Stories

When you’re lost or feeling useless, it’s often hard to move forward in life. No matter what you do, you always feel like you’re stuck, running around in an endless circle. Here are 10 ways to slowly turn things around and become useful in life:

1. Solve problems.

Start observing the world around you. Are there things that bug you? Try coming up with solutions to fix them. By putting the world in a better place than yesterday, you will feel more fulfilled. Even if the solution is small, any improvement is better than none.

2. Give > take.

If you live in the Western world, you might be influenced by consumerist culture. We love over-consumption. But does it make us feel better? For a change, try giving rather than taking today. Give with your time if you have no money to give. You might just feel like you contributed something for once.

3. Be nice to people.

We are so wrapped up in our thoughts and feelings that we forget to be nice to others. No matter your mood, treat people as you would like to be treated – likely with kindness and respect.

4. Encourage others.

Maybe you notice someone struggling during your daily routine. Help and encourage them. Make them feel like they can do it. This is especially useful among teams in sports and business. Your team is only as good as your worst-performing player. Constantly strive to raise everyone up.

5. Master something.

Figure out how you can be the very best at one thing. Get obsessed with it and see how you progress over time. Learn from the best to become the best.

6. Be happy.

You can actually make yourself happy in an instant. Smile. Take a deep breath. Move your shoulders back. Stand tall. Raise your chin in the air. Give more eye contact. Love what you do. Be grateful and thank often. Feeling happier already? Thought so.

7. Take care of your family.

By caring for those you love, you will have improved the relationships that matter most.

8. Learn something daily.

It can be a skill, hobby or anything you’ve always wanted to figure out. By being more knowledgeable, you can teach others what you learn.

9. Be healthy.

Watch your diet and exercise daily. If you figure these two things out, your mind will be clearer and your days will be better.

10. Ask questions and listen.

Improve your conversation skills by asking questions, listening and letting others talk. You might learn a few things along the way.

Give these tips a try to feel a little bit more useful today. Don’t overthink your situation; the biggest steps are often the smallest ones.

When it comes to our dietary needs, there are surprisingly only a few essentials that are needed upon arriving at the grocery store. Here are some tips to help you stay disciplined with your grocery purchases (it’s worked well for me most weeks):

Stick to the four “real” food groups – fruits, vegetables, nuts and meats.

Let’s dig deeper into these groups and where you can find them.

*Word of caution: every aisle in the middle of a grocery store is advertising noise, typically filled with high-sugar foods disguised as something you need. Stick to the outer areas of the store to avoid the trap of unnecessary spending on these.

Fruits.
I love to eat apples, berries (breakfast), lemons (salad dressing) and avocados. They cover everything you need with regards to fruit nutrients and healthy sugars.

Vegetables.
Spinach/kale (excellent for salads), broccoli and brussel sprouts will cover your vegetable requirements. The greener the better. It’s surprising how many people don’t eat enough vegetables when it should make up the bulk of your meal.

Nuts.
I always go with bulk bags of walnuts and macadamia nuts. These items are high in fat content and great for snacking.

Meats.
I am a red meat guy, and I like to try tuna, chicken and salmon too. Ensure none of these have added breading. Just buy fresh and freeze yourself. While cooking you can use natural spices or lemon and garlic.

The most important food item: water.
You can cut down on eating consumption just by drinking more water. You’ll find yourself eating less snacks, your cravings will disappear, and you will lose that fatty weight in no time.

By switching to the foods on this list and eliminating the bad, sugary foods, I have lost 10 pounds of unhealthy weight in a matter of one month, without changing my fitness intensity. I also eat out less and therefore save significantly on restaurant gratuities.

All in all, my monthly food cost comes out to less than $240 Canadian for the best meals imaginable. I am also a lousy cook, so anyone can do it if I can 🙂

If you are just starting a business or job, think about how you can create products. Most people start by offering services. This is still like a job that pays you money for time. You need to make products in order to be a truly independent entrepreneur.

Lawyers and accountants should create online courses based on their knowledge.

Writers should publish eBooks to get royalties while they sleep.

Designers should sell online art prints or branded merchandise.

Marketers should sell guides on best practices for growing a business.

Even if you have a job, you should be able to come up with a product to replace yourself. Then you can sell it anywhere and scale yourself to success.