All jobs bear some level of stress — however, nursing is undoubtedly at the top of the list as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has worsened job burnout, mental health and staff shortages during peak patient hospitalizations.

An August 2021 report by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) found that 75% of nurses list their emotional health as a significant challenge amid the pandemic — nearly 25% higher than the previous year.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, another 2020 survey found that 68% of nurses put a patient’s health and safety above their own, despite the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses mandating all nurses adopt a self-care regimen.

As nursing becomes one of the most coveted professions — 194,500 openings are projected annually by 2030 — dealing with job burnout is more critical than ever. Here are five important self-care tips for nurses.

1. Add Self-Care to Your Calendar

A calendar is a nurse’s best tool for setting aside time for self-care. Penciling in “me time” to focus on your mental health is necessary and well-deserved.

Look at your schedule and make an effort to work no more than nine hours per shift, demanding breaks and limited overtime when you can. You might also consider requesting time off to recharge, perhaps on an extended weekend getaway or the spa.

If you’re worried about how taking a few days for your mental health might affect your fellow nurses, ask around in advance if doing so would impede their work.

2. Practice Saying “No”

Depending on who you are, setting boundaries for yourself might empower you or make you feel slightly uncomfortable. For nurses especially, saying “no” often feels out of the question.

Yet, people are incapable of doing everything, despite society’s perception of nurses’ superpowers. Learning to say no when your plate is already full is important for improving your mental health.

For example, a three-month screening from June to September 2020 found that 49% of respondents felt most stressed from heavy or increased workloads. Considering cases of disease and death have skyrocketed in recent years, prolonged feelings of burnout and tension could lead to a decline in physical and emotional health, disrupted sleep and poor work performance.

3. Start A New Hobby

On your days off, take up a new hobby or try something new, like a class or new recipe, that sparks joy and relaxes you. There are endless possibilities, including:

• Painting and pottery
• Writing and journaling
• Dancing
• Cooking classes
• Gardening
• Photography
• Scrapbooking
• Meditation and yoga

Group activities are also a great way to socialize with other people outside work. Going to sports events with friends, attending gatherings or volunteering for an important cause beyond your profession — such as cleaning up local parks or visiting shelter animals — can make you feel happier.

Research suggests that petting a dog or cat for just 10 minutes significantly decreases cortisol levels and reduces anxiety.

4. Unplug

Society tends to have trouble disconnecting from their phones and computers — however, unplugging can help you unwind from a stressful day.

Try turning off your phone when you leave work and limit how much television you watch at night. Wanting to know what’s happening in the world is normal, but news about the pandemic, war and social injustices is likely to elevate your worry. In a survey by MattressAdvisor.com, 57% of Americans can’t watch the evening news because it affects their sleep.

Instead, read a good book or concentrate on your physical health. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), 43% of American adults exercise for stress management — of this, 62% say walking is the most effective method for boosting their mood and reducing anxiety.

Rather than coming home and flipping on the television, turn your phone on silent mode and put on your walking shoes for a stroll.

5. Speak To A Therapist

Speaking to a therapist when practicing self-care can help improve your quality of life and make you better at your job.

Following the height of COVID-19, you may feel traumatized by what you witnessed or endured. A recent study showed that 53.9% of nurses feel intense helplessness, compassion and sadness around the death of a patient.

Research demonstrates the effectiveness of speaking to a professional about your feelings, anxiety and traumas. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association states that 75% of therapy patients see improvements in their emotional well-being. They also tend to take fewer sick days and boost their job satisfaction.

Implement A Self-Care Routine To Beat Job Burnout

Self-care is essential for maintaining positive mental health, especially since nursing is emotionally and physically taxing. How do you expect to show up for your patients if you don’t take care of yourself first? Start small with your self-care routine until you’re comfortable making yourself the priority.

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Being a business owner is stressful – there are no two ways around it. Your responsibilities are so much greater than when you’re an employee at a company, as you’re literally in charge of the future of your workplace.

This comes with a massive number of benefits of course; being in control means that you can take your business wherever you want, and adapt it to fit your creative vision as you see fit. That pressure can however take a toll on your mental health, which is why we’re going to look at some ways to alleviate that pressure.

Why Is Mental Health Important?

Mental health is often overlooked, considered even less important than physical health. Entrepreneurs have a tendency to overlook both in their chase for success, but it’s not sustainable to ignore either in the long term. To make good business decisions, based on rationality rather than emotion, you need to be mentally stable.

Running a business takes energy, and you need as much of that energy as possible to be spent on the task at hand, not staying up at night worrying about things outside of your control. Whether that’s running a web agency, freelancing, or a bricks and mortar business, you need to take the time to step away.

Exercise

One of the best ways of relieving stress is through regularly exercising. Pick an exercise you enjoy, and try to do it for at least 20 or 30 minutes each day. A side benefit will be that you’ll stay in good physical health, which is of course inextricably connected to your mental health. Exercising will directly lead to a boost in endorphins, your ‘feel good’ neurotransmitters.

Taking a few minutes out of each day to focus on self-betterment, time away from the computer and office, will also have a massively positive impact, and help to put your work-life into perspective.

Work-Personal Life Boundaries

When you’re running your own business, it’s easy for your work life to totally take over your personal life. Especially relevant now, with the rise of technology, you can find yourself checking your emails before you go to sleep, while in the bath, or while eating dinner with your family.

It’s important to set specific hours that you dedicate to work, and keep the rest of your day as you-time. Failure to differentiate between the two elements of your life will massively increase the likelihood of burnout, and will likely make you grow to resent your business.

Spend Time In Nature

An effective and enjoyable way of relaxing when you’re finding the other stresses of life too much to handle is to spend time in nature.

While people have been talking about the benefits for years, scientific studies are now starting to find evidence for the relaxing effects of spending time in green spaces. If you have a nice park nearby, you can integrate time spent there with your daily exercise, with a run or walk through the trees before or after your workday, or even as a nice way to break the day up.

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With the latest Netflix binge show hitting screens, there is not one person who hasn’t heard the name Anna Delvey of late. Anna Delvey first came to my attention years ago when I was scrolling through a news site and came across her story. The pretend German Heiress managed to swindle thousands of dollars from America’s elite, and sure, while I in no way support her methods of making money, I couldn’t help but wonder how she managed to pull it off for as long as she did. But, more than that, I was thoroughly impressed with the belief she had of herself and the ‘fake it till you make it’ approach.

Success or failure

You see, our belief system is the number factor in whether we succeed or fail in our endeavours and life in general. After spending the last few years coaching clients on how to overcome their self-limiting beliefs and harness the power of the mind, it was no surprise when I delved deeper into the brand that has become ‘Anna Delvey’ that I realised she was, in fact, using a similar approach to get to where she wanted to be. And no, I am not breeding a bunch of criminal masterminds to achieve their life goals by engaging in illegal activities through my coaching business.

But credit where it’s due, Anna Delvey had the confidence and belief system that most people can only dream of.

Believe in you

If you want to achieve your goals, you need to believe in yourself and have the confidence to match. An individual who sets a goal for themselves and then quits at first sight of defeat is one who has not yet mastered their belief system. Believing in yourself is the first step to succeeding and living your dream life.

Many years ago, when I was a grad fresh out of university, I wanted to get a job in the field I had studied. Well, surprise, like many other grads, I was forced to take a role in customer service to pay my bills until I could get into my chosen field. My day entailed listening to annoying people whine about anything and everything. I even remember a lady ringing up one day, wanting to put in a noise complaint about children making too much noise playing in their front yard. Who even does that?

Don’t lose faith

While the role I was working in could’ve made me question my existence, I focussed on my bigger goals. I had faith in my ability to get to where I needed to be and knew I would reach my destination. And guess what I did! The same applies to you, do not let temporary defeat ruin your faith or question your capabilities. As long as you focus on the end result and believe in your abilities, you will get to where you need to be.

“Successful people have fear, successful people have doubts, and successful people have worries. They just don’t let these feelings stop them.” – T. Harv Eker

Let go of your fears

Another barrier to having a solid belief system and succeeding is fear. Fear is the root of all failures and what holds an individual back from achieving their goals. The fear of making a mistake, not knowing how to do something, the list is endless, but your time is not. Richard Branson said: If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you’re not sure you can do it, say yes- then learn how to do it later. 

And guess what, he’s right.

Do not let fear limit your opportunity to grow. If you choose to let go of the fear that holds you back and take a leap of faith, there are endless opportunities available to you.

Do not let the opinions of others control you

Everyone has an opinion of someone or something; heck, you might even have an opinion of me by the articles I write. Whatever the case may be, it is crucial to have healthy boundaries with those around you, including the faceless trolls on social media if you’re in the public eye. Learn that the opinions that others have of you are built on the image THEY have created of you in THEIR minds. You see, you can’t control what an individual may think of you, but you can control the opinions you have of YOURSELF! So, just like you wouldn’t drink poison and allow it into your body, don’t let the negative thoughts of others into your mind.

You need to focus on your own opinion of yourself and what you can do.

You can achieve great things if you put your mind to it and have a strong belief system, just don’t go around trying to defraud America’s elite of thousands of dollars or try to achieve your goals by other means of illegal activities. One thing is for sure, though, love or loathe ‘Anna Delvey,’ the one lesson you can take away from her is how you can bring your goals into reality with a strong belief system.

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Addiction is a serious problem that affects millions of people all over the world. If you are struggling with addiction, or if you know someone who is, it is important to understand what addiction is and how it can be treated. This blog post will discuss six important things that you need to know about addiction.

1. There Are Various Types Of Rehab Facilities

One of the primary things you need to know about addiction is that there are various types of rehab facilities. There are inpatient rehab centers, outpatient rehab centers, and residential rehab centers. Each type of facility has its own set of pros and cons. You need to decide which type of facility is right for you or your loved one. Rest assured that various substance abuse rehab facilities will be able to accommodate your specific needs. The key is to do your research and find the right one. In doing so, you will be on the road to recovery.

2. There Is No “One Size Fits All” Approach To Addiction Treatment

Another important thing you need to know about addiction is that there is no “one size fits all” approach to treatment. What works for one person may not work for another person. This is why it is so important to find a rehab facility that offers a variety of treatment options. The best rehab facilities will tailor the treatment plan to fit the specific needs of the individual. For instance, if the person is struggling with a co-occurring mental health disorder, the rehab facility may offer dual diagnosis treatment. This is the only way to ensure success.

3. In Choosing A Certain Treatment, You Have To Be Fully Aware Of The Risks

When you are considering a certain type of addiction treatment, it is important to be aware of the risks involved. For example, if you choose inpatient rehab, you will have to stay at the facility for the duration of the treatment program. The risk here is that you may feel like you are trapped and unable to leave. On the contrary, if you choose outpatient rehab, you will need to attend regular therapy sessions. The risk here is that you may not be as committed to the treatment program and you may relapse. It is important to weigh the pros and cons of each treatment option and make sure you are fully aware of the risks involved in each type of treatment before making a decision.

4. Addiction Is A Chronic Disease

Another important thing to know about addiction is that it is a chronic disease. This means that addiction can be managed, but it cannot be cured. When it comes to managing addiction, it is important to have a treatment plan that includes both medication and therapy. Some of the prescribed meds for addiction treatment include suboxone, methadone, and Vivitrol. On the other hand, the treatments that are used for therapy include cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and family counseling. It is important to seek treatment for addiction if you want to overcome it. Treatment will help you learn how to manage your addiction and live a healthy, productive life.

5. Addiction Can Affect Anyone

Despite what many people believe, addiction can affect anyone regardless of age, race, or gender. For instance, some people believe that addiction is only a problem for young people. This is not true. Addiction can affect anyone at any age. The truth is addiction is a disease that affects the entire family. This means that if one of your loved ones is struggling with addiction, you are affected as well. It is important to seek treatment for addiction if you want to get your life back on track.

6. You Can Overcome Addiction

Finally, you should know that addiction is a treatable disease. You can overcome addiction with the help of treatment. With the right support and treatment, you can achieve long-term sobriety. This means that first, you have to accept that you have a problem and then take the necessary steps to get help. From there, it is up to you to stick with the treatment program and make positive changes in your life. Seek out the help of a qualified rehab facility today to get started on your road to recovery.

To wrap things up, there are a few key things you need to know about addiction. The ones listed above are just a few of the most important ones. If you are struggling with addiction, know that you are not alone. There is help available, and you can overcome addiction with the right treatment plan.

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In theory, we should be prepared for anything, but in practice, it is pretty easy to feel entirely unprepared for whatever life throws at us at any particular point in time. The responsibilities of adulthood can be overwhelming at times, and you may get so focused on looking after others and making sure that your children obtain the life skills they require that you lose sight of your requirements.

Cooking

Knowing how to put together and cook a few simple meals, and even better if you can make some quick and easy freezer meals in one go, you will not have to cook for the rest of the week while still providing healthy s dinners for your family is imperative. Of course, no one expects you to produce Gordon Ramsey quality meals every night, and there is nothing wrong with the odd microwave meal or takeaway. Still, it is essential to have a few straightforward recipes in your repertoire that you are comfortable creating, even if it is merely an omelet or beans on toast. This will come in handy if you find yourself in a tight spot.

First Aid

Do you know what to do if you come across someone who is bleeding heavily or has a broken bone in their leg? Do you know the signs and symptoms of a stroke, a heart attack, or a concussion when you see them?  If you believe your first aid skills are rusty, you can refresh your knowledge by purchasing a basic first aid book or enrolling in BLS certification online.  Of course, it is normal to be nervous in an emergency. Still, by becoming familiar with basic first aid, you will be better equipped to trust your instincts and expertise, and you will be able to deal with any situation considerably more calmly.

Sewing

The ability to quickly and simply repair things such as a button that has come off on your work shirt or a pair of trousers that are too long without having to go out and buy new ones would be fantastic. Of course, you don’t need to be able to make all your family’s clothes, but a few basic mending skills can go a very long way.

Changing A Tyre And Checking Vehicle Fluids

You should be knowledgeable about the essentials of vehicle care if you own or plan to own a vehicle in the near future. Learn how to change the tyre, check the fluids and top up with oil and washer fluid so that should something goes wrong when you are behind the wheel, you can sort it.

Budgeting

In today’s world, being able to budget and be fiscally responsible is necessary. Whether you are just starting started with budgeting or you have been managing your finances for years and are a seasoned money-saving wizard and coupon-clipping genius, understanding your budget is the first step toward financial peace and stability. One can learn it from a very young age, and it is a skill that should be developed throughout one’s entire lifetime.

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When you look back on your life, what do you want to think about? Do you plan to reminisce on all of the good things that have happened and how they shaped who you are today? Or would you rather remember all of the bad decisions, challenging experiences, and mistakes made that hurt or wasted a portion of your life?

In my opinion, I think it is important to reflect on both. While it’s important to remember the hardships we’ve been through in our lives – without them we wouldn’t be where we are now. There are 3 very specific areas that I feel have helped me grow in a personal sense more than anything else in my life so far. 

These aren’t simple lessons in a book or a lecture that you can just absorb and apply to your life. These are things that I’ve learned through experience and reflection, and I’m still learning and growing today.

1. We determine how much we’re worth by what we think about ourselves, others, and life in general.

This might seem like a pretty obvious lesson in life but it’s actually one of the most important because we can determine our own worth by how we think about ourselves and the world around us. If you’re looking for success in any kind of business or social setting (dating), then I’ll tell you right now that it doesn’t matter if you have 10 billion dollars or not – people are still going to judge you based on your thoughts and beliefs alone.

What determines our value isn’t necessarily what we do with our lives (which is often based on luck) but whether or not we believe that ‘our work’ is worthy or not in some sort of grand scheme or universe. We may not always be able to control what happens in our lives, but we can always control how we value ourselves and others.

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou

2. You don’t have to change your habits or personality just because someone else doesn’t like it – their opinions are THEIRS alone.

This is another one of those lessons that people tend to pick up on a little bit late in life, but if anything that makes its importance even worse! Basically, there’s going to come a time when you’re going to meet someone who has certain expectations of you as a person…but these expectations might not be realistic due to their motivations and personal beliefs. For example, sometimes parents might expect you to be a lawyer or doctor because that’s what they believe is best for their child.

However, this isn’t the case for everyone and so maybe your passion lies in music or writing novels. In this example, if you were also pressured into becoming a doctor – then there would obviously be some kind of conflict going on within yourself as a person. You should never have to give up something that you want to do just because someone else doesn’t like it! The reason why we’re put onto this Earth is to make our own choices and go after our OWN dreams instead of letting others determine what we can and cannot do with our lives .

3. You can’t change your life until you accept that you need to make a change.

When I was younger, I thought that this lesson would be pretty obvious – but as I got older, it really made me appreciate the fact that there are always different ways of perceiving our lives. For example, if someone wants to become rich and famous one day – their mind might simply overshadow any other possibility in their head because they feel like this is what they NEED to do right now.

However, this isn’t always true within our own lives because we think about things too literally instead of having an open mind. If you want to achieve success in any kind of business or social setting (dating) then you should be willing to try out different things instead of staying in your comfort zone. If you want something, then it’s up to YOU to actually go after it – nobody else is going to give it to you!

The three lessons above are some of the main things I want to pass on to everyone because they’ve come at an important time in my life where I need to start thinking about others instead of only myself. It’s great if we can learn to love ourselves first before anything else, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect everyone around you even though they might be your friends and family members!

If you enjoyed this article on the 3 most important things I learned about personal growth, then please share it with your friends and family! Also, check out my other articles on success & motivation as well as life lessons that could help people who are struggling with their life right now on lifengoal.com. Thanks for reading!

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Nature is therapeutic. Even in the classic novel, when the characters are distressed, they go by the seaside to re-energize. It can make us feel less stressed and calmer. Scientists have conducted many studies to prove nature’s positive effects on our mind, body, and soul. Man cannot live without nature, and it is unnatural to spend so much time away from it. Most times, it ends in burnout and stress. Here are a few reasons why spending time in nature is important for your mental health.

Relieves Stress And Anxiety

Many often say that nature heals. It is scientifically proven to be true. When you go for therapy, your therapist will suggest you get out and spend some time in nature. This is because it has the ability to relieve stress and fill you with peace. It can uplift your mood and make you feel better. Walking, exercising, or just birdwatching in nature can significantly uplift your mood and make your day better. Spending time outdoors can also help you manage your mood disorders like depression and help calm your nerves. If you’re feeling mentally drained or tired, try taking a break from using your cellphone and spend some time outdoors. Being in nature and feeling connected to it is also beneficial when it comes to dealing with isolation and loneliness. Reduction in the feelings of loneliness can enhance your overall well-being.

Makes You Happier

Nature can help you manage your mental health and make you happier as a consequence. There is a lot of scientific evidence that it reduces the risk of developing mental disorders later in life for children. It has a soothing effect on the soul. Even looking at pictures of sceneries or reading nature quotes is shown to elevate mood, inducing both positive and calmer feelings. It also boosts your confidence and increases your self-esteem. When we feel better, we also try to be better people. Furthermore, spending time outdoors develops a sense of responsibility towards other people and nature itself. It does make us happier and become better people.

Cognitive Benefits

Nature has a calming effect not only on our emotional wellbeing but also on our cognitive abilities. It has many cognitive benefits, including improving self-control, increasing attention span, and improving memory. Studies have shown that the lack of exposure to it causes attention deficit in children and may lead to other issues. Whereas green spaces are linked with positive influences in children as they help make them better at studies and more disciplined. Spending time in nature is good for children who have a short attention span and lack concentration. So, if it is hard for you to focus on anything, then try being in nature as it is not only good for children but for you as well. It is essential to feel connected to it. This helps us stay in the present and improves our cognitive abilities.

Physically Healthier

Spending time in nature is healing for the body as well. Exposure to it has shown a significant reduction of blood pressure, muscle tension and even improves digestion. Other than this, the time spent in a natural environment is also linked with reduced tension, headaches, and insomnia. Moreover, it can also help you be more physically fit and active. A healthier body leads to a healthier mind. Nature heals not only your mind but also your physical health. Having a healthy body is essential for your mind. It is clinically proven that patients who were given access to a window and a view of nature healed quicker than those who were given the view of a wall. Its healing power is unmatchable and necessary for human beings to live healthy and happy lives.

Where Can You Spend Time In Nature?

You can spend time in parks, woods or forests, in the mountains or by the beach. If you do not have access to any of these, then even having a house plant can significantly improve your wellbeing. Green and blue spaces are linked with increased happiness and better physical and mental health. You can even join an outdoor exercise group that will encourage you to go out and rejuvenate your body as well as your mind.

Now that you have so many reasons to spend more time in nature, why don’t you switch off your cellular device and head outside? Spend some time outdoors and rejuvenate your body, mind, and soul. Its refreshing qualities will make you feel more grateful about being alive. In addition, spending some time under the sun can lift your mood and help you feel better about life. So, get out of your room and feel the warmth of the sunlight, the woods, or the seaside. Get in touch with nature and heal yourself.

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In life, we do things according to a schedule, and whether we have children to look after or chores to do, it’s so easy to feel overwhelmed. If you are experiencing stress in your life, it’s crucial to remember that routine is beneficial. By establishing a routine, it helps us take care of risks and can allow us to focus on our physical and mental health. With regards to our health, routines are so important, and here is why.

Routines Promote Healthier Habits

Everybody feels like they have too much to do and not enough time to do it. And routines can help to promote healthy lifestyle habits. For example, packing your lunch the night before you go to work can help you to eat a balanced diet, using a moisturiser for dry skin as part of a nightly skincare regime will ensure you have more radiant looking skin, and going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same time will promote a more consistent sleep schedule. When we start to establish healthy routines, it allows us to make habits. It takes roughly 21 days to form a new habit, which is why it’s important to spend time creating and fostering healthy habits.

Routines Can Fight Burnout

Everybody has witnessed their stress levels increase over the last 18 months and we’re naturally inclined to create routines to beat stress. When we incorporate cumulative amounts of stress into our lives, this will lead to mental and emotional exhaustion, and cause dips in productivity. When we incorporate routines into our lives, it is the one great way to fight burnout. Creating a routine is not necessarily about having everything set in stone. When it comes to beating burnout, you can do a few simple things, including:

• Not hitting the snooze button.
• Taking time to be on your own.
• Stopping work at the same time every single day.
• Having a solid morning routine.

The latter is particularly important because the right morning routine will set you up for the day. If you wake up and you find yourself immediately wired for stress, this will set you up for a day off stress. A solid morning routine is about allowing you to gradually ease into the day. It also will help you to plan the day ahead. Some people feel they benefit more from getting up earlier because it gives them a head start and a sense of achievement.

Routines Can Help With Anxieties

Everybody will experience their fair share of stresses and anxieties, and routines are pivotal to coping with anxiety because it allows our bodies to adjust, and know what we can expect. We can create physical and mental routines that allow our mind and body to acclimatize to the unknown. Part of the reason we all feel stressed is because we do not know what is around the corner. Having a routine, therefore, allows you a sense of control over your life. When we are constantly exposing ourselves to stresses and unknown situations, we can find ourselves on edge. The great thing about routines in this respect is that it allows us to do something every single day that can help us deal with these anxieties. For example, writing in a journal is a wonderful way to get our thoughts onto paper, and have it as part of a regular schedule. This is especially important if we are experiencing many forms of anxiety. Having what they call a “brain dump” allows us to get all of our thoughts out of our heads, and can prepare us for a good night’s sleep, or a better day.

What Does A Healthy Routine Look Like?

This is something only you can answer. However, it is important to point out that you should not make huge changes to your life right away. Changing everything in your daily routine will not lead to effective long-term results. Instead, pick a handful of small things to focus on every week. For example, staying away from social media or practising gratitude. If you are looking to reduce stress and anxiety, a healthy routine can make a significant difference to your physical and mental health. But the most important thing to remember is that it will take time to turn these into a habit. It can take at least three weeks for it to fully ingrain itself in your mind and body. During those first few weeks, remember that these things will take time, but they will have a massive benefit, not just on your health, but on your life.

*collaborative post

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It’s hard to know where to put your time and energy on any given day. 

It’s even harder to identify what matters most in life when you consider the bigger picture of an entire lifetime.

There are so many obligations and responsibilities vying for your attention, not to mention the constant lure of entertainment readily available with your digital devices.

Sadly, research shows the average person will spend over 76,500 hours on their smartphones over the course of their lifetime.

That works out to just under nine years of your life staring at your phone.

That little factoid should make you want to cry.

There have to be more important things in life than a hand-held entertainment box.

And there are.

Read on to learn the things that matter in life and how to integrate them into your days. 

What’s The Most Important Thing in Life? 

According to Bronnie Ware, a palliative care nurse who interviewed dying patients and wrote a book about it, people have five main regrets at the end of their lives. 

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

These regrets reveal a lot about what people believe are the crucial things in life — authenticity, life balance, self-honesty, relationships, and joy. 

None of her patients talked about wishing for more money, fame, achievement, power, or time on their smartphones. 

Pinpointing the one “most important thing” is difficult, but I’d bet the majority of us would claim our relationships are number one. The people we love are what count the most.

The Top 10 Most Important Things in Life

What are the ten most important things in life? Each of us may define these top ten differently, but it’s essential that you do define them. 

Without clarifying your values and life priorities, you’ll stay stuck on your smartphone or focus on other things you’ll remember with regret on your deathbed. 

Your first step in avoiding that deathbed regret (and living a happy life between now and then) is sitting down with pen and paper and writing about the following:

• Think about what you value, what you love, what’s important to you, and what you don’t want to miss out on. 

• Also, write down what’s sucking your time and preventing you from prioritizing your priorities. 

• Finally, write down any mindsets that hold you back from grabbing those golden rings of life that can make you happy.

If you need some help, here are ten things that matter in life to most people. See if they’ll make it on your top ten list. 

1. Your Relationships

This one is at the top of the list for a reason. We are social animals, and we need connection with other people for our mental and emotional health. 

Relationships are essential for our very survival. Plenty of research tells us that healthy social relationships have a profound impact on avoiding early death.

One study shows that a lack of social relationships negatively impacts health as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

We need regular connections with family, friends, and co-workers. But the most important relationship is with a committed partner or spouse.

Being in a committed relationship reduces stress and affords a sense of purpose to your life.

2. Your Authenticity

How much of your life have you spent trying to be someone you’re not or pleasing others at the expense of your true self?

Living inauthentically and accepting a lifestyle, relationship, career, or mindset that isn’t you can rob you of inner peace. It impacts your mental and emotional health, leaving you feeling empty and suffocated. 

It’s never too late to accept that you aren’t being true to yourself. You can start over and allow yourself to be the person you are meant to be and fulfill the dreams you’ve stuffed down for so long.

If you aren’t sure who that authentic person is, begin a self-exploration journey to find out. Examine all aspects of yourself — from your life choices to your opinions, mindsets, and beliefs. 

Have you accepted these parts of yourself because you felt you should or because they truly feel right for you? 

3. Your Work/Life Balance

Your work is what allows you to live the life you want (or at least some of it). Your career also can be inherently fulfilling and enjoyable. But your work shouldn’t define you and overwhelm all other parts of your life.

If you don’t have time for your meaningful relationships, your hobbies, or just relaxation, then your life is imbalanced in a way that will foster regret down the road. 

Find that happy balance in your work, finances, and lifestyle that allows you to focus on many things you value and enjoy.

4. Your Mental Health

Life isn’t without emotional challenges, trauma, and stress. Even if you don’t have a full-blown mental illness like depression or anxiety, the slings and arrows of being human means each of us will experience mental health issues from time to time.

If you ignore the issues when they arise or fail to manage your mental health preemptively, the inevitable challenges of life will send you into a downward spiral. This spiral impacts your happiness and well-being as sure as day turns into night. 

Protect your mental health fiercely by practicing self-care, engaging in therapy if necessary, and finding ways to reduce stress. Try to be proactive about it — before you have a life event that disrupts your well-being.

5. Your Physical Health

Being ill, overweight, lethargic, run-down, and sedentary doesn’t make for a happy life. If your physical health is compromised, your mental health and levels of happiness will suffer. 

Studies confirm that the degree to which your life is compromised by disease or illness is directly associated with how happy and content you feel.

It’s hard to be happy when you’re in pain or otherwise debilitated and can’t participate in the activities and pleasures of life you enjoy.

Yesterday isn’t too soon to put your health on a pedestal and take care of yourself the way you’d care for a beloved child. Even if you hate it, get some exercise every day. Your body requires it. 

Stop eating junk and overeating. Don’t put dangerous substances in your body that can shorten your life or make you ill. Wear a seatbelt, a bike helmet, and other necessary protective gear, so you don’t get hurt. 

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6. Your Integrity

Your good character means everything. If you aren’t living a life of integrity, your relationships (and perhaps your career and lifestyle) will suffer, and you’ll lose respect for yourself. 

How can you be happy with yourself if others can’t trust you or count on your word? How can you feel fulfilled or live a meaningful life without knowing your values and honoring them the best you can every single day?

Immediate gratification, doing what we want when we want, telling lies to protect ourselves, giving in to temptation — all of these things are easy traps. Work hard to maintain your integrity and get back on course quickly when you falter. 

7. Your Curiosity

Don’t allow your life to become rote and boring. Try not to assume you know all the answers and have learned everything you need to know. 

Remain as curious and engaged in life as you did when you were a child. Find a reason to feel awe and wonder every day. 

Curious people have active minds and a desire to learn and grow. The activities involved in satisfying your curiosity can be profoundly satisfying and enjoyable. They make you are a more interesting person who can connect with a wider variety of people.

Staying mentally active throughout your life will protect your brain as you age and give you a sense of purpose. 

8. Your Time

Time is limited in life. The end will come for everyone — you are no exception. If you live to age 90 (lucky you), it’s easy to calculate how many days you have left on this Earth — 90 minus your age times 365. 

We’re talking in the thousands of days, days that are ticking by faster than you can imagine. You spend about a third of your life sleeping. And then there’s that smartphone statistic mentioned above. 

You need to define what you want to achieve and accomplish in this life and start doing those things right now. Protect your time for what you value more than anything else. Don’t give it away easily or mindlessly.

9. Your Contribution

A life without purpose or meaning is empty. Who wants to die feeling they’ve done nothing to make the world a better place or contribute in some way? 

Your contribution to the world doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. You contribute profoundly by raising your children, helping a neighbor, tending to a sick friend, or offering a listening ear. 

Ask yourself, “What are some small things I can do today to help someone else or make a difference?” Be intentional about your contributions and remember them during the times when you question your value or worth.

10. Your Love

Your love for other people, yourself, and life itself is the centerpiece of everything else that matters to you. You have a vast capacity for love that shouldn’t be suppressed or denied.

Even though life and people can hurt and disappoint you, keep love burning in your heart and relish both the pleasure and pain it affords.

Give it and receive it freely, even after it’s knocked you down.

Yes, love makes you vulnerable, but vulnerability makes you compassionate, resilient, and whole. It opens you to the fullness of life that is rich and deep.

What Are the Important Things in Your Life?

Perhaps these ten things that matter in life encompass what’s important to you. Or maybe we’ve left out some of the important things that define who you are.

Write down what’s essential and valuable to you. Share your list with the people closest to you. Make it a priority to know who you are and how you want to live.

Whatever you clarify as valuable and meaningful to you, remember to take action on those things so you create a life you look back on with gratitude and satisfaction. 

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Among the many values of sports, there are three special lessons that transition flawlessly into life. Every successful person I have ever worked with has developed these three concepts.

FQ is more important than IQ

I was directing a basketball clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah when Dale Brown, the former Louisiana State University coach, spoke these words, “Your FQ is more important than your IQ.” He then explained that your FQ is your Failure Quotient. How often can you fail at something and have the resiliency to get right back up?

Pat Riley, the president of the NBA’s Miami Heat, wrote, “Success is getting up one more time than you’ve been knocked down.” If there is one constant in the athletic world, it is that athletes will meet failure.

Baseball players must develop strong FQ’s because failure is a huge part of their game. Great hitters fail 7 out of 10 at bats. They experience failure 70% of the time. Basketball players have a similar experience. A player is an outstanding 3 point shooter if he fails 6 out of every 10 shot attempts.

The University of St. Francis basketball team I coached for 34 years played in a tournament in New York against the number 2 ranked team in the country. They were a great team and they beat us on a shot at the final buzzer.

Our best shooter, who was averaging 17 points per game, took 10 shots in the game and failed to make one basket. We had to play another game the next day. Before the game I told him, “If I see you open and you don’t shoot, I am taking you out of the game. You are our best shooter and you will shoot us into the national tournament at the end of the season.”…And that is exactly what he did because he had developed a resilient FQ.

Life can often be a struggle. Most of us will meet failure personally and/or professionally. There is a lot of adversity out there and none of us are exempt. We have to beat failure in life just like our player did in the athletic arena. We have to get back up. How? Two ways: Learn from it and put it behind you.

“I’ve failed over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

Team ego

Bill Russell played for the Boston Celtics for 13 years. In 11 of those 13 years, the Celtics won the NBA championship. Russell said whenever the Celtic players entered a building for a practice or a game, they left their individual egos at the door. But what they brought in was their Team Ego.

They knew they were a talented team and they also knew they played together. Their Team Ego was telling their opponent that they better bring an outstanding game if they were to beat the Celtics, because the Celtics knew they would bring a great game every night.

The essence of athletics is teamwork. John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach, taught, “The main ingredient of a star is the rest of the team.” He was fortunate to coach numerous stars and he got them to believe in his team first philosophy.

Michael Jordan was a star. I saw him play in person at the Chicago Stadium and the United Center at least 40 times during the most important time of the season – the NBA playoffs. He is the best player I have ever seen play the game.

When you think of Jordan, you think of his great scoring ability, but you seldom hear what a great teammate he was. He practiced harder than anyone on the Bulls; he was their best defensive player, arguably the best defender in the entire NBA; and he is the leading assist man in Bulls history. Jordan set the tone for the Bulls Team Ego!

I have worked with some outstanding leaders – principals at the high school level and presidents at the collegiate level. They knew they could not lead alone; they needed to develop a strong team and they did two things toward this goal: They surrounded themselves with good people and they gave all the credit away. They created a strong Team Ego by taking the blame but passing the credit on.

Listening

Sport is a great arena to develop the skill of listening. Every sport begins with the teaching of the fundamentals. Every sport teaches a system of play. Every athlete wants playing time and that begins and ends with listening. It is only by listening intently that a player can successfully understand and implement the fundamentals and the system.

One player not listening to game planning and game coaching can destroy team play. One player not in the right spot at the right time leads to broken plays.

Classroom teaching and the teaching of sport are the same, with one exception. Teachers and coaches teach their subject matter in the classroom and their systems on the athletic fields and courts. When the classroom exam comes, the students must know the subject matter to perform well. The exam in athletics is the game.

The players must execute the system the coach has taught them during the game. However, the opponent will do all he can to not allow the team to run their system. It would be like a student taking an exam with someone’s hand waving over his eyes during the entire exam! Players must develop the skill of listening if they are to beat the opponents who are waving their hands at them throughout the game.

Every great leader I’ve worked with was a great listener. They listened with their ears and their eyes. Their eyes were riveted on the person speaking as they gave that person their full attention.

The bottom line to listening in life is simple: LISTENING IS RESPECT.

“It’s lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.” – Muhammad Ali

The development of a strong FQ, concentrating on team ego, and listening  – great lessons that can be learned in athletics –  do lead to a successful life.

If these lessons of sport and life lead to success, you may want to remember John Wooden’s maxim:Talent is God given, so be humble, Fame is man given, so be thankful, But conceit is self-given, and you better be careful.

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