Enjoying Your Life Daily

A lot of people reach the end of a year, or a decade, and realize they never really lived the life they wanted. Maybe you've felt that too: a sense that something is missing, that you could be doing more. You're not alone in that. Millions of people carry the same quiet dissatisfaction around with them.

I spent years simply getting through each day. Staying alive, really, more than living. If that description fits how you've been feeling, then you already understand what I'm describing. And here's what I came to see: life holds far more for us than we usually let ourselves claim. The things we assume are out of reach tend to sit much closer than we imagine.

A few months ago I made a decision to actually take hold of what my days had to offer. Since then I've done more things, noticed more small moments, and found a real kind of enjoyment that wasn't there before. So if you want that too, there are specific habits worth trying.

Enjoying your life goes beyond being happy once in a while. The starting point is recognizing how much slips past when you're only surviving the day rather than living it. Once that lands, you're ready to build a few good practices into your routine.

Start the morning with a few quiet minutes of gratitude. Taking that time sets the tone before anything else gets a chance to. You give your mood a direction early, which makes a better day more likely.

Put on music that moves you at some point before evening. Motivational songs can reconnect you with yourself at a deeper level, and that connection is one more reminder that you deserve a good life.

Reach out to someone who loves and supports you. You don't have to call everyone in your corner every single day. Contacting one person is enough to give you the lift you need.

Drink your water. At least eight glasses a day. People underestimate this, but there's research behind it: those who drink more water than caffeinated drinks tend to be healthier and in better spirits. Test it on yourself and see.

Smile whenever you can. The more you do it, the more you'll catch the things that actually matter to you, and the more the day opens up.

Before you fall asleep, once you're already in bed, bring to mind one good moment from the day. The happiest part, whatever it was. Closing the day that way helps you rest well, and good rest sends you into the next morning in better shape.

None of this is complicated. A life isn't only about surviving from one day to the next. What I've learned, and what I'd like other people to find for themselves, is that living means enjoying the small moments, taking the occasional risk toward something you want, and doing what makes you happy. Do those things and the difference shows up fast. Go for it. Change your life today. - Cara