There comes a time in every man’s life when he needs to take a step back, analyse and jumpstart. You may have woke up one morning and found yourself in a rut. You may have looked in the mirror and not liked who was staring back at you. You might even be stuck in a job that you hate.
Wherever you find yourself, you have realised that you want and deserve a better life. This is the first step, so you’re already on track to reinventing yourself and becoming a better man.
Making changes can be scary, sure. Where on earth do I start? Am I ready? What if I fail?
Well, hopefully, I can help shed some light and guide you on your path to becoming a much better version of yourself.
Table of Contents
Make more time for yourself
Your life is hectic. You work hard. You support your family. But do you make enough time for yourself? This is one of the most important things you can do when reinventing yourself. There are plenty of options. Spend your time working out, meditating or chilling out by yourself for a little while. However you decide to spend your time, use it to reflect on the day, acknowledge your successes and learn from your failures.
Start Small
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and nor will your new self. Break down your long-term goals into shorter, more achievable targets. Ambition is great but too much will set you up to fail. Take trying to improve your physique, for example. Expecting to hit the gym 6 times a week will be quite difficult, especially if you’re brand new. Try attending a couple of classes or workouts to get you started. Think big, start small. Remember, success breeds success.
Mistakes are an opportunity to learn
There will be times when you mess up. You may miss a gym session or a skill-building class. It’s not the end of the world. We all do it. One of the worst things you can do is beat yourself up. Instead, try and understand what went wrong. Let’s say you couldn’t make it to the gym in time after work, try going in the mornings or fitting in a quick lunchtime workout. There are ways around every obstacle.
Get the toughest tasks done first
Your morning routine is a prime factor in your development. Many men find it difficult to maintain productivity in the evening after a long day at work; it’s much more appealing to crash on your couch and grab a cold one. It’s no secret that some of the most successful people in the world use their mornings to their advantage, so use yours to accelerate your progression. Prepare your day the night before. Pack your gym gear, plan your route, prepare your diets. This will save a whole lot of stress the next morning and help you feel more relaxed knowing you’re set up for the day ahead. Try learning about some of these morning routines and see what tips stand out for you.
Practise gratitude
Seriously, this is a very powerful technique that many of the most successful people practise. It’s also extremely easy and has a hugely beneficial benefit to your overall happiness. Just before bed, try noting down a few things that you’re grateful for today. It doesn’t have to be anything spectacular or mindblowing, it can be something as simple as ‘having a nice chat with a friend’. Additionally, thank people in person. This could be a colleague via email, your Mother via a card or your partner with a kiss.
Meditate
Meditation is another tool used by many successful people that you should incorporate into your life. There’re thousands of articles out there about the incredible benefits of meditation out there, including this one. By giving yourself 10-15 minutes to focus on your breathing, you’ll start to notice your mind begin to declutter and feel increasingly more relaxed. Some benefits of introducing meditation to your daily routine include; increased attentions span, reducing ageing and helping you get a better night’s sleep.
Keep your friends close…
Your pals are your anchor. They’re the ones who keep you humble, stand by you at your low points and praise you at your high. Let them know you’re looking to make improvements in areas of your life; they might have gone through something similar, may be able to give helpful advice or offer valuable support along your journey. You might even find they want to get involved too, which will help keep you motivated. Also, make sure you have time to catch up for a beer or a chat on the phone – staying connected really does boost your mood. It’s never too late for a, ‘I Love You, Man’.
Diet is life
You are what you eat. Literally. What you put into your body affects how you look, how you feel and how much energy you have. So why do people neglect such an important factor of their life? Try tweaking your diet and chow down some healthier foods and get plenty of water. You’ll soon notice the difference in your health. One of the most important things that get overlooked is your breakfast. Try squeezing a sit-down meal every morning. However, if you just don’t have the time, take your meal in liquid form and pick up some shakes.
Find inspiration
Making changes can be a long and bumpy road. I’ve been there. Hell, I am there. But one of the main things that keeps me going is finding relevant inspiration. Try following Instagram accounts or blogs ran by people who have what you want or are working towards it too as well. Keeping daily reminders of what you’re trying to achieve will help you focus on your short term and long term goals.
Always think positive
Finally, try and maintain a positive outlook. Sure, things will get difficult and life may try and bring you down, but it’s your choice on whether you let it. Try keeping a journal of your progress so you’re able to look back on how far you’ve come. Try and find the optimistic viewpoint in negative situations (if you look hard enough I’m sure you’ll be able to find one).