RazzWorks

Do you find yourself unmotivated to get up in the morning? Do you spend your days on the couch thinking about the many things you could/should be doing? Flipping through channels on the TV or surfing the internet all day. Maybe you have a good reason but do you really need to be there quite so much. I’m in chronic pain with back issues, fibromyalgia, and other pain conditions. I spend the better part of my days on the couch. But that’s not where I want to be?

**There are many reasons for being a couch potato and some need immediate attention. Are you depressed? If you even think you might be then talk to a professional and get some help. Otherwise, if you’re just going through a slump and feeling blah I have some tips to help you start moving again.

What can you do today?

Small changes can have a big impact on your daily life. It doesn’t take much effort and hardly any motivation to do these tasks so lets begin and see what you can do today that will improve your outlook on life and make you feel like getting back into living again.

For starters you can do this one thing without even moving. No physical work required! Switch your mindset from negative to positive. It’s not that easy I know. There isn’t a handy switch. But can you consciously try to increase your use of positive words? Just a couple to start with: ‘What a beautiful day!’ ‘Thank you for the delicious breakfast.’ or maybe you could try saying to yourself or someone else ‘You look nice this morning’. Just a few positive words can change your day for the better and possibly someone else’s too

If positive words don’t come naturally to you then look up a podcast or video of an inspiring speaker. Listen to their words and really take them to heart. I’ve listened to many motivational speakers and always come away with something. You might even get some great ideas. Give it a try. It can’t hurt.

Another way you can help change your mindset from negative to positive is to avoid negative people and don’t worry about what other people think of you. Alot of the negative thoughts I used to have stemmed from what I thought others thought of me. As someone once said ‘If you’re concerned with what others think of you you’d be surprised to know how seldom they do’. I’m sure that holds true in most cases and really, what does it matter what others think. I don’t know if its age or what but these thoughts rarely occur to me anymore.

One negative thought you can give up right away is comparing yourself to others. That never gets us anywhere and is just wasting space in our heads. The only person you should ever compare yourself to is you. Try to be a better person than you were yesterday. Remember, though, you don’t want to try to make too many changes all at once. A little bit, 1% at a time. Be consistent and remember to do some small thing everyday while continuing to do what you did yesterday.

Time to get off the couch

Now we’re going to get more active. Get off that couch and move a little bit. Before you begin just breath. Take a deep breath and breath out slowly. That’s your first action. Now what can you do next?

Remember all that stuff you’ve had in your mind. All those jobs that you should be doing like housework, cooking healthy meals, getting a little more exercise. Pick one and think of one small change you can make to move towards getting it done. Notice what I said there. No one is saying you need to do that task but think of one small change that will get you closer to getting it done.

Let’s look at housework for example. Looking around and thinking of all the many jobs that need to be done to clean a whole house can be overwhelming. But can you spend 2 minutes and tidy up one cluttered area. Another good practice is to always clean up after yourself right away. It only takes a couple minutes.

Years ago I found a website called the Flylady. She taught me the 2 minute tidy idea. She has lots of other wonderful ideas to simplify cleaning and organizing your home if you want to check her out www.flylady.net.

Let’s go outside

Trying to get a bit of exercise feels a little more challenging. We’re not planning to run a marathon or take up weight lifting, though if those are things you want to do you can start with one tiny action today. If you’ve been spending long days on the couch and not getting out at all start with stepping outside your door. Go on, go outside. I’ll wait…

There, wasn’t that refreshing? You don’t have to go anywhere just outside. I do this every year when the weather starts getting nice. I go as far as the deck and sit down. Breath in the fresh air and listen to the spring birds twittering in the trees around my house. From there, on another day, I walk around my house, check out the perennials starting to peek out of the ground and marvel at the wonders of springtime. I try to do this walk around outside a few times a day or as often as I can manage.

There’s more…

Now that we’ve gotten active there are still more small changes you can make that will make you feel better both physically and mentally. I’m going to give you a list. Don’t worry, none of them are difficult.

1. Treat yourself as kindly as you would a family member that you love.
2. End every day with gratitude whether in a written journal or spoken out loud.
3. Go for a walk (if you are physically able)
4. Call a friend or family member who has a positive outlook.
5. Drink more water (it’s always good for you)
6. If something seems scary or difficult do it first. Like that task you’ve been putting off.
7. Don’t gossip or argue. If you do argue don’t try to always win.
8. Take the stairs, park far away or walk instead of taking the car.
9. Get rid of things that aren’t useful or don’t bring you joy.
10. Turn off the tv and avoid depressing news.

That might seem like alot but you’re not doing it all at once. Little by little you can improve your life by making small changes. Pick one thing and do it today. Tomorrow repeat that one thing and do another. You get the idea. I’m speaking from experience. I’m working on making these changes myself so you’re not alone in your struggle. Leave me a comment and let me know what you plan to do today to improve your life.
Me? I’m going to get dressed today!

Roze