Imagine a better life for yourself. Imagine your dream life. What does it look like? Where are you? What does it feel like?

Most of us want to improve our lives—laugh more, stress less, follow our bliss—but the *how* of transformation can feel overwhelming.

11 Practices for a Better Life

Here are 11 practices you can start doing *now* to live a deeper, happier, more meaningful and better life.

1. Let your imagination run wild

Close your eyes and imagine a better life for yourself. Imagine your dream life. What does it look like? Where are you? What does it feel like?

You can’t live your dream if you haven’t given yourself the space to create it. You have this one life and you get to choose how to live it. Dream big.

2. Practice gratitude

We’re so busy talking about what we want, we forget to feel grateful for what we already have. What are you thankful for?

There’s a chance you’re driving through life on cruise control. Start paying more attention to your daily routine. Listen to the birds chirping, enjoy the smell of your freshly brewed coffee, and feel the cozy, softness of your pajamas. Relish the sights, smells, sounds, and feelings of your daily life.

4. Be real

We all wear masks—pretending and posturing our way through dinner parties and interviews and cocktail hours. But releasing all that phoniness and asserting your authentic self will feel like a breath of fresh air. And watch out, it’s infectious: when you’re real, you’ll notice those around you get real, too.

5. Surround yourself with positive people

You may have heard that you’re a product of the people with which you spend the most time. So pick the right crowd. Stick with the upbeat, optimistic people in your life; their company will nourish you. Avoid those that drain your energy, leaving you exhausted and unhappy.

6. Embrace change

Change is the only constant, so it’s time to start welcoming it. Stop dreading it, avoiding it, denying it, or fearing it. Start seeing change for the possibility, fun, inspiration, and growth it can bring.

7. Trust your gut

Your intuition knows what’s best for you and it will encourage you to live your right life. Your job is to honor that inner voice—you’ll be happier for it.

8. Enjoy joy

What do you love to do? What makes you laugh? What makes your heart swell with happiness? Give yourself permission to do that, often.

9. Be gentle

No one’s perfect, we all make mistakes. Go easy on yourself.

10. Get enough sleep

In a culture that seems to celebrate those that pull all-nighters and work until they drop, it’s sometimes hard to value rest. Sleep isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.

11. Find your own success

Contrary to popular belief, success isn’t a corner office or a fat paycheck. Real success won’t just look good, it’ll feel good too. Chase your own success.

What about you? What are your practices for a better life? You can share below 🙂

Comments

Alexis Sclamberg

Alexis Sclamberg is a self-help expert for Millennials. She’s the author of the upcoming book, Borrowed Wisdom, and contributes to publications including Forbes.com, The Huffington Post, and Cosmopolitan magazine. For more inspiration, follow her on Twitter, friend her on Facebook.

3 Comments

Debbie Diffley

at 10:54 am

Embrace change!
Gillie Davies

at 8:08 am

thank you, you are such a breath of fresh air, I so enjoy reading your thoughts and they really lift my heart. Blessings to you.
Claudette

at 6:52 am

I like this one. It’s so inspiring and it opens my mind in so many realization 🙂
Kathleen Smith

at 6:38 am

I always look forward to your articles. They are very inspiring to me and give me gentle reminders. Thanks for all you write!
grace glenn

at 11:29 am

Thanks again.Really a beautifull article.
Now i’ll teach myself to get enough sleep because that is what i really need.True enough we forget to value sleep.
Thanks again to all and GOD speed.
shaina oberoi

at 8:37 am

thanks so much,very good advice,inspiring.I’ll give it a try.
Alexis Sclamberg

at 4:42 pm

Thanks so much! I’m really glad the advice resonated with you. It sounds like the sleep piece is one everyone struggles with — we forget to value sleep as the restorative, life-nourishing time it is!
Alexis Sclamberg

at 4:41 pm

I’m so glad you enjoyed this one, Alicia!
reggie florendo

at 4:29 pm

thanks for this…now I will sleep!
Alicia Alvarado

at 12:21 am

Awesome!!! You have the most beautiful articles!! God bless you!!
Tahlia Newland

at 12:17 am

Yeah, I wish my body would listen to my requests for sleep though.
Tahlia Newland

at 12:16 am

We all need to be reminded of these. I struggle with the ‘trust your gut’ one, which means that it’s the most imortant one for me to remember.
Pam

at 3:14 pm

Great post. I needed the reminder on several of these today! \_/ and ♥
Debbie Vinyard

at 1:48 pm

Love this post and all of them! Me too on the sleep!
Aaron

at 10:47 am

Its a beautiful thing!:)
ANDY

at 9:45 am

Fantastic! Great story, moving and inspiring.
David Hamilton | Everlution

at 6:39 am

Get enough sleep – that’s the one I need to follow these days!
JenBird

at 4:08 am

Another wonderful post. Thank you so much! Today was a hard day…it is improving but with great effort.

I appreciate your posts very much….please know that I am grateful.

Peace to you,
Jen
runpaceyrun

at 9:21 am

Another fantastic article … full of awesome advice. I think ive got everything covered except #10…get enough sleep. But im working on that. Ive always dreamed big ….. and now ive decided to follow those dreams!