Sometimes, life seems heavy. We can feel weighed down by worries, responsibilities, clutter, our own internal monologue and emotions, and the constant onslaught of information coming at us. Although life can be demanding and challenging, we need not be crushed by the heavy burden. We can take it upon ourselves to intentionally add lightness to our lives. In so doing, not only will we improve our state of being, but we will also offer our lightness to those around us. Here are 11 simple ways to “lighten up.”
Laugh More
If you’re like most people, you could use a good laugh. Laughter is cleansing, joyful, and good for your health. It clears the air, loosens tension, and reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously. Even a little giggle can immediately help you feel lighter.
Think back to a funny memory, watch a short comedy sketch, call that friend who always makes you smile, read some corny dad jokes, and be on the lookout for the many ways in which life can be funny, silly, and absurd. When you can laugh at life and take things a bit more lightly, the heaviness begins to lift.
Get Organized
Disorder has a way of quietly draining us. When you feel like things are out of control, like you’re dropping balls, or like you’re surrounded by chaos, taking even a few minutes to get some small area of your life organized can be a burden lifted.
Carve out 10 minutes a day to get more organized. In 10 minutes, you can delete emails, clean out a drawer, put away laundry, go through the mail, add a few items to the donation bin, review your calendar, tidy a room, wipe down surfaces, or set out your clothes for tomorrow. If you do that consistently each day, you’ll be shocked at how much lighter you feel after a week or two.
Ask for Help
When you have the courage and clarity to ask for help, not only will you get some help, but you’ll also strengthen the connection between you and your helper. We often hesitate to ask for help, thinking that we’re imposing on others, but often people are happy and even honored to be asked. If you could use some help, ask for it.
Go to Bed Earlier
Sleep is important. Getting enough sleep helps you think clearly, reduces stress, supports immunity, maintains energy, and allows your body to recover and repair itself daily. Get yourself to bed a little bit earlier. Increasing sleep by even 15 minutes can make tomorrow feel more manageable before it even begins.
Eat Well
Your body and mind are deeply connected. If you are not nourishing your body well, you will not be able to perform at your best. Choosing wholesome, nutritious foods for each meal supports your health and vitality. Avoid processed foods and lots of sugar and give your body what it needs to perform at its best.
Make Tiny Progress
Perfectionism often disguises itself as ambition, but it frequently manifests as inertia. When perfection is the standard, nothing happens because it’s an impossible benchmark to reach.
Rather than aiming for perfection or unrealistic levels of productivity, aim for the tiniest hint of progress. Lower your standards when it comes to getting started on anything, whether that’s a new fitness routine, cleaning your kitchen, or launching a new business. What’s the tiniest thing you can do to make any progress at all? Do that and momentum will arise.
Turn Off Notifications
Your digital devices should not be telling you what to do. They are tools, not masters. Each unnecessary notification fragments attention and heightens stress. Reclaiming control over when and how you engage restores a sense of agency—and with it, mental lightness. Head to your settings and turn off all notifications that aren’t totally necessary. This allows you to take charge of your energy and attention.
Audit Your Internal Voice
No one communicates with you more than you do. So, what have you been saying to yourself? We can lull ourselves into believing the stories and judgments we proclaim in our minds.
One simple practice that can help is writing down the repetitive, negative thoughts you notice in your mind. Then, next to each, write the exact opposite. For example, if your thoughts frequently recite, “I never finish anything.” The opposite would be, “I always follow through and finish what I start.” Even if you don’t actually believe this about yourself at first, review your rewrites regularly and allow them to replace the negativity that’s limiting you.
Understand Emotions
Our emotions are unreliable and can cloud our vision. Feelings fluctuate. Moods shift. Not every emotional whim deserves a response or even respect. Teach yourself to get curious about your emotions and observe them without being ruled by them. When you find yourself in a particularly unfavorable emotional state, get up and move your body, go for a walk, or throw on some fun music that you can’t help but dance to. You’d be surprised how often your mood will lift and those heavy emotions will dissipate.
Have Fun
When’s the last time you did something just for fun? Recall moments of pure, true fun in your life. Especially if you’re achievement-driven, it might have been a bit too long since you allowed simple fun into your life. Begin strategizing how you can incorporate more fun into each day.
Have Faith
Of course, life will never be weightless. We all struggle, suffer, and face challenges. Without them, though, how would we grow? Have faith that there is a higher purpose to the burdens you carry and an opportunity within each and every one to learn, grow, and develop your spirit. With faith in everything having a reason, you can meet struggles with curiosity, opening yourself to find the lesson you’ve been given the opportunity to learn. That’s a mindset that brings true lightness into your life.
