Last Updated on March 11, 2024 by Angela Vaz
The new year is not that far away.
And if you’re in a place where you are just not happy with what your life is looking like, or you’re just plainly unmotivated, then maybe it might be time for you to get a fresh start and turn your life around.
Keep reading to find out how you can improve your life with just a few tweaks.
But before that, really quick, get my free guide on how to really reset your life.
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How to get a fresh start when you’re not happy with your life
No matter what area of your life you want to change, this post will give you tips to make that happen easily and help you improve your life.
1. Take time to introspect about who you really are
To improve your life or make some sort of positive change, you need to know what you really want or what makes you happy.
Grab a sheet of paper and write down the answers to the following questions:
- Who am I? What do I believe in? What are my core values?
- What activities give me joy? What makes me happy?
- Where do I want to be in life a few years from now? What are my goals?
- What is important to me? How can I make more time for those things?
When you understand what makes you tick and what makes you happy, you can start carving out more time for those things.
And doing this will automatically help you get a fresh start and head in the right direction.
2. Create different types of personal goals
Your life may be lacking in any of the physical/emotional/mental/social departments.
And that’s okay.
It’s important to identify where you are lacking and focus on improving that particular aspect of your life.
For instance, if you’re extremely fit and have good mental health but crave human interaction often, then maybe you need to work on your social life.
This particular step involves taking some quiet time to think about what is lacking in your life and then actively taking steps to improve that aspect.
Read this post to understand the different types of personal goals you can set for yourself.
3. Be very specific about your goals
If you intend to become fit, get down and dirty with your goals.
Don’t just write “Exercise more” in your to-do list and then call it a day.
To follow through with your plan of becoming fit, set super-specific goals like:
- Drink 2.4 liters of water a day
- Walk 15K steps every single day
- Go for a walk at 4:30 pm for 30 minutes
- Lift weights for 10 minutes at 5:00 pm
Making lists have really helped me stick to my to-dos.
You are the master of your own life. Nobody is going to tell you how you can improve your life.
You decide what your life is going to be like.
And if you really love yourself, you will do whatever it takes to make that happen!
4. Stop doing things you don’t want to
My life improved dramatically when I learned how to say no to people.
Being a people-pleaser all my life, this one took a lot of effort to learn and implement.
It’s okay to be kind. I’m not saying you should be rude or antisocial.
But occasionally, it’s okay to do things that make you happy.
This is one of the best ways to get a fresh start.
I know many people who constantly sacrifice their time and energy to make others happy – people they don’t even know well.
If you’ve had a long, tiring week at work, and your colleague asks you for a favor that’s going to take up all of your Friday night, you have the right to say no.
You will start having a more fruitful and content life when you choose your time and energy.
You may also like:
- How to let go of the past when you feel like you can’t
- 13 toxic habits you have to cut out from your life to become happy
- How to radically simplify your life
5. Keep an open mind
Sometimes we don’t get the things we really want. Or we lose something or someone we love.
It’s very important to remember that life is impermanent, and everything in it is temporary as well.
So keep an open mind and learn to let go of your inhibitions.
Go with the flow.
Trust the process.
And believe that no matter what happens, things will fall into place.
Don’t resist.
Sometimes, change is the only way to get a fresh start.
And as a person who found change so difficult, I can tell you that embracing change helped make me more happy and content.
I highly recommend this book if you’re struggling with change or letting go in general.
6. Let go of things that aren’t working for you
Have you ever held on to something that has done nothing but hurt you?
It can be a memory, object, or person – something that doesn’t serve you or your vision.
In this case, it may be time to let go.
When you hold on to things that make you miserable, you’re not making room for things or people who will make you happy.
It’s as simple as that.
So, to move forward and find happiness, you will have to let go of toxic habits, let go of the past, and let go of friends who don’t have your best interests in mind.
7. Step out of your comfort zone
I always wanted friends but was too meek to go out and make some.
I finally joined a meet-up group in early 2021 and became more social. I reached out to my friends on Facebook and started catching up with them in real life.
In this post, I discuss how to make friends in your 30s. I’ve actually used every single method.
My social life is pretty amazing right now. And it feels good to be there for people and at the same time know that they have my back if I need them.
I’ve also learned so much from them because my friends have varied interests and skills, and it’s wonderful to be around people who are better than you at something.
Is there something you’ve always wanted to do?
Is there a skill you’ve always wanted to pick up?
Is there a cuisine you’ve always wanted to try?
Or a place you’ve wanted to visit?
Please do it!
Step out of your comfort zone and start doing things that are out of your bubble of comfort.
Your life will become so much better!
8. Don’t be afraid to fail
Life isn’t smooth.
And to get good at something, you should be ready to fail a few times before you finally succeed.
Don’t be afraid of failure.
It only helps you learn faster.
When I was growing my first blog, I took a lot of risks. I invested in email marketing software when I wasn’t making that much money.
I knew it was important, and I’d done enough research to know that it will pay for itself eventually.
I had blind faith in my skills because I knew I’d do whatever it took to make my online business work, and I succeeded.
I’ve had many failures, but I’m so grateful for every one of them because they contributed to my success.
9. Declutter your home
When I wanted a fresh start, decluttering my home is the first thing I did.
And it actually made me feel so much better about my life.
I either sold or gave away almost everything I felt I didn’t need. And the pros seriously outweigh the cons.
- I have so much open space in my apartment, that it’s super cool – temperature wise.
- Cleaning has become really easy because I don’t have that much stuff.
- My dogs have ample space to move around and play and it’s honestly so heartwarming to see them so happy and comfortable.
I don’t have many distractions, so I can focus on writing and drawing whenever I need to!
10. Declutter your wardrobe
How many clothes do you have that you don’t wear?
Are there clothes you feel you’ll get around to wearing for a special occasion, but that day never comes?
It may be time to declutter your wardrobe.
Keep practical clothes that you feel comfortable in.
Declutter your wardrobe and keep the clothes that you’re going to wear daily.
11. Adopt minimalism
I’ve stopped spending on unnecessary things, and I’ve downsized my life a lot. And my quality of life is much higher.
Here are a few ways I’ve implemented minimalism:
- I recycle books I know I will never read.
- I don’t buy clothes unless I really need them.
- I donate or sell anything that I know I am not going to use.
- I focus on buying mostly consumables.
As a result, I can focus more on what I love, like giving love and attention to my dogs, talking to my family and friends, learning the piano, writing, drawing, and creating.
Experiences give you more happiness than things.
Give it a try and see how it changes your life.
When I went to Thailand, I spent most of my money on food and experiences. I did pack my suitcase with stuff I bought from there – but almost all of it were food that I could consume like seaweed crisps, noodles, rice and tea.
12. Focus on financial security
Spend on things you need. And don’t spend more than you earn in a month.
It’s not a good practice and will not help secure your future.
Focus on sustainable living.
It will benefit you and the environment.
Keep an Expense app and log your expenses daily before you sleep.
This habit is one that everyone needs to follow.
I like looking at my expenses at the end of the month to see what I can cut down and what’s unnecessary.
Once you understand your living expenses, keep a budget for groceries, entertainment, commuting, and so on.
This will help you live within your means and help you save money for your retirement.
13. Focus on living a healthier lifestyle
The quality of your health will determine the quality of your life.
Focus on eating foods that actually help keep your energy levels up and are nutritious for you.
Move your body.
Go for walks, exercise, dance, and live life to the fullest.
Your body gets rid of toxins when you sweat, and you built up stamina and muscle power when you move more!
If you don’t like exercising like me, start with walking. Just 5-10 minute walks. Build it to 30 minutes, and then slowly start incorporating exercises you love.
Get a pet if you need the motivation to walk every day.
I have 2 dogs, so I am pretty much always on my toes if I’m not eating, sleeping, or working.
14. Celebrate mini-achievements
No matter how small or how big your achievement is, take a few moments to celebrate it.
Rewarding yourself for doing something out of the box will only encourage you to do more!
So, if you’ve worked really hard for something, take some time to appreciate how far you’ve come and how much progress you’ve made.
Don’t compare your journey with anyone else’s. It won’t do you any good.
Focus on your own life and your achievements. It will really help you see the bigger picture.
15. Be patient
Almost everything worth something takes time.
If you make a change, the results aren’t going to show immediately.
And that’s okay.
Getting a fresh start takes time. It’s a journey.
Life is about being consistent and moving the needle so that you can become better at your own pace.
So, be patient with yourself.
Take it one day at a time, and you’ll see that your life improves slowly.
You may also find these posts useful:
- The ultimate guide to getting over heartbreak and moving on from your breakup
- How to deal with intense emotional pain
- How I dealt with loneliness and learned to be happy alone
Conclusion
You don’t need to make a change all at once or do everything on this list in 1 day.
Take your time to implement what speaks to you the most and make little changes daily.
Not everyone is keen on making a fresh start, so pat yourself on the back for wanting to make a positive change.
I wish you nothing but the best!
What are you excited to try out right now? Leave a comment!
