Changing your life over is a heavy-handed statement that can be grand or small. What isn’t small about changing your life is the impact this decision can have on your life. It can take a lot to get to this point, or it can sneak up on you. For years, multiple signs were telling me to move across the country because I needed a reset and I hated my job. I didn’t take this lightly, as it meant leaving the only home I’ve ever known along with family and friends. But to become a better me, it was a necessity. So I started over in a new place. I’ll assume if you’re still reading, you may notice similar signs and think it may be time to make a drastic change in your life. With that in mind, I want to share with you the best ways to change your own life that worked for me.
Do You Need to Make a Change?
This may seem redundant considering that you are already contemplating making a life-altering decision. But think of this as your last stop in your old life. There’s a chance that your big change may carry risks or burn some bridges with family, friends, and future career plans. If so, you need to weigh that against the benefits of your decision. Your change may not be so drastic. It could be just finding a new job. Perhaps you want to start a new career or business opportunity. You may even want to start your life over in a new country where no one knows who you are. If you are still on the fence, I’d suggest physically writing out a pros and cons list on paper or in an app. Don’t just say them out loud. Then, list out the results of you keeping your life the same and the results of if you made the change. Seeing it all written down will help you grasp the impact it can have on your life.
Getting into the Mindset of a Life Change
Changing your life can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. It takes a great deal of strength to leave behind what is familiar or comfortable to try something new or to aim for something better. Whether it is starting a new career or finding a new purpose, getting into the right mindset is crucial for success. It is important to remember that changing your life is not a sign of failure, but an opportunity to discover an alternative path to reach your goal. With that said, you need to embrace the idea of change with enthusiasm and openness, because it can lead to unexpected possibilities.
With any big change, it is important to approach it with a positive mindset. Bringing the mental baggage of choices from your old life weighing down your new decision-making to better your life will just use up energy. That same energy you can then apply to reach your life-changing goals faster. Instead of dwelling on any past disappointments or setbacks, focus on what you will gain from this path, such as the prospect of learning new skills and gaining valuable experience. And before you say that I may be too “this or that” to make a change or learn new things, remember that you are the main character in your own story. Putting those restrictions on yourself turns you into a side character and your story is too important to let negativity take away a potentially amazing life from you. As cliche as sounds, it’s never too late to chase what you truly want.
Actionable Steps to Change Your Life
For you to take the next steps in changing your life, you need to immediately answer two questions:
- What do you want your life to look like?
- Where do you go from here?
1. What do you want your life to look like?
The first question you will need to answer on your own. There is no cookie-cutter life that looks perfect to everybody, but I’m sure there are a few checkboxes you can list that will put you on the right path. They could be checkbox items like not being broke or having a fulfilling job. Either way, you need to list them out, good or bad, as they will be the foundation for your Life Change List — your own big-picture roadmap to the future you want.
2. Where do you go from here?
This is a much simpler question to answer. Break down your Life Change List into small parts or Checkpoints and attack them piece by piece — I’m a gamer at heart, so using checkpoints as motivational tools works better for me. Usually, where most people lose their motivation to execute their plans is in the details. For example, you could say, “If my goal is to become financially stable, how do I do it?” It can be easy to feel overwhelmed at this point, but you just need to take a different approach. If I were to answer “How do I do it?” I would use an example and say, “Break down the hallmarks of being financially stable.” Maybe those would be to reduce spending, invest, have multiple income streams, etc. And if you don’t know what the parts are exactly, you can make a section to list questions you need answered and research them online. Once those sections are all listed, you can now break down the sections again into all the smaller tasks required to complete a section. I’ll use getting six-pack abs as a simplistic example.
How Do I Get six-pack abs?
- Maintain a healthy diet
- Make a shopping list of non-processed foods
- Exercise daily
- Monday weight training routine
- Tuesday weight training routine
- Wednesday weight training routine
- Thursday weight training routine
- Friday weight training routine
- Lose fat
- Schedule a time 1 hour a day to walk for 30 minutes
- Use an app to track calories
- Burn more calories than you eat a day
- Use an online calorie calculator
The point being that each indented section can be made into an individual task. Granted, certain tasks may need to be performed daily, but that’s much each to do a simple task daily than attempting to complete the entire project in an afternoon. It never works that way. No matter the pace, consistency, and routine are always the key to accomplishing your goals.
Establishing a Routine After a Big Change
After making big changes in your life, it’s important to establish a new routine that provides structure and stability. You need to create a new normal for yourself and your goals. It doesn’t need to be monumental. A small shift just to remind you to have a purpose in your new routine is enough. It can be something like a new daily task, waking up five minutes earlier, or even exercising at a specific time. The purpose of this is so you do not shift easily back into your old routine. Any little bit to keep the momentum helps.
The new routine also allows us to make the most out of our time and prioritize the things that are important to us. It helps us stay focused and organized, which is critical because there is a likelihood that your new goals and goal-related routines need to fit into your current busy schedule. You’ll need to manage your time more efficiently to do this for the long haul, or at least until your schedule frees up in the future. Also, you don’t want to burn out doing all of this and end up right back where you started. Give yourself time to settle into your new normal
Building a Support System After Your Big Change
When you decide to change your life, having a strong support system is crucial. Surrounding yourself with people who believe in you and are willing to offer help and encouragement can make all the difference in the world. Friends and family are often the first place to start when building your support system. Reach out to those closest to you and let them know about the changes you are making. They can provide emotional support, offer advice, and may even have connections or resources that can help you along the way. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Your loved ones want to see you succeed.
In addition to friends and family, seeking out new connections and communities can also be beneficial. Look for groups or organizations that align with your new goals or interests. Whether it’s joining a professional association, signing up for a class online, taking self-paced courses with sites like Udemy or Skillshare, or attending networking events, these opportunities can introduce you to like-minded individuals who can provide support and guidance. I try to do that as often as I can with a social app/website I use called Meetup. Building a support system takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. Being around people who understand what you’re going through and are rooting for your success can give you the strength and confidence to navigate any challenges that come your way. Remember, you don’t have to go through this journey alone and no man or woman is an island.
Celebrating Achievements Along the Way
Changing your life can be daunting, but it’s important to remember to celebrate your achievements along the way. When reaching a milestone with your goals, it’s almost necessary to take the time to acknowledge your accomplishments. If you don’t, who will? Let’s be honest; You are making an effort to do something great with your life, so it should be celebrated — with moderation, of course. I’m not expecting every time you complete a task you go party, but when you hit those milestones, take a step back and appreciate it. It’s super important for maintaining motivation and a positive mindset. So, don’t forget to celebrate the small victories and the big ones. Treat yo’self! Buy a video game, go out with your friends, have a meal at your favorite place. This also has a major side benefit — it reinforces the belief that you are capable of achieving great things, which you can. Don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise.
Tips to Help You Meet Your Goals
- Set Deadlines for yourself: This is more vital if you consider yourself a procrastinator. Create a sense of urgency to maintain momentum to have consistent progress toward your goals.
- Use apps to streamline your process: Using to-do or task apps like the ones that are already built into your phone can keep you on track. Google Tasks for Android and Apple Reminders are a great and easy way to start.
- Learn to say no: Say no to activities that don’t align with your priorities or goals. If it’s going to derail you from your plan, it’s best to avoid it for now.
- Set clear and realistic expectations for yourself: Avoid overcommitment as much as possible. A single task completed is better than none completed at all.
- Dedicate a workspace: Create a dedicated and decluttered workspace that minimizes distractions so you can increase your productivity.
- Seek Daily Inspiration and Motivation: Look daily to successful individuals whose success you want to emulate and learn from their experiences. Sometimes we can all lose steam. Luckily, there are motivational apps for that.
- Follow the 90/10 Rule: This is the most important tip. Your effort should be viewed as energy — 90% kinetic energy (action) and 10% potential energy (planning and research). All the planning in the world doesn’t matter if there is no work to show for your efforts.
Making the leap to change your life is tough, but loaded with endless possibilities. Not because that one big change will turn you into a superhero, but because it will make you feel like one. Once you know that fear of failure only holds you back and you let go of it, you’ll believe in yourself and your ability to create your future better. However, you need to start with the first step. Once you plan out your path, use a to-do list for your plan of action and put in that daily work to reach your goals. Don’t let anyone stop you. Surrounding yourself with positive influences and seeking support from those who believe in your potential will help you stay on that path.
Now, take a breath and remember — It’s your life. Take the reins and go for broke!
