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How to Feel Better About Life: 16 Small Steps to Feel Great Again

It’s normal to go through rough patches in life. But not being able to get out of those funks really sucks. So, here’s how to feel better about life.

how to feel better about life

I bet there’s not one person reading this who hasn’t had a tough time at some point in their lives, right? Everyone experiences loss, disappointment, heartache, and more. But why is it that some people can bounce back from these low points, and others can’t?

If you’re one of those people who seems to always be in a funk and wants to know how to feel better about life, well, you’ve come to the right place. [Read: 47 strong ways to not cry & the fastest ways to stop those sad, mad tears]

How to Feel Better About Life – The Little Things That Make All the Difference

Unfortunately, I don’t have a magic pill I can give you so you automatically know how to feel better about life. But, there are a lot of things you can do to feel happier. So, let’s take a look at some of them.

1. Focus on What You Do Have, Not What You Don’t

Honestly, this is probably the #1 problem people have. They are always focusing on what they don’t have. They want a relationship, they want a high-paying job, they want a big house, they want a lot of friends, and the list goes on.

But hey, stop for a second. Look around at your life. What do you have? Do you have a roof over your head? If you do, you’re lucky. A lot of people don’t. Food on your table? Lucky again. People who love you? Your health? There is always, always something to be thankful for.

When you get stuck looking at and complaining about what you don’t have, then you are literally putting out negative energy into the world. You have to stop doing that. Focus on what you appreciate having, not what you don’t have. [Read: 27 secrets to focus on yourself, grow as a person & create your own sunshine]

2. Keep a Journal

Sometimes when we have a lot of negative thoughts running through our heads about life, it helps to write them down. You can even pair the journal with suggestion #1. Write about what you are grateful for in your journal.

But you can also use it as a means to vent. Sometimes just getting it out and verbalizing it in language helps you look at it more objectively. [TinyBuddha.com: How to release anxiety to feel calm and free]

3. Get a Massage

Ahhhh… massages. Who doesn’t like a massage? Okay, well, I’m sure there are some people who don’t, but I can’t imagine why.

Massages are not only good for you, they are really relaxing. If you want to know how to feel better about life, try getting a massage. Sometimes the stress of life gets stuck in your body and produces tension. So, releasing that can really help.

4. Go For a Walk

Simple to do, yet effective. Go for a walk in the woods or somewhere else where it is beautiful. Sometimes simply getting out into nature helps clear your head. You can focus on what is good about your life, and also make plans for how to make it better. [Read: 52 happy habits and ways to find happiness within yourself & feel better]

5. Meditate

Some people think that meditation is a bit woo-woo. But it’s not. All meditation means is slowing down your brain waves. It’s actually very good for you and can help you de-stress and get in touch with your inner self.

6. Talk to a Friend

Sometimes, we can send ourselves into a tizzy if we over-think our lives and don’t know how we can fix things. So, why not just talk to a friend you love and trust? They are good at giving objective perspective, but they can also talk you off the ledge if you need that much help.

7. See a Therapist

Maybe your problems are bigger than talking to a friend. Well, then maybe it’s time to see a professional. We all have wounds from childhood that need to be healed.

Having someone who is trained to help people with their problems is definitely a brilliant idea. [Read: 70 true secrets to happiness to have a happy life & enjoy everything you do]

8. Make a Life Plan and Take Action to Make Your Life Better

If you want to know how to feel better about life, then you can’t just sit around hoping things will change all by themselves. You have to take action to do something!

Make a plan. You can’t expect to get where you want to be without knowing where you want to go. But then take action, otherwise the plan is useless. [Read: 36 life lessons to instantly transform your life & draw in happiness]

9. Go Out With Friends

Sometimes we just need to get out, have fun, and forget about our problems. Well, who else better to help you with that than your friends? Throw a party, or just gather as many as you can and go have a wild time.

10. Make New Friends

Maybe you’re stuck in a rut, and your friends just aren’t helping – or maybe you’re even sick of their drama. If you want to know how to feel better about life, sometimes that means dropping some so-called friends and making new, positive ones. [Read: 52 happy habits and ways to find happiness within yourself & feel better]

11. Pick Up a New Hobby

Have you always wanted to learn to play the guitar? Why not give it a try? Maybe you want to learn how to solve the Rubik’s cube. Whatever it is, find something you enjoy doing and put more time and effort into doing it.

12. Get a New Job

Let’s face it – we spend most of our lives at work, or so it seems. And if you’re miserable with your job, then you aren’t going to know how to feel better about life. Instead, you’ll feel stuck. Why not try to find a better job – something that you’ll actually enjoy?

13. Watch a Funny Movie or TV Show

It’s always great to escape your life and laugh once in a while. Go to the movie theater, lose yourself in the storyline, and forget about your problems. [Read: 52 happy habits and ways to find happiness within yourself & feel better]

14. Do Something Crazy

Skydiving anyone? Bungee jumping? Sounds crazy to me! But I do know people who have done these things, and they say it’s amazing and exhilarating. So, why not give it a try if you’re trying to figure out how to feel better about life?

15. Visit a Nursing Home

Sometimes when we’re stuck in a funk, we don’t think about our life as a whole. Will any of this matter at the end of your life?

Visiting a nursing home will not only make the old people happy, but it will help you put your life into perspective by talking to people who are at the end of theirs.

16. Volunteer

There are always people in the world who are less fortunate than you. So why not volunteer at a homeless shelter? Or a hospital? Or any place where you can help people. Once you do, you will probably realize how lucky you really are.

[Read: How to handle the pressure to live life to the fullest and thrive]

Most of us want to know how to feel better about life – that’s normal. So, if you follow these tips, you will be feeling great in no time, and you’ll have a whole fresh perspective on where you’re going.

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Carol Morgan LP
Dr. Carol Morgan
Dr. Carol Morgan has a Ph.D. in communication and is a professor at Wright State University where she loves corrupting young minds. As a relationship and succes...