by Sharon Wagner

Are you in a rut? Do you feel frustrated with your current situation, but don’t know how to change it? This is how many people feel, but that doesn’t mean that you have to feel that way forever. No matter what has brought you down, it’s time to lift yourself up so that you are ready to move forward with a whole and happy heart.

Sharon Wagner of SeniorFriendly.info presents some tips on how you can put yourself in a position to embrace the world today.

Elevate Your Career
If you’re unhappy in your current career or, worse, have lost your job, there’s never been a better time to go back to school. Thanks to technology, you can even take classes online to obtain your degree in marketing, management, or leadership. Going back to school now will help boost your confidence so that you can find a new job that’s best suited to your skills and personality. Even better, developing your professional acumen can put you in a better position to launch your own business. If you simply wish to study a subject for its own sake, some schools offer options to audit classes, which will allow you to attend lectures without having to worry about grades and attendance.

Start Something New
Perhaps you’ve had a great business idea in mind, but haven’t had the confidence to make it happen. Maybe now is the time! To start your own business, you’ll first need to determine what type of business structure you’ll be operating under, and you’ll need to see what it takes to start a business in your state. You can find these steps in this ZenBusiness guide on starting a company. It’s important that you take the time to draft a thorough business plan before you secure startup funding, as most investors will want to know your plans before committing to support. Once all of the technicalities are in place, it’s time to market. Maple points out that coming up with a marketing strategy is essential for getting the word out about your products or services. Social media is an ideal and affordable way to reach your target audience, and social media templates can help. It’s also important to have systems in place to manage your business finances. Once you have your EIN (employer identification number), you can open a business bank account to keep these finances separate from your personal finances. You will also want to create customized invoices so that you can request and document payments. There are free options available online that you can edit to match your branding colors and style. It looks more professional to keep consistency between your documents, so take advantage of the ability to edit the font, colors, and text.

Reduce Debt
Have you relied a little too much on credit cards in the past? Many of us have. Unfortunately, we’re finding that too much debt not only causes stress but also makes it more difficult to meet our monthly financial obligations. One quick way to alleviate money worries is to refinance your home. With interest rates still historically low, you may be able to pull out some equity and maintain a payment similar to what you have now. Or, you could choose not to cash out and enjoy the extra money you have with smaller monthly payments. If you are able to get some equity out, updating your home furnishings is a great way to refresh how your home feels. A new couch or coffee table can change the look of your living room, while a new dresser or bed can make your bedroom feel more comfortable. With the money you’ve saved refinancing, you’ll still come out ahead. If you need another way to cut down on your monthly expenditures is to use free apps and streaming services to watch television, thereby reducing or eliminating your cable bill. Cutting the cord is a great way to save money.

Care for Your Body
Stress and worry can have physical consequences as well as be harmful to your mental equilibrium. Exercising, eating well, and relaxing are important ways to help you stay healthy. Eastern medicinal practices have also shown great promise in helping the body and mind to heal from stress, trauma, and even addiction. Consider trying yoga, guided meditation, or Reiki. Jessica Sharp at Gentle Hands Reiki specializes in helping her patients heal old wounds to regain inner peace and physical comfort.

While the doctor’s office may be the last place you want to be these days, don’t neglect your annual physical out of fear or busyness. Finally, consider treating yourself to something nice as a reward for all your positivity and proactive efforts. Massage is a great way to relax and pamper yourself, and it has been shown to reduce stress levels and increase flexibility. Being outdoors is a proven way to benefit your mental and physical well-being. Pair that with exercise, and you are in for a great mood lifter. Make a strategic purchase or two to help prepare you for outdoor activities. Perhaps a good pair of running shoes, a travel backpack for hiking, or a jogging stroller if you have kids would help you get out of the house more. Look online for reviews and discounts so that you don’t create financial stress while trying to reduce overall stress.

Strengthen Your Brain
No matter your situation, you must take care of your mental health. Daily actions, such as reading, can increase your mental flexibility, reduce stress, and help you practice mindfulness. A well-cared-for brain will help you be cognitively ready to tackle whatever changes you plan to implement in your life moving forward. It doesn’t matter how old you are, where you live, or what your current economic situation may be: you have all of the tools you need right now to emerge from your rut with a whole and healthy heart. Taking care of yourself will allow you to go out into this world with confidence and excitement for what is yet to come.