How To Live Your Best Life

Living your best life is always within your grasp. It takes knowing what makes you happy (and not just what social media says should make you happy). It's about being aware, accepting and taking action.

Here's 5 tips for living your best life starting today: 

1. You Do You

You've heard that saying, "you do you"? The road to happiness starts with being more You. Unapologetically you. It means focusing on the person you want to be and not moulding yourself to the expectations of others.

Your individuality is your secret sauce, your super power. Embrace your quirks and preferences and play to your strengths. Let who you are shine bright. 

2. Live In The Present

Wonderful, joyful, happy things happen in our lives every day. But we might not be paying attention to them and instead are focused on a far off "best life" that exists in the future.

Being aware and present in your daily life can bring instant happiness. When you take a closer look at your surroundings, you recognize how much of what you want is already here. From mundane experiences like enjoying a good night's sleep to the everyday moments like preparing a great meal, there are small things worth celebrating. 

 

3. Declutter

I'm always a fan of decluttering and organizing your space. Not only does it make your home function better, but doing something as simple as organizing your closet can bring unexpected joy, every time you open that closet door.

But decluttering is not just about getting rid of unwanted things. It also helps to bring clarity and help you see more clearly. Decluttering could, and should, be applied to different facets of your life, not just your belongings. Eliminate the comparison trap and clear your social media feed of people who make you feel unworthy or jealous. Stop doing those things that you're "expected to do", yet bring you no joy or fulfillment.

The more you declutter, the easier you can focus on the important things in life. 

4. Look After Your Body

I admit this is one area I've struggled over the years. I've never been sporty, I fall in and out love with exercise, and have a raging sweet tooth.

But that has changed lately and I've never felt more in control with my health. What changed is that I learned "health" has individual measures of success. Being healthy for one person could mean hitting the gym 5x a week. For others, it can be as simple as preparing healthy meals and stocking your fridge with nutritious snacks. Exercise can be walking, yoga, gardening, or riding your bike.

The key is finding what works for you. Here's just a few things that have worked for me:

• Getting an air fryer and a Vitamix blender. With the right tools, it's easier for me to make healthier meals and snacks
• Meal planning. I like having healthy meal ideas handy for those nights when I'm tempted to just run and out and get a burger
• Setting up a home gym. We've long had a treadmill but it was in a terrible spot and a hassle to move out and use. Now, we've cleared room in our laundry room and have the treadmill out all the time and not surprisingly, we're using it more.
• Working with a partner. My husband Sean and I have decided to make our health a priority and it has made the challenge of staying healthy much easier. We keep each other accountable to work out, we make meals together, and we cheer each other on.
  
  

5. Set Intentions 

Call it goal setting or making plans, one of the most powerful ways to live your best life is to set intentions. I'm a firm believer in making grand pie-in-the-sky life-changing plans, and breaking those down into manageable, everyday actions.

Which is why I created the Best Life Planner. I started creating this digital download last year and have been using it ever since. I've tweaked and refined it and I'm excited to finally share it with all of you.

What falls in your definition of a Best Life? I've included 6 sections that focus on Goal setting, 2021 Calendars, Daily/weekly/monthly agendas, Finance, Health, and Journals.

I wanted to create something that was easy to use, attractive, and motivational. Planners are a wonderful tool for:

• Setting a clear vision. You know what you're working towards and how to get there
• Eliminating the overwhelm. You can easily focus on one project or one day's agenda - without losing sight of the big picture
• Celebrating your success. Are you motivated by visual cues? Do you like checking items from your To Do list or keeping track of how many glasses of water you drank in a day? A planner provides instant feedback and encouragement

If you think you'd find this planner useful in your own life, please check it out in my Etsy shop. 

And for my blog readers, I'm offering the planner at 15% off. Use code FRIENDS15 at checkout. I hope it helps you on your way to living your Best Life.

Now tell me, what are your tips for living a meaningful and happy life? What is making YOU happy these days?