Improving your quality of life today
Improving your quality of life today
Small intentional changes can make a big immediate impact
You can improve your quality of life sooner than you think. Not in a year, 5 or 10 years - but today.
I chatted with a colleague about why we work so hard - why we're involved in all our professional activities and side projects. Part of it is personal ambition and interest. The other part is to build a better future for ourselves and our loved ones. I'd say those are good reasons.
But many of us may be living too much for the future - always saving money, working toward some goal - and not enjoying enough in the present. I certainly feel this way at times.
As I reflect on a healthy balance, I find that it comes down to how we steward our time and money.
1. Time - In short, it's about intentionality. Do more of the things you want to do. Do less of the things you don't - as long as you don't shirk your responsibilities. That said, you may make decisions that change your commitments or establish new ones.
During the pandemic, many people realized that the life they've been living is not the one that they want - and that tomorrow is promised to no one. So they're relocating, changing jobs, starting businesses, and so on. They are choosing to be more intentional with their time.
2. Money - We may think that raising our standard of living requires major purchases like cars and homes. Yet some smaller things have an outsized impact on our quality of life. Spend well in those areas; buy quality even if it costs a bit more.
My best friend shared a memorable saying: Buy good things that separate you from the ground, e.g., shoes, tires, mattresses. All of these affect our lives in tremendous ways. We may not think about them when they work. But we realize just how important they are when problems arise.
Improving our quality of life can happen in big or small ways. It doesn't always take a long time or a lot of money. As we press on toward our long-term goals, let us recognize opportunities to make today a little brighter and our paths a little gentler.