155: You’re the Designer of Your Own Future

Eleanor Wyatt, guest columnist

You may have been feeling out of sync with the world, your friends and family, and even yourself. You’re like a caterpillar in its chrysalis, ready to break out and soar as the beautiful creature you’ve always known you were. If you’re not sure where to go from here, we have a few ideas to get you started.

First Things First

The key to your future depends on your physical well-being, which means getting yourself healthy and fit. The first thing to remember when starting a new wellness routine is to start gradually, making it your new lifestyle and way of being. Nothing lasts that doesn’t start slowly and deliberately. Start with small steps and create new habits.

As a suggestion, try substituting one or two things in your diet daily with something a little healthier. That way, you’ll make enormous gains in your overall well-being. For example, if you drink four soft drinks a day, substitute two of them with water.

Don’t push your body by trying too strenuous workout at the beginning. By beginning your new program with something easy, you’ll slowly get your body in better fitness shape. Once you feel comfortable with moderate exercise, you can push it up to something more intense.

Your Best Resource is Education

Education is the one thing no one can ever take away from you and is the ultimate key to your future. Going back to school will definitely increase your career prospects.

Getting an MBA can open doors to multiple careers. Opportunities for advancement and promotion are limitless in fields like management, marketing, accounting, finance, and leadership. And the ability to get your degree online means you can take classes at your convenience and on your schedule.

If fashion and design are your passion, turn to fashion educator Laurel Hoffmann.
Her step-by-step instructions and diagrams make it possible to produce quality clothing with minimal equipment. Developed in the USA during the first and second World Wars, these are the procedures now used throughout the global fashion industry. You may even want to turn those skills into a business.

Day-to-Day Ways to Relieve Stress

Stress is a natural part of life but can be dangerous when it becomes chronic. Chronic stress leads to high blood pressure, heart problems, and other health issues. It also affects your productivity and creativity.
Meditation is something everyone should learn and practice daily. There are many benefits of meditation, including reducing anxiety, stress relief, increased focus, improved memory, and mood improvement.
Exercises like yoga and Tai Chi are not only good for our bodies, but their practices are also good for improving our mood and lessening stress.
Walking outside has multiple benefits, including improving our mood and even heightening brain power and creativity.

Travel

Traveling is excellent for our overall well-being. It has been proven that people who travel are happier and healthier than those who don’t.
Spending time in a new location fills you with new information, sites, and perspective. It’s a learning experience that lasts a lifetime, and you can even taste foods you’ve never had the chance to try.
Overall, traveling broadens your horizons and develops a more open-minded view of life and our world. Places like Australia and Portugal are good bargains right now for overseas travel, but if you’re in the US, try New Orleans, Louisiana, or Savannah, Georgia.

The Road to a New a Beginning Starts With You

Getting healthier, going back to school, learning new skills, reducing stress, and planning to do more traveling are just some ways to jump-start your new future. And although you’ll have plenty more to add to your to-do list, this is a great way to start.

Many thanks to Eleanor Wyatt, guest columnist