5 Practical Ways to Go from Surviving to Thriving
Let this be the year that you step up for yourself. Say no to the fad diets, fasting, tea detoxes, fat loss shakes, sprays, and pills. To stop feeling exhausted and burnt out. Instead of living in survival mode, break the cycle by educating yourself on some of the basic tools you have at your disposal.
To survive means to continue to live or exist in spite of danger, whereas to thrive means to grow, develop and prosper. Most of us have times in life when we have to pass through a period of survival in order to thrive. The way thrivers experience life depends not on their circumstances, but on how they choose to respond to the hand they are dealt.
If you were a plant, would you be growing, flourishing, and resilient in a drought or a flood? Or would you wither and barely get by when nature's circumstances stray from the ideal?
This is the difference between thriving and surviving. Of course, humans are far more complex than plants, but it's true that two humans in the same circumstances can have two very different outlooks and approaches to being in the world.
Here are 5 practical ways to go from surviving to thriving (that don’t cost a thing!):
Improve Your Sleep Hygiene
Whilst I know a lot of you have kids or manic jobs with deadlines, it’s important to remember that sleep is the thing you should be prioritising and optimising. If you’re watching your screen until midnight and telling me you’re struggling to lose weight or never feel like you have enough energy… What do you think I’m going to say?
If you’re not getting 7-9 hours of quality sleep, it’s going to affect the rest of your day, including the decisions you make, the clarity of your mind, your energy, your food choices. Figure out where you can make changes to improve your sleep. Start small - you want it to be so easy that you can keep doing it, and then build progress from there.
Practical ways to improve your sleep:
Take a short nap during the day.
Go to bed 15 minutes earlier than usual on week 1, then another 15 on week 2, and keep going until you’re getting the extra sleep needed.
Get off your gadgets 30-60 minutes before bed.
2. Hydrate
Your body needs water to function at its best. Too often I see people not drinking enough and wondering why they have cramps or brain fog, or why their body is not responding or recovering properly. If there isn't enough liquid in your body, essential functions like circulation don't perform as smoothly and your organs won't get necessary nutrients, resulting in less efficient performance.
Practical ways to get more hydration:
Drink 1.5 litres in the morning, 1.5 in the afternoon
Drink electrolytes with your water
Set timers in your day so you remember to drink
Buy a bigger water bottle and take it everywhere with you
3. Unplug Your Devices
The average digital consumer has around 4 devices. These devices too often serve as distractions. You need to tune out distractions in order to tune into the sweet stillness of the divine within you. Instead of picking up the device, use that time for movement, stillness, sleep, or connecting with people in person.
How to use your devices less:
Set rules, eg. no phone use after 8pm
Identify what you can be doing instead to move towards your goals
Don’t binge tv shows
4. Move More
When you’re feeling lethargic or you’ve had a busy day, some simple, low intensity movement can help your fitness and heart health. This becomes even more important as we age. Make time each day to move your body in ways you enjoy. If you can, combine your movement with being in nature. This can help us feel more grounded, more peaceful, and less stressed.
5. Journal Every Day
It has been proven time and time again that writing every day can help you clear your thoughts, harness the power of your mind, and make sense of how you’re feeling. Psychologist James Pennebaker did just this, testing groups of people who experienced trauma or moments in their life to overcome the hurdles. One group would write for 15 minutes daily, whilst the other group did nothing. It was shown those who wrote daily generally felt better in their circumstances and overcame the troubles. Read his book Opening Up by Writing It Down for more on this, or you can get an insight here through this article: read here.
Tips to start journaling:
Write three things you’re grateful for each day
Write three attributes about yourself
Write one highlight at the end of every day
Write for five minutes using journal prompts or just what comes to you
There’s so many things that you can be doing to move from surviving to thriving but, as with anything, start small and with the most important.
If you need some extra help to focus on what you can control, develop tools to manage situations, gain greater accountability, and build new healthy habits, try coaching with me from anywhere in the world. To find out more, book in a free, no-obligation call with me right here: Let’s talk here.
Speak soon,
Lizzie xxx
