Change is one of the inevitable parts of human life. From the beginning of time, change and evolution have helped us ward off extinction as a species. Ever wondered what these changes were for?
They were to make us better!
So, if that works on such a macro level that even nature knows when something doesn’t work, change has to be brought up to make it happen – why can’t it work on a micro level?
When you feel lost and helpless, like you have no goal, and are drifting through a purposeless life, you need a dynamic shift in your life. A calculated chain of changes that can take your life is purposeless, filled with enthusiasm to do more.
Building Your Life Back!
Building your life back is not easy. It takes perseverance and resilience. Because not everything will work for you, and you will want to give up more than once.
Here, you can stare at your challenges and welcome your new lifestyle.
Knowing that bringing these changes is not a task assigned. Just because it says journaling every day doesn’t mean you should be punishing yourself for missing a day.
Not every lifestyle change is for you. Some find their newfound joy in going to the gym daily, while others are content with a thirty-minute walk every day.
Doing too many things at once will only result in more burnout (which certainly you are already dealing with). Pick a countable activity to add to your day.
Changes To Activate
Here are the different changes you should activate when trying to bring your life back on track.
1. Start Judging Your Compulsive Substance Use
No, human beings are perfect; our lifestyle is made up of good habits and some guilty pleasures. However, these bad habits cross the absolute threshold when they turn compulsive, as if you are losing the willpower to stop yourself when required.
Sometimes, our bad habits can have an unhealthy clutch on our mental health. That is what comes with extreme dependency. For example, if your guilty pleasure of having a Friday night drink turns into an everyday glass, you will automatically feel a shift.
Soon the dopamine release, which came quite naturally to you, will now be heavily dependent on drinking.
Now, you can substitute being a patient of alcohol addiction for any of your vices, whether it is nicotine, cannabis, or even something more serious like intermittent drug usage. You have to first assess the situation.
- Is this becoming an everyday occurrence?
- Are you so dependent on these compulsive habits that you are unhappy without them?
- Has anyone warned you against your behavior?
- Is your habit affecting or even hurting others?
If you wish to change for the good, you couldn’t do it without introspection. Click here to view the best help to get out of the clutches of substance abuse.
Bad Habits Don’t Limit!
Bad habits don’t limit to substance abuse itself. In fact, many find pleasure in habits like binge eating, excessive binge-watching, perfectionism (yes!), overstressing, workaholism, not sleeping enough, and improper hygiene.
It is subtle, but they all have detrimental effects on your physical and mental health. Stressing you out, breaking your skin, and leaving you in an endless loop of burnout.
All these can be avoided with the help of the following activities:
Being mindful about what you are putting in your body.
Building a steller self-awareness which allows you to be cognizant about the right and wrong of your life.
Stop burying your emotions and acknowledge them to better assess your bad habit.
Look At Your Surrounding
Being engulfed in toxic loveless relationships could be another reason behind your lost hope. Afterall, the quality of our life is measured by the quality of the people we surround ourselves with. If you have friends, family, or partners who are always disrespecting & criticizing you, losing hope in oneself is inevitable.
Motivation comes in every form. Some are intrinsic (from within), but others are extrinsic (heavily influenced by others). So, you can understand the importance of surrounding yourself with a company who are-
- Not trying to downplay your efforts toward sobriety.
- Empowering in every sense.
- Are overall contributing to your happiness.
If borderline depression is knocking at the door, it is time to assess the people in your inner cycle.
P.S. Please do not take it as a sign to judge every conflict you have with a loved one. Arguments and conflicts are quite common (…and necessary) in any relationship. The problem arises when there is nothing but conflict. This is a clear sign of an underlying problem that you or your companion are clearly ignoring.
Conflicts every day can increase the level of cortisol in your body. Cortisol is the stress hormone that also adversely affects your physical health and skin. Excessive cortisol can lead to a cyclical state of hopelessness.
Stop Simply Surviving
On the brink of despair, many adopt the formula of ‘just surviving.’ There is no single definition to the meaning of ‘surviving.’ However, one can define it as the following-
A person simply surviving will –
- Marginally take care of their physical health, i.e., eating meals only to survive.
- Will have a monotony in their life. Going to work for pure financial gain and coming home to sleep.
- They will have no hobbies or hours of self-care.
- Socializing and having a good time in good company is a distant dream for them.
- They are finding refuge in the compulsive consumption of substances.
Do you know what these are?
The initial signs of Chronic Depression.
The feeling of extreme melancholy where you want to give up every time can be the beginning of depression. If the above pointers ring any bell and you seem to be slipping into survival mode, then first analyze your situation and immediately ask for help.
Too Overwhelming!
Getting your life back on track from a train of melancholy asks for some effort from your end.
- You have to start being mindful of your surroundings.
- Find a healthy balance between work and self to prevent burnout.
- Surround yourself with happy people who empower you.
- Measure your substance intake, and put a stop to it.
All the while taking care of your mental health. Yes, they can be a little overwhelming, so you should always ask for help when needed. For example, contact a therapist to first acknowledge where the problem lies. Even getting help from a top rehabilitation center if your willpower is insufficient to say ‘no.’