Pursue Your Hobbies.

If you have certain hobbies you have been laying off, let this be a reminder that they deserve your time and investment.

Devote time to them and make them a part of your routine.

It could be playing a certain sport like football.
It could be playing a certain instrument like the guitar.
Or anything at all that you enjoy.

Your hobbies will always hold a special place because they consistently evoke positive emotions.

Go further beyond, set personal goals and embark on a personal hobby project.

Life is a lot more fulfilling that way.

“You never lose a dream, it just incubates as a hobby”
– Larry Page

Daily Exercise.

No matter how busy life gets, squeeze in some time for daily exercise.

Even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Take a brisk walk.
Do a few sets of push-ups.
Do a few sets of squats.

Anything at all.

As long as you stimulate positive growth every day by exercising.

Because doing something is infinitely better than doing nothing.

“Good things come to those who sweat”
– Anonymous

Personal Grooming.

Being clean and presentable goes a long way.

Sure you may not look like a supermodel.

But making sure that you’re well-groomed and clean enhances your overall appearance so much.

Trim and clean your nails.
Maintain your hairstyle.
Stand and sit up straight.
Smell nice.
Get rid of any unsightly hairs.
Wear clothes that fit your body.

Invest some time and effort into your grooming to always make a good impression.

Music.

Music has such a profound effect on our well-being

It helps improve our mood.
It helps to manage pain.
It helps with workout endurance.

And a host of other benefits such as stress and anxiety reduction.

You can listen to it practically anywhere too.

So no matter how busy life gets, spend some time listening to your favourite tunes.

“Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It’s transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It’s uplifting, it’s encouraging, it’s strengthening.”
– Aretha Franklin

Minimum Effective Dose.

It’s simply the smallest dose of effort that produces the desired outcome.

Because for everything that needs to get done, there is a minimum effective dose to get the job done.

Perhaps one of the best ways to manage your energy and stress levels is recognising what this dose is.

So try to find out what that minimum effective dose is for your day-to-day job, chores and errands.

Be it for sleep, checking emails, working out, various work tasks, anything at all.

Of course, it may not apply to everything in life.

But knowing the right context to apply the minimum effective dose can save you a ton of energy, stress and time while getting things done.

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
– Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Rest.

Know when to rest.

Burnout is real when you constantly have so many things going on in your life.

So rest when you need to and don’t feel guilty about it.

Invest in rest.

Moderation.

Do everything in moderation.

It doesn’t matter if it’s something good as exercise or meditation.
It doesn’t matter if it’s something unhealthy as eating junk food.

What matters most is achieving balance.

Live a healthy life but also leave room for some indulgences.

Do everything in moderation.

Because too much of anything is bad.

Like-Minded People.

Surround yourself with like-minded people.

If you’re into fitness, surround yourself with people who love fitness.
If you’re into chess, surround yourself with people who love chess.
If you’re into reading, surround yourself with people who love reading.

Having a community of friends who share the same interests as you is so invaluable.

You connect with each other better.
You get to talk about things you love.
You get to do things you love together.

So if you’re feeling socially isolated, take some time to seek out communities of people with the same interests as you do.

Your mental and emotional health will thank you for it.

Routine vs Variety.

What are your daily activities like?

Some people value routine and predictability in doing the same set of activities daily.

Others prefer spontaneity and variety in their day-to-day life.

What about you?

For some of us, following the same routine every day may eventually end up being boring and dreadful.

But ideally, it’s best to live a routine life that leaves some room for spontaneity to happen.

Routines simplify our lives and automates decision-making.

While variety spices things up and keeps life fun.

So implement routines but have some room for variety.

Dealing With Uncertainty.

We get upset when things don’t go our way.
We get upset when things go wrong.
We get upset when things turn out for the worse.

And we fret over situations and stressful events that we have no control over.

But all of these do nothing except worsen our mental health.

There’s no point being upset over things we have no control over.

Expect the worst in every situation.

And accept that not everything will go the way we like it.

Because we’re less likely to be emotionally affected then.

“Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.”
– John Allen Paulos