Life comes and goes in a flash. Are you paying attention and soaking in the small pleasures of life? Or are you overwhelmed and feeling like you’re not getting the things done that matter or that you’re wasting your days? Here are 5 tips that can help you get the most out of life. 

The goal is not to just get through each day. Slow down, notice, appreciate, and recharge.

1. Get Off Your Phone. Did you know, the average person spends 5.4 hours on their phone every day?  Phones are a huge distraction in our lives. Life is happening all around you, but you’re missing it if you’re staring at your phone.

Making my point with a little humor, check out this song called “Get Off Your Phone”, the video’s a hoot while showing how people are missing out on life.

2. Get Off Social Media. It’s another huge distraction. We’ve all been online reading something and found ourselves surprised at how much time has passed because you followed the clickbait. We’re sucked into spending our free time looking at things that don’t matter to us.

Social media is designed to manipulate you. It uses our psychology against us to accomplish its own goals, which is to keep us glued to the screen for as long as possible so it can sell more ads. While you’re wasting your time on things that don’t matter and don’t make you feel good, real life is passing you by.  Don’t be a spectator, get out there and partake in life.

3. Spend Time with Your Friends and Family. This is the important part, when you’re with them, really be present and listen to what they have to say, notice the little things, feel the gratitude to have these people in your life.

4. Get Out in Nature. Nature helps you to see and appreciate the little things. 

You’ll also feel it’s healing power. Nature has the ability to heal the soul or at least soothe it.  Science backs this up with studies that show being in nature can change your mood, and help you to feel healthier, happier, more peaceful and more alive.  

5. Stop Listening to the News. At least stop binge watching it or getting constant news notifications that cause you to stop what you’re doing to read the update. You don’t have to give up all news, of course you want to stay current, but be intentional, limit the amount and be deliberate about what and how much you watch.

Much of what we think of as news is just rage porn. Shows that pretend to be news but are actually political talk or opinion shows. These shows are not bound by journalistic practices and ethics, accuracy is not the point, instead, it’s hyper-partisan commentary. The clear purpose is to stoke outrage and division among viewers who may think they’re getting meaningful news contact. Turn it off.

 “Unfollow the chaos, darling.
Unsubscribe to the circus.
Take back your thoughts.
Take back your joy.
Make peace your home again.”

                   – S. C. Lourie

Wake up to the reality that our time here is limited, don’t waste it.  Start seeing the magic of life all around you.

Is there someone who inspires you with their kindness?  Nominate them for the Matt Kurtz Kindness Award of $250.

Do you have an act-of-kindness project you want to do but need help funding it?  Submit your idea for the Matt Kurtz Kindness Grant of $250 and let us help you spread kindness.