This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Rowan chapter.
We’ve all seen the posts. You know, the ones on Tumblr and Pinterest that show people living their best lives; they work out regularly, they eat healthy, they do their work on time if not early, they have time for hobbies, socializing, they journal, and they are UP TO PAR on that whole –hygiene– thing .
Meanwhile, there are some of us who get out of breath walking up the stairs, eat a vegetable a week, are extremely behind on our work, and that whole socializing/journaling/hobby doing thing? Yeah, that’s right down there with our daily skin care routine; practically nonexistent.
Sure, there are some days when we are doing everything right, and are on top of our priorities and to-do lists. But how can we keep that flame burning, and always have our lives together? Here are the tips that work for me, maybe they can help you too!
- Make a daily to-do list: When you wake up in the morning, take a few moments to write down exactly what you want to accomplish that day, whether that means running errands, doing laundry, or just meeting up with someone for an appointment or a meeting, getting your thoughts all down on paper right away will help you keep track of these things throughout the day. But, this should not be your only method of organization.
- Invest in a planner: This tip is cliché because it works. Stop by your local stationary or department store to find a planner that you like. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive one, nor does it need to be the most extravagant. It just needs to be one that works for you. A lot of companies produce planners that are made for different lifestyles; business workers, professors, full time parents, and plenty of others. Don’t feel as if you need to buy one of these, buy one that is modeled for your lifestyle. And then keep it on you whenever you go to class, work, meetings, or appointments. Write down everything you need to do, and check it regularly.
- Make different playlists for different daily situations: A lot of people thrive when they listen to music, but not every song is ideal for every situation. This is why I recommend making different playlists to listen to depending on what you are working on; make one for homework, one for working out, one for cleaning, one for walking to class… Anything that you need, really! I do this by using Pandora Radio, and creating different stations for whatever mood I’m in. My personal favorites are “Pop Fitness Radio” for working out, “One Republic Radio” for walking to class, “Lorde Radio” for doing house work such as chores, and “Classical Music for Studying” for nights when I have intense work to do. When I want to relax, I listen to “Enya Radio.”
- Establish a routine, but mix it up: Having a daily/weekly routine can help you stay focused, but it can also get boring. Try and keep a steady routine because it will help you organize your life, but don’t hold back from mixing it up and doing something different once in a while to keep things from getting stale.
- Pick a day out of the week to do your housework. Many of us are responsible for our own laundry and chores, so it can be really easy to put it off until absolutely necessary. But this can make the day that you do finally do the work, really overwhelming. So, pick a day a week to do the really heavy stuff like laundry, vacuuming, and dusting. But, do smaller tasks like dishes, putting away your clothes, and keeping your room clean throughout the week. This will keep your tasks minimal, and your surroundings clean; which promotes a smoother lifestyle.
- Find time to relax: How can you expect to be your best without a way of relieving yourself from the stress of doing it all? Find time throughout the week to unwind from the chaos of everything that is in your life. This will help you better your overall mood.
- Establish a hygiene routine: This sounds silly, but we can all admit there are times when we go a few days without washing our hair, or don’t always use facewash to cleanse our face, and maybe even skip a shower here and then, once in a while. It happens to everyone, but it does not have to. I find relaxation in taking a shower at night, using a fruity facewash, and unwinding from the day with these routines. Sometimes, my routine includes more care like using different products like moisturizer or coconut oil, and on those days I feel like I really have my life together. Make it a habit to do things that make you happy!
- Journal: Writing down your thoughts and feelings at the start or end of your day can really help you chronicle your life to see how you’ve grown and changed. Journals also serve as stress relievers, and they are a great way to visualize everything that is floating around your mind. My friend recently gave me a Five Year Journal, and I am thrilled because it encourages me to write down more!
- Set a goal for yourself. At work a few weeks ago, everyone had to write down a goal they wanted to achieve on a piece of paper. We all started it the same day, and will all be held accountable at the next staff meeting. Though your goal does not need to be as structured as this, writing down a goal you have for yourself can help you accomplish something big in smaller, much more manageable steps.
- Make exercising a priority: You do not need to run a certain amount of miles, or lift a certain amount each day in order to get a good workout in. Do anything that gets your blood pumping, do something that energizes you, and do something that is within your capacity. Your health is important, and in order to live your best life, you have to have your best self! Do not work out to lose weight or to gain muscle, do it to be healthy.
- Spend time with friends and family: In order to socialize, you do not need to go on extravagant outings, or on picturesque road trips, you just need to find moments throughout the day or week that are with the people you enjoy being around. Grab a coffee, take a walk, or even study or work out together. All of these activities count as socializing!
Living your best life does not need to be hard and not everyone’s best life is the same life. You just need to find what works for you, and work to maintain it. After some time, the “work” you put into living your best life will become habitual and you’ll find yourself feeling happier, healthier, and a whole lot more on top of your game. Find your groove, and stick to it!