Are you getting the feeling “all is not well in the world” too many times these days? Do you feel jaded and cynical about people and relationships? Have you been feeling like giving up everything and just getting away from it all?

Join the club.

This is exactly how I had felt a few months back. It was a huge effort to even drag myself out of bed every morning. It was a chore having to dress myself and get down to working. It was an awful task to talk to people. I was groggy and grouchy all the time.

But things around the house had to get done. The children had to be sent to school, the laundry didn’t get done on saying abracadabra, the groceries had to be stocked up, the house cleaned…I’m sure you’ve got the idea by now.

Anyway, I realized things couldn’t go on the way they were. I decided to do something I normally never do. Introspect. Yes, I put the grey cells to use and came up with something startling. It was so simple. What I was feeling was nothing but a little bit of guilt, a certain feeling of inadequacy and a sure feeling that I was procrastinating. That was what it was.

Things had gotten too much for me. Work pressure was enormous at home and at work. And I had involved myself in so many projects that I had barely enough time to recoup before I had to start on the next one. I wasn’t getting enough sleep. There was a feeling of guilt because I knew I wasn’t putting aside any time for any kind of exercise though I had been medically advised to do so.

So, what could I do? I realized the thought of making big time changes was daunting to say the least. I felt too tired to tackle something like a total life change. In fact, I took a leaf out of my father’s book on this one. He is a contented man. A man satisfied with his lot. Very meticulous. Very time conscious. Scrupulously keeps appointments. Though he is a lot less active now, I now realize how he manages it. He’s always been after me to make some small but significant changes.

I  finally decided to implement  small changes in my life to get to that state of mind. Changes that were small enough to make me feel that I wasn’t being bogged down by something too big, but changes that were significant and things I had seen my father stick to religiously.

First on the agenda, I decided never to miss breakfast. No more just grabbing a roll or an apple on the way to work. I decided to make time for a proper breakfast.

Next comes the important one. I made up my mind to drink lots of water. Do you realize what a change it can make? I stopped feeling so tired all the time. I was a lot less grouchy. Think about it, how much of water do you drink in a day? The requisite 8 glasses? Hmm, I thought not.

The next one was to religiously stick to a skin-care routine. Cleanse, moisturize and tone. God, my skin has started feeling like, about ten years younger.

My exercise routine. Yes, I didn’t have enough time to hit the gym, yes, yes, you’ve heard it before. But this time I decided, alright, if I can’t go the gym, I’ll cut down on all those high calorie foods and consciously eat five portions of fruits and vegetables. Not only that, I will stick to food which are high on calories but good calories. Like almonds, walnuts, sprouts, baked fish etc.

Though I was heavy on to do lists, I realized there was no point in making them as I was not sticking to them. So, I just carry a note pad with me to jot down random thoughts which elevate my mood.

If you’ve been nurturing negative thoughts about a friend, a co-worker or a neighbor, quit doing so immediately. I did it and just tossed those feelings out. Nothing more to it and what a difference it makes.

A friend who’s into yoga told me, you can surely spare 10 minutes, or at least 5 minutes, oh, OK, at least 3 minutes from your busy schedule. In those 3 minutes, sit back and take deep breaths. In through your nose, and out through your mouth. Pay attention to your breathing. End of 3 minutes, see the difference.

Wow, I felt energized and alive in a way I hadn’t felt lately.

Have you, like me, always wanted to write, a short story or an article or something? Then do so. Just a page a day is enough if you don’t have time for anything more. I do just that and I don’t feel guilty now. I feel like I’ve had a productive day.

One significant other thing I have incorporated into my life is that the new me now orders groceries over the phone. No more arguing with the kids about what they can take and what they cannot. No more squabbles about which chewy candy to buy and what they cannot buy. Saves me tons of time and I actually think I may be saving a bit here too.

I recently learnt another valuable lesson. I have a friend, who’s as busy as me and she was the very nice and accommodating kind. She didn’t mind ringing up all the time. But it has to be reciprocated once in a while otherwise a one-sided relationship cannot survive. I hadn’t kept in touch with her as I would have liked to. But to my regret, she’s moved to another country and I may lose touch altogether now. Don’t take your friends for granted. Keep in touch at least once in a while.

I’ve learnt it’s alright to daydream or be a sloth for a day or for a few hours. Nothing more relaxing than that. So, make this change. Chill out every now and then and don’t feel guilty.

I think I could go on and on but it’s the small changes that have wrought the biggest change in me. The new ‘me’ is no longer a grouch and has a spring in her step. You don’t have to implement the same changes or even all of them. Even if it’s only three or four little changes, you’ll feel great. Try it out.

Little changes can make a world of difference.

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Tags: attitude, eat right, happiness, relaxation, sleep