4 Signs You Aren't Living Life to the Fullest
Undoubtedly, you have thousands of future plans in your life. Things to do, goals to achieve, and people to share your life with. But sometimes it happens that you don’t have time to do everything… or maybe it only seems that way. Have you ever thought that you are just wasting your time and your life?
Possibly, some of the things in which you invest your time are not necessary, or they occupy too much of your time without you even realizing it. Do you really not have enough time, or are you just putting time into things that won’t lead you anywhere? Keep reading and find out.
“The past has fled, what will come is absent, but the present is yours.”
-Arabic Proverb-
1. You invest time in something that doesn’t give you anything
You need moments to disconnect from your work responsibilities and distract yourself. However, if you give the majority of your time to “distractions,” you will end up feeling like you have done nothing all day. Find the balance between work and play. Choose those activities that actually mean something and offer you something, and cut down on the ones that don’t.
Among the activities that will make you feel as though you are wasting your life are excessive drinking, spending hours in front of the television, and immersing yourself in social media. If you want to be with your friends, look for an alternative like going camping or making dinner at home and simply spending time together. Choose the activities that will help you improve your relationships and lead you towards the life that you want.
2. You aren’t able to improve your skills
Human beings are programmed to learn new things. One way to squander your life is not giving yourself the opportunity to learn and grow as much as you can. Remember the part about not investing time in the activities that don’t offer you anything? Well, a great alternative is to use that time for something constructive, like playing mind games or teaching yourself how to do something.
Make your mind work and challenge yourself as much as possible. Doing things like crossword puzzles and sudoku will help your brain, and before long you will be addicted to the mental challenges they give you. Another great alternative to help your mind develop is learning new skills, anything from learning how to play a musical instrument to learning a new language. And if you want something that takes a little less effort, just read a book.
“Learning how to learn is the most important ability for education, and it should be explained starting in the very first classes.”
-John Seymour-
3. You speak in negative terms
Negative conversations are great for wasting time. And if that negative conversation is about you or directed at yourself, it is even worse. Keep in mind that that which you think becomes reality. Are you aware of what you are saying every time there is a lapse in a conversation, or in the action of your day? Or of how nice you are to yourself? When you are confronted with a challenge and you give up in your mind, failure is almost certain.
Of course, it is not easy to break this habit because it is not carried out in a necessarily conscious way. What you need to do is pay attention to what you are saying all the time, and little by little you can modify the message you are sending. Also, you can redirect your mind and keep it occupied to avoid and diminish those negative messages.
4. You don’t make plans for the future
How do you imagine yourself in ten years? What would you like to be doing at that point in your life? With what resources would you be doing it? Although you should definitely keep in mind to live in the present, the future should never be forgotten. Setting goals gives you motivation to continue on, and helps you to avoid wasting your life and living it without meaning. Goals allow you to forge a path and make you feel like there is something you are working towards to improve and develop.
“The future has many names. For the weak, it is unreachable. For the fearful, it is unknown. For the brave, it is opportunity.”
-Victor Hugo-
Many people live practically like zombies. They get up in the morning, eat breakfast, go to work, and come back home at night. Each day is the same, and when they finally make time to analyze their lives, they feel empty. This happens because they don’t set goals for themselves.
Focus on one or two big goals and then few other smaller ones. What about completing an Ironman by 2030? Ironman is a famous triathlon that tests even the best athletes and is an admirable goal for anyone. Once you set yourself a big goal, you can focus on smaller, more short term objectives. This year you will complete a half-marathon, and next year a full marathon, and so on.
Don’t even give yourself the chance to start wasting your life. Take advantage of everything around so you can grow and improve. The best thing you can do is live life to the fullest, because you can never go back and change the past.