel good!
Here's a good example: I've recently come to the conclusion that the time I spend in front of the TV on a weekday evening isn't really time I enjoy. If I'm not watching something I really love, I'm just... sitting. Being a vegetable. But talking on the phone with friends or hanging out on an internet dating site, on the other hand, makes me happy and keeps me entertained. Don't let yourself lose time just because you're too lazy to find something else to do. Know what makes you happy, and then do more of it.
Banish the drama.
If you're anything like me, you've always had that one friend that always had a ton of problems that needed to be solved for them. You know the type: they call up in a panic, crying about the new guy that left them "for no reason" or how their boss hated them and singled them out at work. But while it's important to be there for your friends --and to support them in good times and bad-- it's also true that friendships should be about give and take. If you have a friend whose constant manufactured drama drains your energy away, it might be time to move on. You'll be happier in the long run.
Spend more time thinking.
Ask yourself this: when was the last time you sat down quietly and just... thought? No computer in front of you, no radio to listen to, no newspaper crinkling under your hands... just you and your thoughts. If you're anything like most people, it's probably been a very long time. Giving yourself some time to reflect on your life, your feelings, you goals, and your thoughts every day is a great way to get in touch with who you are. You don't get to live anybody's life but your own-- and most of what you feel takes place on the inside. Don't let yourself get so busy doing things you forget to reflect on who you are.
Build up a savings account.
Now, quality of life really isn't about money. But of course that doesn't mean that money doesn't have an effect on how you live. Especially with regards to stress. No, you don't need to surround yourself with a magazine-perfect home or the latest gadgets. But if you're living from paycheck to paycheck and barely scraping by, the stress that can cause will take away from your enjoyment of the other things in your life. Simply having a bit of a buffer between yourself and total ruin will help you to relax and enjoy your life more. And that's what having a high quality of life is about, right?
