At any given point in our lives, we all feel like we’re stuck in a rut. Working a nine-to-five job, sitting in front of a computer all day, getting stuck in traffic, doing household chores—all these are stuff many among us have to go through every single day, and they are most definitely wearing us out. Worse, sticking to this routine day in and day out can make you feel like life is passing you by.
Living life to the fullest, however, is not out of reach of anyone, even those who have spent the better part of their lives living the most routine lives imaginable. One to share with the kids, and find out how to lead a fulfilled life.
You don’t even have to do anything drastic to incorporate changes into your life. All you have to do is try something new for 30 days. A 30-day challenge is predicated upon the idea that forming new habits takes that long. Sure, they could prove to be tough, but would you rather go with the tedious life you’ve been living for the last few years? After all, there is nothing to lose with trying something new for 30 days. In fact, you’ll be improving your quality of life when you gradually do things you haven’t done or have been meaning to do for a long time.
This article has been inspired by a great video featuring Matt Cutts from Google. In the video he shares his personal experiences of making life more fulfilling by taking 30-day challenges.
Here’s the video:
If you’re up for a 30-day challenge, you will want to make a list of all the things you want to incorporate into your daily life. Here are a few suggestions:
Making Life More Fulfilling – do one of these for 30 days:
1. Do something you never thought you’re capable of doing
Mountain climbing and running a 5K would be great places to start.
2. Quit one bad habit for 30 days
This can be really hard, especially when we’re talking about smoking, but think of the break your lungs will be getting from all that nicotine.
3. Walking 30 minutes per day
Your heart will be getting all the exercise it needs this way, while the fresh air filling your lungs will invigorate your mind and give you time to reflect on what makes life fulfilling for you.
4. Read one chapter of a book each day
Has work prevented you from picking up a book? Implementing a one-chapter-a-day policy would be great for catching up on your reading.
5. Walk, jog or bike to work or school
Save on gas and get a great aerobic workout at the same time. Not advisable if your office or school is 10 or more miles away though.
6. Take another route when driving, running, or walking
The change of scenery can do you some good. More importantly, this sets up a more fulfilling life by not getting stuck in old patterns.
7. Always take the stairs
A great workout for the legs and the gluteus maximus.
8. Give up all media for 30 days
No TV, radio, newspapers, Facebook and Twitter for a month, and you’ll see how much time you’ll have to do other stuff.
9. Pick up new hobbies
It’s never too late to learn how to cross-stitch or solve crossword puzzles.
10. Take a cold shower daily
We all love hot showers, but cold showers have benefits of their own as well, such as boosting your immune system and making your mood better, among other things.
11. Practice a random skill everyday
It’s always nice to learn how to do a handstand, perform a certain ballroom dancing trick or any random skill that you haven’t tried before.
12. Sleep and wake up early each day
You know what they say about being early to bed and early to rise.
13. Doing something you’re scared of
Are you afraid of heights? Get to the topmost floor of your office building and look straight down. Scared of horror movies? Hold a scary movie marathon at home with your closest friends.
14. Try exotic food
If snails, frogs and sweetbreads are good enough for some people to eat, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be the case for you.
15. Keep a journal
Just keep it in a safe, locked place where your partner or kids can’t get to it.
16. Learn to use chopsticks
Wouldn’t eating be more fun this way?
17. Try a new restaurant
Loyalty to your favorite eating place is admirable, but trying out what other restaurants have to offer wouldn’t hurt.
18. Meditate each day
The benefits of meditating are manifold, particularly in the way it helps relieve stress.
19. Perform at least one selfless act each day
Small acts of kindness like giving a homeless person some money or holding the elevator for some stranger can go a long way.
20. Watch an NBA game live
Or any professional sports event for that matter. Nothing feels the same as being there in the middle of it all, cheering your favorite players on in person.
21. Do something different with your children
Instead of taking them to the mall, why not take them hiking or even camping instead?
22. Go to a shooting range
If you haven’t fired a gun in your life, then you’re missing out on the adrenaline rush that popping rounds in a shooting range brings.
23. Take in movies you don’t normally watch
Maybe it’s high time you took a break from all those violent action movies and rented a romantic comedy video for a change.
24. Take a class or course
There are practically classes or courses for everything these days, from cooking to Lego Robotics. Choose which one piques your interest the most, and start with that one.
25. Be a vegetarian for a day
With all that meat you’ve had your entire life, eating nothing but veggies for a day would be a welcome change of pace.
Feeling adventurous or want even more? Just pick a few 30-day challenges and do them together.
There are a million other new things that you can explore for the next 30 days. If you want to add something to this list, just hit the comments and help other people with their 30-day challenges in the process. Which one(s) will you pick for making life more fulfilling? What are your kids’ choices for living a more fulfilling life?
