拥有更好生活的十种方法
This morning as I took my kids to school, I was feeling rushed and harried. Stress levels high, my face wore a permanent frown, my mind was in a million different places, and my two youngest kids (3 year old, and 20 months) were quiet in their car seats.
Then I realized: while my mind is elsewhere, I’m missing some prime moments with my kids. And not really enjoying my day.
And so I changed the moment, and in doing so changed my day: we began singing some of our favorite children’s songs. Itsy-bitsy spider, twinkle twinkle, wheels on the bus, ABCDs, I’ve been working on the railroad, the ants go marching two by two … all of the oldies.
Instead of thinking about all the things I had to do today, I brought myself into the present moment. And when we got to school, I took a few minutes to spend time with them. Be present with them. It was truly lovely.
This little incident not only brought warmth and joy into my heart … it brought a realization into my mind: I can either have a stressed, difficult day … or I can have an amazing, wonderful day.
I chose the amazing day.
The rest of the day, I did things to ensure that my day was the best ever. And it was. I had the greatest day … all from simple little things that don’t seem like much, but make all the difference in the world.
Do you have to follow these things step-by-step? Not at all. Find your own methods, or pick and choose a few of these. Main thing, though: take steps to make today your best day ever.
1. Be present. Instead of having your mind elsewhere, bring yourself back to now, in this moment, focused on where you are and what you’re doing and who you’re with. We cannot change things that have already happened, and obsessing over them does nothing to help us now. We cannot predict the future, so worrying about it does nothing to help you either. Instead, focus on now … if something is worrying you, take action … but even better, just be in the moment, and live as if now is all there is. Because it is.
2. Do less. Have a full schedule today? Cut it in half. You don’t need to do everything on that list. I took a few items on my list and moved them to next week. Do less (but focus on the important — not urgent — stuff) and you’ll be less stressed out. If you cut your list down and do only half the things you want to do for today, you’ll have a much better day. You’ll thank me.
3. Get one important thing done. As I said in the previous point, do less but do more important things. When I say important, I mean things that will have a huge impact on your life (personally or career wise) over the long run. Not things that need to be done today or else. Here’s why: If you get something important done, something that will help you in the long run (even if it’s only a step towards a major accomplishment, it’s important), you will feel great! You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment. That makes any day a great day.
4. Plan your perfect life. What would your life be like if you had no restrictions? I’m not talking about living in a McMansion or flying around in jet planes, but what would make you happy. A good step: pick the 4-5 most important things in your life, and build your perfect life around those things, eliminating most of the rest if possible. Plan that perfect life, and then plan the first few steps you need to take to get there. Now schedule those first steps over the next week, including one today. It feels amazing to start taking action on making your life the way you want it to be.
5. Declutter. Even if it’s just a little space — say a drawer or a shelf — decluttering an area of your life can have a wonderful effect on your mood and happiness level. I know it gives my day a boost. When things start to get cluttered (and let’s face it, even the best declutterers among us face clutter creep), I take a few minutes to clear it out. Clearing your desk (at least the surface of it) can be a great way to start.
6. Go for a walk. I was going to write “exercise” but I’m afraid that many readers will just skip over this one. So instead, just go for a walk. That movement, and the fresh outdoor air, will have a great effect on your day. And even better: take a few minutes to enjoy the nature around you as you go for your walk. Clear your head. Calm yourself during a busy time of your day. Think to yourself: “How lucky I am to be alive! How wonderful a world I’m in! What opportunities and possibilities lie before me!”
7. Focus on 3 projects. I wrote about this recently, but you’ll probably hear me repeat it a few times just because of the terrific effect it can have on your productivity and your life: choose only your three most important projects, and focus on them exclusively. Focus on getting them to completion, to the exclusion of all other projects. Do that today. You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll accomplish. I only started doing it recently, but I’m getting so much done that I feel like I was sitting on my hands before this. It feels wonder-tastic!
8. Listen to great music. When I was in the car, after I dropped the kids, an oldie came on the radio: Tommy James and the Shondells singing Hanky Panky. “I saw her walking on down the line (yeah) … you know I saw her for the very first time …” Well, I love songs like that (call me old if you like) and I started dancing in my seat. You might be turned on by hipper songs (or is “hipper” not a trendy word anymore?) but whatever music gets you going, jam it on your iPod or car radio. Or while you work. It’s a great time! “Hey, pretty baby, can I take you home!”
9. Watch a sunrise or sunset. Trite? Yes, definitely. But does it work? Yes, definitely. I took the time to enjoy the sunset on my way home today. Mmmmm. It was lovely. It just fills me with warmth. Sunrises are even more beautifuller!
10. Spend time with a loved one. Another obvious one, perhaps, but there’s nothing better, really. When I spent even just a few minutes with my two babies this morning, it filled me with a joy unequaled anywhere else in life. Then I spent some time with my wife, after work, and let me just say that’s about as good as it gets too. Even if you don’t have a spouse or kids, there’s someone in your life that you value … make time out of your day today to spend time with them … and not just to watch TV, but to actually be with them, talk with them, bond with them. It works.今天早上当我送孩子上学的时候，我感到匆忙和困扰。高压的生活，使我眉头紧锁，我的思维还飘忽在不同的地方，而我最小的两个孩子（1个3岁，1个20个月）安静的坐在座位上。
于是我意识到：当我的思维还在别处的时候，我错过了与孩子相处的最好时光，并没有真正的享受每一天的美好。
所以我马上改变，决定改变我的生活：我们一起唱一些最受欢迎的儿童歌曲，“Itsy-bitsy spider, twinkle twinkle, wheels on the bus, ABCDs, I’ve been working on the railroad, the ants go marching two by two …（歌词吧，不知道这么翻译了）”……一些老歌。
我并没有思考今天必须要处理的事情，而是将自己带回到眼前的现实。当我们到达学校的时候，我和他们一起玩耍了几分钟，和他们相处，才是真正的爱。
这小小的举动不仅给我的心灵带来温暖和快乐，同时也让我深深的意识到：我能有一个高压、艰难的生活，同样可以拥有一个美好和愉快的生活。
我选择美好的生活。
剩下的时间，我做了一些事情使得我拥有更美好的生活。伟大的一天，都来自于一些看似简单，但却令世界不同的事情。
你必须按部就班的去做以下这些事情吗？不一定。你可以找到你自己的方法，或者从中选择几点建议。关键的是，采取一些措施让你拥有更美好的生活。
1、活在当下。不要让你的思维飘忽在别处，回到现在，这一刻，聚焦在自己身上，你在哪里？你正在做什么？你和谁在一起？我们不能改变已经发生的事情，而被它们困然对我们毫无益处；我们不能预测未来，所以担心对我们毫无用处。相反，关注现在。如果一件事情正困扰着你，马上行动。
2、减少工作量。今天日程是否已经过多？减少一半。你不需要做清单上的所有事情。我挑选一些清单上的项目安排到下周进行。少做一些（但是关注那些重要但不紧急），会让你感到压力少一些。如果你减半清单上今天要处理的事项，你会拥有更美好的一天。你就会感谢我了。
3、处理一件重要的事情。正如我上一条建议所说的，少做一些但是要处理更重要的事情。重要是指那些最终会影响你生活（个人或职业发展）的事情。并不是需要今天就处理，因为，如果你完成了那些最终会影响你的事情（即使仅仅是通往成功的一个阶段，也非常重要），你会有成就感，将会令你拥有美好的一天。
4、计划一个完美的生活。如果没有限制你的生活将会是什么样子？我的意思不是说住在大房子里或在天上飞来飞去，而是什么会让你快乐。一个好的方法是：明确4-5件你生活中最重要的事情，并围绕这些事情建立你的生活。计划你完美的生活，并且计划你要实现目标所需要采取的一些基本的方法。现在确定第一步的时间表，包括今天要做什么。这将会有非常好的感受一旦当你开始向着你的目标迈出第一步。
5、整理。即使是只有一点空间，比如说一个抽屉或是一个架子，整理也会带给你快乐的情绪，正如所带给我的一样。当事情开始变得混乱（让我们面对这个问题，我们之中最好的整理者面对这个问题），我花一些时间清理它们。整理你的桌子（至少是桌面）会是一个良好的开始。
6、出去走走。我本想用“练习”这个词的，但我担心可能很多的读者看到“练习”之后会跳过这一节，所以，只是出去走走。出去走走，户外新鲜的空气十分有助于你的生活。如果你能花几分钟享受自然环境就更好了，将会帮助你清醒头脑，让你在一天中忙碌的时间里冷静的处理问题。想想：“我活着是多么的幸运！多美好的世界呀！充满了机遇！”
7、聚焦3件重要事情。我刚写了关于这个主题的文章，你可能偶尔也听到我重复这个观点，因为它可以极大的提升你的效率和生活水平：选择你认为最重要的3件事情，并且全神贯注在这3件事情，聚焦在这3件事情的完成，排除其他的事情。从今天就开始行动，你将发现你会获得成就感。虽然我自己最近才开始这样做，但我已经感受到了成就感，感觉好极了！
8、听听音乐。当我开车送完孩子上学之后，我会播放一段“老掉牙”的音乐：Tommy James and the Shondells 乐队演唱的 Hanky Panky. “当她从我身边走过，你知道我们一见钟情…” 我喜欢这种风格的歌曲（你可以叫我“老掉牙”）并跟着节奏在自己的座位上“跳舞”。你也许会听一些Hipper的歌曲（甚至“Hipper”也不能算是一种流行的趋势了），无论是什么歌曲只要能让你有这样的感觉，你都应该把它们下载到你的IPOD里或装在电台里。
9、欣赏日出或者日落。老套？是的！有效吗？是的！我在今天回家的路上享受了日落的时光，非常的美好，让我心里充满了温暖。日出会更加的漂亮。
10、和所爱的人在一起。这是另一个很简单的方法，但却没有比这更好的了。今天早上当我仅仅花几分钟与我的两个小孩在一起的时候，我的感受是生命中的其他事情所不能给予的。于是下班之后我花了更长的时间与我的妻子在一起。即使你还没有配偶或者小孩，你生活中也会有所爱的人，今天就抽搐时间和他们在一起，一起看看电视，一起聊天，和他们在一起，这将有助于你！
