| If you feel like you are stuck in a rut, or that your | | | | One of the best ways to revive this and to feel |
| life has lost a sense of fun, fulfillment or purpose, | | | | more invigorated and alive is to spend some time |
| then it's clearly time for a personal makeover. This | | | | doing something you really enjoyed as a child. |
| one won't cost you anything and, if you take the | | | | Perhaps it's shooting hoops at a nearby basketball |
| time to do one of the following activities each day | | | | court, or going to a park and swinging on the swings. |
| for the next 7 days, you'll be amazed at the results! | | | | Choose something that always made you smile and |
| The purpose of these activities is to get your juices | | | | laugh as a kid. If you can find someone to join you, |
| flowing - to invigorate, inspire, and motivate you. | | | | all the better. |
| Too often we get so caught up in the mundane day | | | | Regardless, don't let prudish feelings of "this is silly - I'll |
| to day tasks that we lose our joy and enthusiasm. | | | | look like a fool" hold you back. Let go and have fun. |
| What was once exciting - whether your relationship, | | | | Forget about everything else for that half hour or so |
| your career, having a family, or starting a business - | | | | and be in the moment. |
| may have become stale or mediocre over the years. | | | | Day 4 - Make a list of 100+ things you are grateful |
| And you're so busy it just seems like too much | | | | for. |
| energy to make any changes. | | | | Gratitude is powerful and practicing it daily can |
| Quite often, that's because we look at change as this | | | | change your life in ways you never imagined. Sit |
| huge, daunting task akin to training for and running | | | | down in a quiet place and write down at least 100 |
| the Boston marathon, when in fact, a short sprint is | | | | things. Read through it every day, and add to it |
| all that is really needed. | | | | often. |
| So let's get started. | | | | Day 5 - Call a friend that you've lost touch with. |
| None of these activities take a significant amount of | | | | Reconnecting with an old friend will not only make |
| time. 30 minutes to an hour will do for most, and a | | | | you feel good, but will benefit your friend as well. |
| couple may take just a few minutes. Some can take | | | | Everyone loves to be remembered, so pick up the |
| longer if you have the time and want to put more | | | | phone! |
| into it. It's up to you. Do them in whatever order you | | | | Day 6 - Start a project that you've wanted to do |
| like, but do them! This is meant to be fun, so don't | | | | for awhile. |
| look at any of these as another "chore" to add to | | | | It doesn't have to be something huge. But choose |
| your list. | | | | something that you enjoy and that you can finish |
| This is for YOU! | | | | within a few weeks to a few months. |
| Ready? | | | | Day 7 - Get rid of as much clutter as you can in at |
| Day 1 - Create a bucket list. If you're not familiar | | | | least one room in your home. |
| with a bucket list, it's a list of all the things you would | | | | This one may take a little longer than an hour, but if |
| like to do before you die. | | | | that is all the time you have, then make the most of |
| When you make your list, think of all the things in life | | | | it. Clutter weighs us down and, according to Feng |
| you've dreamed about doing. Write them down. | | | | Shui experts, blocks the flow of energy. Get two |
| Perhaps you've always wanted to meet Oprah, or be | | | | boxes and label one for garbage and the other for a |
| in a musical, or take a trip to Greece. | | | | charity such as Good Will. Start filling the boxes with |
| Don't leave something off your list because it seems | | | | things you haven't used in over a year. Chances are |
| ridiculous, silly, too expensive or impossible. Anything | | | | you never will and perhaps someone less fortunate |
| goes. All great things start with the dream to do | | | | could make good use of them. Don't spend a lot of |
| them. | | | | time debating on any particular item. Trust me, this |
| Write them down. Make it fun! Reawaken those | | | | activity will have a very positive impact when you do |
| dreams that you had once upon a time! | | | | it! |
| Day 2 - Do something kind for a stranger or | | | | There you have it! If you do these activities over |
| someone you barely know. | | | | the course of 7 days (or every other day for 14 |
| Opportunity for random acts of kindness abound - if | | | | days if you are really strapped for time) you will feel |
| you look for them. It doesn't have to be | | | | lighter, more enthusiastic, and more energetic than |
| extravagant. Perhaps it's offering your seat on the | | | | you have in a long time. Guaranteed! |
| bus to an elderly person. Or offering to help a new | | | | Don't stop after 7 days. Keep adding to your |
| neighbor carry in some boxes. Or taking a box of | | | | gratitude list, keep reconnecting with old friends, |
| doughnuts from a nearby bakery to the local | | | | keep doing kind things for strangers or others, keep |
| firehouse. | | | | working on fun projects, keep dreaming big dreams |
| Day 3 - Do something you loved to do as a child. | | | | and setting goals for your life, keep decluttering, and |
| As we get older and are burdened with life's | | | | keep your childlike playfulness alive and well. |
| demands, we tend to lose our childlike playfulness. | | | | |