Are you looking to improve your life?
Whether its exercise, food, holidays or your general wellbeing, men are constantly being told how they can enjoy a better, healthier and happier lifestyle.
Read on for our definitive list of the 17 basic things a man should do to improve his life.
1. Get better sleep
A good night’s sleep sets you up perfectly for the day ahead.
If you get better sleep you will create more testosterone, have more drive and ultimately have the energy to make more money.
Losing sleep has been proven to lead to making bad decisions that can actually cost you money. Don’t be out of pocket because you don’t get enough sleep.
2. Eat healthy
Just a few steps towards eating healthier, such as eating more fruit and vegetables or cutting back on processed foods, can have an impact on your health.
Switching to a healthy diet doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. You don’t have to be perfect or completely eliminate foods you enjoy.
Think about planning a healthy diet with a few small steps—like adding a salad to your diet once a day rather than one big drastic change. As these become the norm, you can continue to add more healthy choices.
3. Be a gym regular
All adults should get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week. Going to the gym regularly is one way to accomplish this goal.
Regular exercise carries many physical and mental health benefits. Going to the gym every day will help you control your weight, strengthen your heart and boost your immune system.
Going to the gym also puts you in contact with people on a regular basis, potentially enhancing your social life and the way that you feel about yourself.
4. Don’t forget your mental fitness
Meditating for just a few minutes each day can reduce anxiety and stress.
Doing activities that you enjoy, keeping your mobile phone switched off and sharing time with friends, family or even on your own will ensure that you’ll get the maximum enjoyment out of your life and leave you feeling fit and refreshed.
5. Challenge yourself
Do you look back on your childhood and wish you paid more attention at school? Perhaps your career hasn’t gone the route you’d hoped for?
Whatever stage of life you’ve reached, it’s never too late to learn something new. Challenge yourself to gain new knowledge and experiences and you will reap the rewards.
6. Invest early
Saving for your retirement from an early age gives you much greater potential for a sound return on your investment.
By taking advantage of your youth, you can get a head start on saving for your future. Early investment reduces the risk that you’ll be forced to make reckless choices to secure a stable retirement.
7. Travel
Travel experiences make you more aware, more confident and give you stories to tell. Travelling changes the way you relate to the world, to other people and empowers you to take on new challenges.
Learning about other cultures broadens your horizons and gives you memories you can cherish forever. We are never guaranteed old age, so enjoy life’s experiences now!
8. Do reconnaissance
Spend time exploring places to live and choose one that suits you best.
Many people remain stuck in the towns and cities they were born, but spreading your wings beyond your local borders can bring vast improvements to your lifestyle.
9. Utilise the power of the great outdoors
Most of us live a fast-paced, technology-packed indoor lifestyle. Between work, bringing up children, household chores and general day-to-day life we often end up neglecting the great outdoors.
All this indoor time can have a negative impact on our health, so make time to take a walk in the park or go hiking. You’ll be able to clear your mind and create a sense of wellbeing.
10. Do your chores
Spending time in the outdoors is great, but don’t put off those household chores you keep avoiding.
Keeping on top of DIY, doing gardening or giving your car a good old clean can leave you feeling like you’ve achieved something and also get you in the good books with your better half.
Taking it in turns to cook or wash-up is not only good practice for marital harmony, but it helps the psychological wellbeing of your children too.
11. Treat yourself
Treats may sound like they’re self-indulgent but they’re not. When we treat ourselves we feel energised, cared for and contented, which boosts our self-esteem.
Fancy a midweek beer? Have one. An hour in the bath with your favourite music blaring out? Do it. Whatever takes your fancy, treat yourself and you’ll feel better.
12. Be good to other people
Being nice to others benefits not only them but yourself as well. Do have a family member who lives alone? Pop in for a chat. You’ll make their day better and you’ll feel good about yourself.
Research has also shown that people involved in volunteer work feel healthier and happier, so get involved and your life will improve on the back of your own good deeds.
13. Take a daily power nap
University studies and NASA have previously reported that power naps are good for you. A nap as brief as 20 minutes can improve alertness, psychomotor performance and mood.
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is a well-known supporter of power naps and it’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about being successful.
14. Drink more water
None of our systems function as well without proper water intake. Drinking enough water and staying hydrated can help with weight loss, reduce joint pain, flush out waste and bacteria, prevent headaches, make your skin glow and improve overall performance.
Water fires up your metabolism, hydrates you, helps your body flush out toxins, gives your brain fuel and may even make you eat less.
15. Get organised
Organisation gives us a sense of control, reduces stress and is a great confidence booster. It allows you to concentrate on what really matters, rather than worrying whether things are running smoothly.
Write things down, give everything a place, declutter regularly and keep only what you need. Having things in good order gives you the peace of mind to enjoy life.
16. Cut out negative people
Life’s too short to be surrounded by negative people who do nothing but bring you down. One of the quickest ways to improve your life is to cut out anyone who constantly dampens your mood.
Some people thrive on being negative – don’t let them ruin your life.
17. “Don’t give up – Don’t ever give up”
Legendary basketball coach Jim Valvano’s famous speech less than ten weeks before his death at the 1993 ESPY Awards stressed the importance of hope, love and persistence.
“To me, there are three things we all should do every day,” he said. “We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day.
“Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears – could be happiness or joy.
“But think about it. If you laugh, you think and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.”
Wise words that can help every man improve his life.
