We all want to feel like we’re in charge of our lives, having everything together. The unfortunate truth is that many of us struggle to take charge of our lives and feel like we’re lacking some control. This happens even more when we get around those who seem to have control of their lives with everything they need at their fingertips.
Never fear; we’ve come up with a guide to help you get control and take charge of your life. In the article that follows, you’ll learn ten ways to help you get in control and be in charge of your own life.
1| Be diligent in taking yourself
It’s crucial to make time in your week to devote to self-care. The busier you get, the harder it seems to be to make time for yourself and, unfortunately, that’s when you need it most. Make time to take care of your personal needs, whatever they may be. After all, if you’re not at your best how can you expect to do your best work. Taking charge of your schedule and your personal health is an important first step to take control of your life.
2| Do what you want, despite convention
A big part of taking charge in your life is putting an end to the bad habit of letting others have a say in what you do. Don’t disregard good advice but ultimately live a life that is yours.
3| Get organized
This step may seem a little different and trivial compared to the others but getting organized is an important part of taking control of your life. Being organized can help to lessen your stress and anxiety, keep you in command of your schedule, and make your life easier overall.
4| Remember the power of “no”
While it’s important to be open to new experiences and opportunities, it’s more important to know your limitations. You can’t do everything, and no one can expect you to. You have to prioritize and say no to some things to keep your sanity. The decision of what to say no to should be left entirely up to you, allowing you to take charge in your life.
5| Be open to new opportunities
It’s easy to let saying no get out of hand and become closed off to new opportunities, experiences, and adventures. If a new opportunity comes your way, weigh it out. Consider the following: is it good for you; is it something you want to do or a stepping stone to something you want? If you answered yes to either of those questions, don’t let the opportunity slip through your fingers.
6| Make a goal list
Making a goal list is a good way to take charge of your future. It’s most effective when you parse your goals into multiple, reachable goal lists. This will help ensure you actually achieve your goals rather than just making the list and setting it aside. Be sure to measure your progress as you go, so you know where you stand.
7| Make “By the time I’m [age]” lists
Slightly different than the generic goal list we mentioned above, the “By the time I’m…” list is for things you want to have or have achieved by that age.
For example, common “By the time I’m 30” lists include things like getting married, getting set up in a career, and starting a family, while common things found on “By the time I’m 65” lists are retirement, moving to the beach, and traveling more frequently. These lists can help you keep track of what you want and ensure that you’re getting the most out of your life and taking charge of it.
8| Strive to empower and be empowered by others
One way to truly take charge of your life and ensure you’re headed in the right direction is to both be an example to others and learn things from others. It’s important to learn from those around you and allow them to inspire and empower you. It’s also important to strive to empower others and to be the best example you can be.
9| Stop settling
If you’ve been wasting your time settling for things you don’t really want, you’ll wind up wasting your life on adequacy. While in certain cases, settling is excusable or even acceptable, you can’t settle with everything in your life. A big part of taking charge of your life is getting rid of or turning down things you either don’t want or are detrimental to you.
10| Love and accept yourself
The only way in which you’ll ever take charge of your life is if you accept yourself for who you are, accept what you want in life, and treat yourself with love and kindness. Accept and appreciate the things you want in life, because if you don’t, who will.
