- May 29, 2023
- 3 min read

Simple Ways to Enjoy Life More

By Luci Phillips-Fardo

Everyone wants to be happy and enjoy their life. I know that I definitely remember times in my life that I didn't even want to get out of bed. I would fight with the alarm clock every day. I don't have that problem anymore. I actually wake up early every day and am excited about getting up for the day. I wish I could have felt this way earlier in life. The truth of the matter is their is no secret to being happy or enjoying life. There are a lot of things that can change your life and make you a happy person.

Find out what is causing you the most stress in your life. What is it that you struggle with the most on a daily basis. Try to make a list of solutions or options to solve the problem. Just trying to find a solution will make you feel better.
Ask yourself what you want. Everyone needs to have a clear idea of what you want out of life. I have personal goals. Make some professional goals as well.
Think about what would be an ideal day for you. Write it down on a piece of paper. What would you eat or drink? Where would you go? Why not try to have that day and experience it. This will help you see what life is like now and what you want it to be.
Schedule time for relaxation each day. Even if it is only for an hour. I have an hour each day that I watch a television program. I play a game on my tablet and relax. I spend this time with my husband and I look forward to it every day.
Make time for yourself. The fact of the matter is this. If you aren't happy than your family isn't happy. We spend so much time taking care of others that we sometimes neglect ourselves. When this happens it affects our mood. To be truly happy we need to have time for ourselves. Don't feel guilty for self-care.
Limit the time you spend watching the news. Most of the time there is so much bad news that it can affect us by the bad things happening everywhere. I love being aware of what is going on this world. I have noticed my mood becoming negative if I watch too much news.
Explore new restaurants, parks, and vacation destinations. This is something that can change your life. Our brains thrive when we experience new experiences. It can also broaden your horizons and bring more joy into your life.
Figure out what you want you really enjoy doing. Try working out at the gym or go to the park for a scenic walk. If you live in the country try hiking or camping. Try some new museums or take a painting class. The important thing is to discover what you truly love to do. Find your passion.
Try to be more social. Studies show that the more connected you feel to friends, family and community the more likely you are to be healthy and happy. Go see a movie or host a bar-be-que. It is too easy to stay home and watch Netflix and scroll social media. Make time to spend with the people and friends that you love.
Try to keep the clutter at bay. Clutter and pile up can make a person more nervous and affect your mood. Have you noticed how good it feels to look around after you have cleaned and tidied up. The smell of Lemon polish on the coffee table and sunlight coming in the window makes me smile. So often we let little things pile up around the house. A few minutes cleaning up after yourself makes all the difference. I have taken a basket around and just got rid of things that didn't have a home or that I no longer needed.
Move your body every day. Exercise creates a huge amount of endorphins. I love running, swimming and working out on the elliptical. The workout helps combat anxiety, pain, and depression. Of the addictions out there exercise is probably the best one to have.
Use your mind. Be curious about the world out there. If you have an interest look it up. The technology is there. Take an online class to learn something new. My sister learned to knit with youtube. That is one of the wonderful things about technology. I am thinking about signing up for a painting or dancing class this summer. I think that we should embrace learning new things.