Don’t let life pass you by. Take these 5 steps to make the most out of your life.
1. Take Risks
Now is the time to work on your passion project. Don’t live your life building other people’s dreams. In an article for The Guardian, Bronnie Ware, palliative nurse and author of The Top Five Regrets of the Dying shared the number one regret of the dying. After several years of caring for patients in palliative care, Ware shares that the number one regret of the patients is, “ When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.” You don’t want to reach the end of your life with regrets or realize that the majority of your life was spent being comfortable. Don’t let the fear of failure hold you back from pursuing your dreams. Be confident that you can make any failure a comeback.
2. Invest in Relationships
Don’t become too busy for friends or family. At the end of your life, you will remember the memories you made with those you love. Ware’s book shows that people regret not spending enough time with family. Be intentional about checking the status of loved ones. Arrange meetups. If need be, plan weeks in advance to meet loved ones. If your friend/family has an urgent need, call and check up on them. Send handwritten letters and cards. Take the time to do activities that your friends and relatives enjoy. Keep a calendar with important dates of your loved ones ( i.e. birthdays, recitals, concerts, reunions).
3. Travel
Go to a country that is completely foreign to you. Get lost with the locale. Immerse yourself in areas that are not tourist attractions. Learn the language, food, cultural clothes, music and dance of the country. This will expose you to people/cultures that you aren’t familiar with. As a result, your knowledge and understanding of the world will broaden.
4. Find a Cause or Organization that is Meaningful to You
Invest a cause that you are passionate about. Not only will you develop relationships with people with like – minded interests, but you will impact the world around you. Examples of volunteering include: helping the homeless in your area, working in a soup kitchen, volunteering at toy drives or donating clothes to those in need.
5. Make Health A Priority
Don’t overindulge in food that has no benefit for your body. Invest in whole and fresh foods. Get acquainted with sweets that are beneficial for your body such as dark chocolate. Exercise 2 – 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes. Don’t fill your mind with discouraging media. Don’t become overwhelmed. This will help you to age gracefully and avoid unnecessary health problems later on in life. Minimize factors that will cause stress, as stress is known to be a factor for many illnesses.