In a slight departure from our usual blogs about Financial Planning and wealth management, here are 10 ways you can improve your life right now.
Do let us know what you think by using the comments below or joining the conversation on Twitter @informedchoice.
1 – Cut out sugar
If there is one thing you can do to improve your diet and health, it is probably eliminating sugar.
The white stuff has recently become the new focus of health experts, challenging outdated views that consuming fat is the main cause of obesity.
Put simply, the body stores most of the sugar you consume as fat. Cutting it out of your diet not only makes it easy to manage weight, but leads to clearer thinking, more balanced energy levels and better sleep.
2 – Turn off the TV, pick up a book
Life is there to be lived, not watched. Watching TV is likely to be influencing your view of the world, especially with rolling 24 hour news coverage, talent(less) shows and depressing soaps.
Despite a decline in the number of TV sets per household, people in the UK are watching more TV than ever before. UK viewers currently watch an average four hours and two minutes of television a day.
Reading more has various benefits, not least helping to slow the progress of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia.
Compared to television, reading books reduces stress, gives you knowledge to become a more interesting person and arms you with stronger analytical thinking skills.
3 – Leave the car at home
We have all come to rely too much on cars as a form of transportation, particularly for short journeys.
Leaving aside the obvious environmental benefits of driving less, it can save you money, and walking or cycling instead can cut your risk of heart disease, as well as the risk of some cancers, diabetes, obesity, and osteoporosis.
4 – Get better sleep
In our busy lives, sleep is perhaps the most underrated aspect of each day. Regardless, we need good quality sleep for a variety of reasons.
Too little sleep is connected to a shorter lifespan, inflammation linked to a variety of diseases, and even obesity.
People who get more and better quality sleep can expect to be more creative, better able to focus and experience reduced levels of stress.
5 – Work up a sweat
In addition to helping control weight, regular exercise has a whole raft of benefits.
It helps fight various diseases, improves your mood and boosts energy levels. Those who exercise regularly and work up a sweat will also live longer.
According to government guidelines, adults should aim to be active on a daily basis and carry out at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity each week, as well as muscle-strengthening exercises on at least two days a week.
Moderate intensity exercise can be anything from walking fast to riding a bike. As long as it makes you breathe faster and feel warmer, it is doing you some good.
Remember to seek advice from your GP first before starting a new exercise regime.
6 – Give away your things
Longer term, there is little joy to be had in simply accumulating possessions. Owning less, through the pursuit of minimalism, has a variety of benefits.
Minimalism means less stress, spending less on goods, saving time by making your home easier to clean, and a sense of freedom.
It also gives you the opportunity to experience more in life.
Check out www.theminimalists.com for inspiring articles on living a meaningful life with less stuff.
7 – Learn to say no
If you’re anything like me, you’re fielding requests for things on a constant basis throughout the day. Learning to say ‘no’ to the unimportant (and sometimes the seemingly important) things can make a real difference to your life.
Saying no to requests will give you more time, more control over your life and the opportunity to have more fun.
A great resource for recognising when to say no is the book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown.
8 – Create a Financial Plan
Creating a Financial Plan is an essential way to take control over your financial future, supporting your goals and objectives in life.
Understanding what you spend and what you need to save or invest to support your goals in life is central to the Financial Planning process.
It is also a great way to remove unnecessary stress; creating a Financial Plan means no more sleepless nights worrying about money.
9 – Participate in 100 Happy Days
If you use Facebook or Twitter, you have probably seen people taking part in the 100 Happy Days project.
Each day, you simply post a photo of something that has made you happy.
The act of consciously noticing what makes us happy each day puts us in a better mood, makes us more optimistic and allows us to develop gratitude for the things we have in our lives.
10 – Smile
Various studies have found that smiling can have a positive impact on your mood, reduce levels of stress and make those around us feel better.
The act of smiling releases endorphins which reduce stress and help manage anxiety.
Smiling also makes us be perceived as more attractive, and who doesn’t want that!
