Sometimes, it might seem that you are not living your life to the fullest. Each day is exactly like the other; nothing exciting or intriguing happens, and you start to feel drained. With all the musts and to-dos, you simply forget what life actually means. Doing the same things over and over again, not feeling any meaning behind the usual rituals.
But what does it take to master the art of feeling—and being—alive? If you want to feel like you are in control of your days and their content, check out these tips.
Get off your screen
The negative impact of constantly being on your phone and laptop has already been described tons of times. Like other unhealthy habits, it gives you cheap dopamine instead of the earned one produced during meaningful activities.
You can experience all the benefits of a dopamine detox by cutting on your screen time and going out in public for some real-life communication. You will be surprised by how much more pleasure this type of interaction can give you. You might even catch some surprising insights, like not being the introvert you thought you were.
Staying in touch with the real world through offline experiences gives you the valuable feeling of presence. Besides, the time seems to fly slower when you are not on your phone! And that is already a huge contribution to your feeling of contentment.
Reflect on what is important
If you aim at making your days and actions meaningful, you will need to sort out your priorities. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have to leave behind everything you have been doing, but a need for some changes might arise.
Analyzing the things you do often is a great way to start building your new routine. You can do it by journaling—that’s one of the most widespread and simplest methods of self-reflection.
What is truly important for you? How much of your day is dedicated to things that really matter to you? What can you do to be more true to yourself? What activities make you feel joyful and alive?
You can either try to answer these questions or create your own list. Choose a journaling instrument that suits you most; a lot of people do it on their phones or laptops, but some prefer it old school and buy pens & notebooks. Whatever you prefer, the main thing is that it helps you focus on your thoughts and creates a safe space for you to honestly share your thoughts and feelings.
Try something new
Do you remember how life felt when you were little? One day seemed to last for ages, and there was always something for you to do. Once you got bored, you immediately started inventing new hobbies and activities. Your mind felt lively and always up for a challenge. Why was that so?
Because there were plenty of new, undiscovered things around you. Thanks to the young age, you had a bunch of unknown facts and topics to explore, experiences to live, and things to know. Now that you are older and more mature, you have some obligations, and every day looks more or less the same.
So, the best cure for that would be trying something new, like in the old days! Start little: pick a new route to work, try a different coffee drink, pick the movie you know nothing about! The more novelty there is in your days, the brighter the worlds around you will feel.
Build meaningful connections
Social media provide us with a wonderful opportunity of communication with almost no limits. However, at the same time, it steals from us the simple joy of regular face-to-safe talks.
If you can reach your friends anytime online, you don’t feel the need to meet them to ask your questions. Then, with time, you notice that your meetings don’t happen as often as they used to, and when they do, they are not as exciting because you already know what your friend is up to (thanks to their social media posts).
If you want your life to burst with real emotions, always choose real interactions over zooms and messages. Although the second option seems easier, the first one can bring much more value into your life.
Stay intentional
How often do you do things automatically, without any thought? We usually brush our teeth, wash the dishes, and walk familiar routes without even realizing it. Our brains get really tired of all that intellectual work during the day, so they try to rest whenever they can—for example, in situations like these.
If you want to make your life feel fuller, try to notice everything you do during the day and make it intentional. You don’t just brush your teeth—you do it to be and feel healthy and clean. You don’t just commute to work—you are on your way to bringing value to this world.
Make your every move matter!
The same goes for intentional choices. Don’t go too fast, take a minute or two to think through your decision. Even if you are just picking a salad for dinner! Listen to yourself and know your desires. When you start acting with intention in every sphere of your life, you will see how much brighter it feels, and how many pleasant experiences you will get to live through.
To conclude
Life is more than simply doing what you have to. It is about adventure, excitement, and contentment. Don’t forget what makes you happy, and stick to it! Be intentional in everything you do, and take care of your feelings. Feel in control of your life, and it will be bright and unforgettable!
