Live Your Best Life With These Tips
The new year is past, but there's no expiration date when challenging yourself to live your best life. You can start any time you like and still reap the benefits. This month, why not challenge yourself to elevate your everyday?
Contrary to what our capitalistic society would like you to believe, living your best life doesn't require spending a lot of money. In this case, the best things in life are indeed free.
Prioritize mental health
It can be easy to forget to care for yourself when your family and job demand so much from you. So, choosing to value your well-being can be challenging.
Prioritizing your mental health can look like ensuring you get 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night, taking breaks throughout the day, and knowing when to say no to a request.
Limit your screen time
Do you often procrastinate at work or on your personal goals? And when you do, do you spend too much time on social media apps or binge-watching on Netflix? Limit your screen time if you want to focus more on work or have time for other hobbies.
However, limiting your screen time only works if you swap it for another activity. In the morning, try stretching or meditating instead of scrolling. If you want to read more, open a book whenever you feel the urge to scroll. These substitutions can leave you feeling better about yourself in the long run.
Start journaling
Journaling has many benefits, including helping you achieve clarity on a situation, track your progress, and let go of stressful thoughts. It's also an excellent method of storing memories, but most of all, it's an intimate way to connect with yourself.
It can be tricky to journal consistently, especially when you feel overwhelmed. However, when you're overwhelmed, you need to stick to your writing practice. So, it's best to establish a journaling routine and stick with it. Even five minutes of journaling at night before bed can make a difference.
Find a certified peer visitor
The amputee life can get confusing and frustrating. If you're feeling this way, having a certified peer visitor or an amputee support group might help, particularly if you're a new amputee. They could answer your questions, help you find a prosthetist who cares for you, or be someone who can listen to your concerns and keep you grounded. Having someone else who has been through the same journey is incredibly comforting, improving your mental health and quality of life.
Do gait training exercises at home
Gait training exercises are great for improving mobility and balance—two qualities that reduce the risk of falls. It also helps create a smoother walking experience for long-time prosthetic users.
However, if you have a higher level of limb loss, it's best to get gait training from your physical therapist.
Take up a new sport
Wearing a prosthetic limb doesn't mean you have to let go of your favorite sport. You can do various things, like adaptive cycling/biking, skiing, running, and climbing.
While taking up a new adaptive sport will require you to spend upfront on sports equipment and getting it modified based on your amputation level, the benefits you'll get are priceless. Taking a sport can increase your confidence and self-esteem, and doing something you enjoy is great for your mental health. Furthermore, doing a sport you enjoy is a great way to expand your social circle.
Go for a walk every day
The benefits of going for a walk are often overlooked. Numerous studies have found that walking improves mood, boosts brainpower, and enhances physical health. And going for a morning walk outdoors is a great way to get your daily dose of sunshine, helping you feel better immediately and in the long run.
The bottom line
Incorporating the tips above will help you feel better about yourself in the long run. However, you need to do them consistently to reap the benefits. So, start slow but keep at it.
Choose one or two things you might want to start doing and keep doing them consistently for at least a month. Studies say that it takes at least 21 days to form habits. Then add another habit to your routine only when the first ones have been established.
