10 Ways To Renew Yourself

Before you scroll until you see the golden first numbered suggestion, at least skim over this introductory section. In a day, time and society where brevity and sound bites are the rule rather than the exception, we often write off a suggestion before considering if there is a new perspective amidst an old thought.

I am not a huge believer in things like a New Year’s resolution. Why? First, most people only stay on track with their new goal for, like, two seconds. Second, once the person has fallen off their own personal bandwagon, they tend to spiral into all types of mental roller coaster scenarios. Third, it makes absolutely no sense to me to wait another 364 days to start pursuing a new goal.

The point is, putting off a fresh beginning or a new goal seems a bit futile and defeatist from the start. It’s like saying, “I’m not worth a new beginning or better now and future until XYZ date and time.” In the meantime, while you’re waiting for your next “perfect” time, many opportunities might have passed you by. Sometimes failure is the best option. Practice makes perfect. And most success comes after several failures.

If you can’t tell already, I am a huge fan of Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now. The time is always NOW to make a change. Imagine how much we could progress in just a month if we continually had the mindset to make a change instantly. Not wait for the “right” time, place, environment or circumstances.

I’m not going to make the claim that these are the 10 absolutely best ways to renew yourself. But I can say that after talking to many people as a certified life coach and a person whose various professions leads to many discussions about life, these 10 ways to renew yourself come up the most. Now, let’s cover 10 ways to renew yourself daily, weekly, monthly and yearly. Some tips might seem bizarre or shocking. Some tips are a new take on classics.

1. Rise And Shine

This by far has to come first. While spiffy tips about getting a good night’s sleep are essential, the mindset you wake up with is just as crucial. Even if you got a terrible night of sleep, or the day before was not the greatest, the morning always brings the opportunity for a fresh start. Do you really want to wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Whether you just took a cat nap or had a full night of sleep, upon waking, rise and shine. I always start my day being thankful to see another day. Some people call waking up a grand rising.

Grandiose morning salutations aside, the next action is to shine. You don’t have to have the Midas touch to shine like a diamond—or should I say gold. But a mind set on finding the silver lining in everything will allow you to move pretty gracefully throughout your day. You will shine as long as you do your best in everything you do for the day.

2. Take A Walk In Nature

Pretty much everyone walks in some form every day. I am very intentional when I suggest taking a walk in nature. Just taking a walk does not suffice all the time. Often we are bombarded with noise pollution, air pollution and overall stimulation from and in our environment. Sometimes that walk around the block can do more harm than good. Instead of being flooded with more distractions, seek a natural and serene surrounding. This also provides an opportunity to discover and learn about places near you that you might have missed your whole life. Get some fresh air, see some green, and promote your health.

3. Hydrate

Classics never die. But sometimes even the oldies need some revamping to fit with the times. With new insights and research, old thoughts about how much water we actually need varies. Not much considered is how much water we consume from unlikely sources. In my practice, I often start health and wellness clients off with the goal of adding alkalinity to their water intake. Gone is the suggestion that all water is “good” or to drink half your body weight in water. As a person who sees the glass half full (all puns intended), I accentuate the positive that if you eat more fruits and vegetables and less processed and dry goods that you are getting more water intake than you think.

4. Be A Good Human

How does being a good human help renew your life? Easy. Some call it being a good Samaritan, good deeds, paying it forward and so on. Side stepping the life-long debate of what does it mean to be human or what is good, let’s focus on discernment from our gut feelings, our moral compass. Being a good human does not require a lofty goal or highly publicized acts. It can be as simple as holding the door open, helping someone across the street or even a smile. When you live enough life, you discover that you never know what someone is actually going through. And the most basic act of kindness, random or not, can mean the world to you or someone else.

5. Add A Splash Of Color

You do not have to be an artist to appreciate this suggestion. There are so many ways to add a splash of color to your life. Add a vibrant plant in your room, living room, or workplace. Change up your attire and add a pop of color. Talk to someone with a colorful personality. Indulge in color therapy. Or go back to suggestion two, take a walk in nature and enjoy all the beautiful naturally occurring colors. With a hint of color, you can renew yourself in ways you never imagined.

6. Eat Well

Do I promote health and wellness? Absolutely. However, just like taking time to reevaluate facts and data about health and nutrition, what is more important to me is doing what is best for your body, health and wellness. For some people, adding nuts and seeds is the trick to losing those last few pounds. If you suffer from IBS or ulcerative colitis, seeds would be the furthest thing from healthy for you and spell a world of pain.

As someone who has covered all types of eating regiments and theories because of my own health concerns (and nearly dying), knowing your body is the best policy. Clearly this suggestion comes with a grain of salt. There is some common sense needed when it comes to eating well. My own mother once went on candy bar diet…it was really a thing being promoted by someone years ago! Proof that people can find “research” to support anything they want. Take some time and review what you eat and how it makes you feel. This small step can renew your body in many unexpected ways.

7. Try Something New

This comes with a slight word of caution. Just like the suggestion to exercise some common sense when it comes to eating well, the same is true for trying something new. Being wild and adventurous is one thing. Being reckless and dangerous to yourself and others is something altogether different. Deciding to go skydiving when you’re afraid of heights is bold but not reckless. Sometimes trying something new is terrifyingly scary. Stepping out of our comfort zone has so many benefits. The main one being that we can progress by leaps and bounds. Nothing beats a failure but a try. Chat with someone different. Drive a different way. Eat a new cuisine. Wear that piece of clothing that still has the tag on it. Renew yourself by refreshing your routine and habits.

8. Just Breathe

If it wasn’t for survival, just breathing would be my arch nemesis. Nothing used to drive me more up the wall than someone telling me to “just breathe.” I would satiate their request by nearly huffing and puffing to the near point of hyperventilating. Now, a much more harmonized me sees true perks to just breathing, besides living to see another minute. The benefits of taking time to enjoy some deep breaths ranges from improved digestion to better sleep at night.

9. Start And Keep A Journal

People find it funny how adverse I was to starting or keeping a journal since I have two English degrees. Short version, I love reading and analyzing literature. I was a technical writer not a creative one. Whenever the task of creating a journal for a semester project came up, I rolled my eyes right out of my head. With disdain I took up the task. Then I had a life coach who swore by journaling so much she gave a journal and pen as gifts at certain events. Her words of “put the power in the pen” echoed in my head like an annoying mosquito that you repeatedly swat away. My journals went from puny quarter pages to multi-page entries.

A radical shift might not be for you. But now I do believe journaling is for everyone. The coolest thing I learned, originally from my study of literature, is that there is so much variety in how to keep a journal. Benjamin Franklin kept his as a rating system. Emily Dickinson through poetry. You might decide your journal is doodles on a page or even a collection of stickers chronicling how you’re feeling. No matter what method you choose, you will delight in having a relic to look back on that traces where you have been mentally. You might realize how much you have reinvented yourself over the years. Or use it as a reflective tool to renew different aspects of your life.

10. Read The Bible

Faith-based person or not, reading the Bible is an excellent way to renew yourself. Many times, people around you, including yourself, are quoting from the Bible and don’t even know it. So why not go straight to the source and discover the true meaning or root? If that doesn’t catch your fancy, then consider how most of the literature we read today comes from stories and instances in the Bible. The Bible is filled with many of the greatest stories ever told. If you pick the right Bible translation, it will be much easier for you to see how the Bible far surpasses any social media highlight reel, romance novel, drama series, generational curse, horror movie or love story.

Still not convinced? Most of the self-help and abundance mindset gurus get their material and beliefs straight from the Bible. The concept of wealth and abundance is mentioned starting with the book of Genesis. Self-motivation and making wise decisions, don’t even get me started. The best part is, you need not read the whole Bible or take on the arduous task of reading from beginning to end. Jump around, pick only one testament, or select a specific story or verse. Your choice!

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If you're looking for some more in-depth, one-on-one help and insights, visit stephaniebradberry.com. I'll be more than happy to help you with your journey!