11 Simple Ways to Make Each Day More Meaningful
Life is all about ups and downs, but sometimes, it just seems like one monotonous track. Find out how you can make the daily grind more meaningful.
Have you ever felt like your life is just one long, non-inspirational, repetitive cycle? Does the phrase “Same shit, different day” apply to you? Well, you have to snap out of that depressing mindset before it takes over every aspect of your life.
It's bad enough that you have to live everyday over and over again, so instead of wallowing in the bleak monotony, why not change your mentality? Stop making excuses when you're asked to make each day more meaningful because it's really not that difficult to do.
It's true that most of us have fallen into the trap of conformity. We complain about hating our jobs, hating our coworkers, hating the weather, hating the routine, but what are we doing about it? It's understandable that not all of us have a choice in that matter. It's either strive to be independent or starve.
We have families who rely on us. We are part of households that need dual incomes. We have to pay the bills. We have to put food on the table. There's nothing wrong with routine and trying your level best to make ends meet, but there's definitely something wrong with not making each day count.
Even though life is full of choices made for us by society, there's no reason why we cannot, at the very least, see the silver lining in the day to day grind. It really is a beautiful world out there, and even though we're somewhat trapped in the black and white hamster wheel of life that's so hard to jump out of, we can certainly try to splash some color onto it.
How to savor the significance of every waking day
You may or may not be one of those utterly depressed drones out there, but either way, here are 11 simple ways to make each day more meaningful.
#1 Plan the day. Although it's a wonderful thing to be spontaneous, there's no denying that planning and organizing your day will do you a world of good. By introducing some structure into your routine, you give yourself meaningful purpose throughout the day.
Even if it's something as dull as picking up the dry cleaning and remembering to top up the cat litter, it's great to think ahead, as it gives you ample time to work out your schedule. Not just that, you give yourself a better chance of putting aside free time for yourself.
#2 Put some money aside. You'll be surprised at how much a dollar here and a fiver there can mean to you in the long run. Every day, put some money aside in a piggy bank. Be sure to get the type that doesn't allow you to access your cash, unless you break it. That'll keep you from digging into your fund.
Bust it open in a year, and you'll be surprised at how cash-rich you are. It'll do you a world of good, knowing that you meaningfully put aside some money for the not too distant future.
#3 Do a good deed. Paying it forward is one of the best ways to inject some meaning into your day. Don't end your day until you do something good for someone else. It could be paying for coffee for the dude standing behind you in line or giving your secretary the day off, or it could be something simple, like giving up your seat on the subway.
No matter what you do, be sure to do it for someone else, and you'll be paid back tenfold in ways that you never imagined possible.
#4 Say, “I love you.” Sending love and good vibes to those you care about will mean a lot, not just to you but also to the person you're directing your affection towards. Be sure to say, “I love you” to your partner, kids, parents, or best friend at least once a day. This will remind you that there are people in your life who care about you, and more importantly, they will know that you care about them, too.
#5 Do something that scares you. A while ago, there was a trend going around on social media, encouraging people to do something that scares them every day for a year straight. This may seem like a tough feat, but it really isn't.
It doesn't mean that you need to partake in extreme activities like paragliding off a building or bungee jumping off a bridge. Even the little things count, such as ordering a new drink instead of your usual latte. Whether it's quitting your job or asking the hot graphic designer at work out, give your life some meaningful thrills by doing something different every day.
#6 Make it a point to be happy. Another way to make your day more meaningful is to make it a point to be happy. Whenever you feel the throes of negativity setting in, quash those feelings, and replace them with happy thoughts instead.
Something simple like reading a joke or browsing through vacation pictures should do the trick. The longer and more often you hold on to happy vibes, the more meaningful your day will feel.
#7 Make someone smile. Similar to paying it forward, you can make your day more meaningful by making an effort to make someone smile. Whether you share a bad joke with your coworker at the water cooler or help your neighbor with her groceries, be sure to brighten up someone else's day because you never know just how much that gesture can mean to them.
#8 Practice yoga. As clichéd as this may seem, you need to practice yoga on a daily basis. I'm not talking about a full-on Bikram hot yoga session that's going to eat up 90 minutes of your time. I'm talking about putting on some relaxing beats in the morning and doing three sun salutations before you start your day.
It's not so much the act of stretching that'll give your day some meaning, but more the act of deep breathing and stilling your mind before taking on the day.
#9 Listen to an awesome track. They say that music feeds the soul, and I couldn't agree more. Be sure to listen to at least one awesome track a day. It could be your favorite jam or even something new that you came across on Spotify or 8tracks, but either way, do it.
If you can, dance to it, too! Not only will the tune inject some happiness into your day, it'll also put you in a good mood that'll be sure to lend a hand in you realizing that every day is beautiful and well worth appreciating.
#10 Tell yourself what a joy it is to be alive. It's incredible just how many people need to be reminded of this simple fact. It's a miracle that you're able to wake up, get out of bed, and make the day happen. There are millions, if not billions, of people out there who are dying to be in your shoes.
From those suffering from terminal illnesses to those living in parts of the world without any of the daily luxuries that you take for granted, just keep reminding yourself that life is beautiful and that you are oh-so-lucky to be alive. The more you say it, the more likely you will come to the astonishing realization that it is, in fact, the truth in every way possible.
#11 Ask yourself why. One of the most effective things that you can do to make your day more meaningful is to remind yourself why you're doing what you're doing. Whether it's saving up for that backpacking trip around South America or working hard to fund your kids' college education, we all have reasons for doing what we do, no matter how much we despise it.
Think about it: Why are you doing this? Once you figure out the why, you can tolerate anything that comes your way. If you don't have a good reason, then there's no reason why you can't jump off society's bandwagon, pack your bags, head off on an adventure, and start doing something that'll make you happy.
By making your day a little more meaningful, you give yourself the chance to realize and understand just how wonderful life truly is. At the end of the day, it's up to you to make each day count. You can surround yourself with all the happy people in the world, but if you refuse to change your negativity-dipped mindset, life certainly won't follow suit. Start by injecting some meaning into your daily grind and soon, you'll start feeling a whole lot better.
When the daily grind takes its toll on you, and you start to feel like you're just another one of society's drones, these 11 methods can remind you that there's more meaning to life than just getting by!
