“Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over, instead of craving control over what you don’t.”
Anonymous
You will be surprised to know that not all real big life transformations are the result of huge cataclysmic occurrences in a person’s life. Rather they were made possible through tiny, daily mindset shifts that help people see the world in dramatically different, more empowering and positive ways. And when they saw the world and their lives differently, they behaved differently.
These small behavioural modifications opened the door for more pleasure, success, and fulfilment.
Sometimes regaining control of your life begins with rediscovering what makes you tick, learning to care for yourself, or making time for the people and activities you enjoy.
Here are the Eight Powerful Strategies to help you Regain Control of Your Life: Click To Tweet1. Make a habit of trying new things.
Do something new when you’re tired of living, overwhelmed by your daily responsibilities and unsure of your next step. You can, in fact, accomplish something old in a whole new way.
For example, when you learn a new language or try new foods, you open yourself up to different cultures and individuals. You develop an understanding of the “whys” and “hows” and come to appreciate them as people.
Experience, as they say, is the finest teacher, but it can only happen when you attempt new things. A new experience may be all that is required to open doors to new prospects.
Instead of living a life of regret, try new things now. After all, if you don’t attempt, you’ll never know what you’re capable of.
2. Be strict with yourself when it comes to ‘me’ time.
Have you ever felt as though you never have a moment to yourself? Constantly surrounded by individuals who make demands on your time; family, friends, partner, colleagues? Don’t be concerned; you’re not alone.
Say it loudly and proudly: “Me, me, me!” OK, maybe you don’t want to say it out loud, but it’s important.
Making time for oneself is vital if you want to maintain your healthy habits. Take care of your health and happiness, and you’ll experience less stress, increased productivity, and more energy.
You may believe that “it’s all about me” is selfish. But consider this: Your “me time” benefits others as well.
Book It
Take a page from your calendar, literally. Every week, look at your calendar and book some me time.
Can’t spare an hour for yourself? Even 10-15 minutes can work if you stick to it.
Where can I find the time?
- Take advantage of your children’s reading or nap time.
- Set your alarm for 10 minutes earlier.
- Switch off your smartphone.
- Make time for yourself on a Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon, even if it means rearranging your family’s routine.
Make some extra time for yourself at least once a month, say 30 minutes to an hour. Get yourself a massage or a facial. Go somewhere you’ve never gone before (a walking trail, or cycling perhaps). Write down your dreams and goals in a journal.
Stick to It
Don’t cancel my time until absolutely necessary. It’s both enticing and simple to pass up this opportunity. But if you do it too often, you’ll run out of ‘me’ time!
Stick up for yourself, and you’ll discover that it benefits those around you as well. You’ll be happier and more capable of assisting them.
3. Learn how to say ‘no.’
In today’s world, saying no is an underrated skill few people possess.
We believe that more commitments will build more friendships. More challenges equal more opportunity. Furthermore, longer office hours will ensure greater professional achievement.
The issue is that many people erroneously associate more with better. The more I say yes, the better my prospects are. However, more is not always better.
Only better yes-es will improve your life, not more yeses. Too many yes-es, regardless of the situation, will result in a loss of control.
When you commit to someone else’s project, you relinquish control over that area.
Accepting invites to social gatherings means giving up control over your schedule. Furthermore, by saying yes to every professional request, you forfeit the ability to govern your working schedule.
As a result, saying no is a significant step toward regaining control of your life.
Of course, some people have more opportunities than others to say no. Nonetheless, we all say yes or no on a daily basis, often without even realising it.
Always keep in mind that more yes-es lead to greater commitments and less control.
4. Take personal responsibility
Taking back control of your life entails striking a balance between what you can and cannot control. It entails knowing what you can control and accept complete responsibility for those things.
You can only be responsible for yourself. As soon as you stop trying to control that which you can’t, you‘ll be able to redirect that energy towards gaining full control of yourself — your thoughts, emotions, habits, and choices.
You may need to reconsider your actions and make some changes going forward. Give yourself a reality check: are you somewhat responsible for this situation? Not to punish yourself, but to seek the pieces that you can improve.
Take an honest assessment of your life from time to time and ask yourself:
Is it possible for me to be totally present in my professional and family life?
Is it true that I’m getting enough sleep?
Is my diet correct?
Is my time being spent wisely?
Are my expenses under control?
Take care of yourself! Everyone falls short at some point. Take a breather and realise that life is a learning process. We develop as we go.
5. Unpack emotional triggers
If you wish to loosen the grip that emotions have on you, you must first understand where they come from. Consider emotional responses to be breadcrumbs that take you back to areas that require your attention.
Many of our emotional reactions are taught to us. They can be the outcome of early experiences. For example, if a parent abandons you at a young age, you may develop a strong fear of rejection later in life.
Taking back control entails healing from past events and rewriting your future storey. If you want to develop a new you, you must go beyond your previous self.
We must address the underlying problems that have led us to take the measures we have. Have you had a severe setback in your job or personal life? This may prevent you from taking risks.
Healing from trauma necessitates an unravelling:
Take note of an emotional reaction.
Bring those emotions to light. Inquire yourself, “What am I feeling?” (Studies demonstrate that even acknowledging emotions and verbalising them can assist to loosen their grasp.)
Now it’s time to figure out where these emotions are coming from. Can you establish a connection between how you feel right now and what you’ve felt in the past? Do you still require healing in some way?
If you’re having trouble dealing with powerful emotions or past trauma, you might benefit from professional help.
Self-awareness will aid in the management of emotional reactions the next time they arise. When you understand your worries and can recognise the conditions that make you uncomfortable, it will be less surprising when it occurs.
6. Make a plan of action (with baby steps)
Many people get stuck talking about their dreams but never act on them. We frequently postpone taking action until we are inspired to do so. The truth is that inspiration is often obtained through action.
You have to start somewhere if you want to move forward. Consider your grandiose ambition. Then work your way back to where you are now.
What tiny steps do you need to take to reach your objectives?
When you cut a goal down into bite-sized bits, it becomes more accessible. Begin working on those goals gradually.
Working on your book for an hour at a time is one option. Maybe you can start with 15 minutes of exercise per day.
7. Implement a daily planning routine
You’ll feel disorganised and confused if your schedule is all over the place. Taking control of your days, even if only by adding a little more structure, contributes to a sense of control in your life.
Daily planning allows you to stay focused on what is important to you. It keeps you on track by minimising opportunities to become distracted by unnecessary tasks.
Make a schedule based on your priorities. Plan your day to maximise your energy levels. Do you like to get up early? Get up early and schedule your most critical duties for the first half of the day. If you feel more alert in the afternoon, schedule your day around that time.
Here are a few additional pointers:
· Schedule a weekly planning session.
· On a daily basis, sit down and prioritise what is important.
· Create a morning ritual to get you in the correct frame of mind for the remainder of the day.
· Remove any potential distractions. Put your phone away and work in a peaceful environment.
· Make time every day for relaxation and movement.
When you’re stuck in a rut, try something new. Work outside of your usual office hours. Change up your routine. Changing your ambience can help you come up with new ideas.
8. Embrace what your life is trying to teach you
When you think you’ve reached a breaking point, don’t fight it; instead, embrace it. Step straight into it.
Often, these times occur expressly to highlight what you’re missing in your life and what you genuinely need.
When you learn to embrace, rather than fight, the lessons that these difficult times are attempting to teach you, a new path becomes clearer and more possible than ever before.
A breakdown can indeed make way for a breakthrough if you let it.