Another day in lockdown. Another day thinking: when will all of this end.
The truth is, none of us know.
But instead of getting down about it, now is the time to change your life for the better. Here’s how to turn your life around for the better in 2020.
1. Do a digital clean out
Start with your inbox. Ever sigh at the 20 spam emails you receive a day? Unsubscribe immediately. Go through your email newsletters rigorously and unsubscribe from anything that no longer serves you.
Next, clean out your disk space. No good thing has ever come from the notification your desktop is out of space.
Finally, de-clutter your phone. Old photos and screenshots can go, along with apps you no longer use. And – you’re done. After a digital cleanout, you will feel the same amount of euphoria from cleaning out your wardrobe. Relief.
2. Listen to a Podcast a Day
Podcasts are here to stay and I for one am pretty darn happy about it. There are some really powerful podcasts out there that can leave you feeling inspired to take on the world. Start with “How I Built This” hosted by Guy Raz. After a podcast that really speaks to you, your next big idea will become more prominent than ever.
P.S. if you’re looking for a podcast to turn your life around, try “How to Fail” by Elizabeth Day. It celebrates all the things that went wrong for a number of interesting people.
3. Find a positive media outlet
With the world on pause, 2020 can feel like a bit of a write-off. Don’t let it come to that. Reconsider your media outlets and which news you are listening to. Facts are great but optimism is better. Start with The Good News Network.
4. Start a LinkedIn Page
Now is as good a time as any to start looking elsewhere for work or at the very least, shaping up for when the world is back to normal.
Starting a LinkedIn page will put yourself out there and you can learn how to put your best corporate foot forward online.
This can also be a great way to connect with prospective employers in the freelancing space, which we’ll touch on below.
5. Diversify your income
As we look toward an uncertain future, now is as good a time as any to diversify your income streams. Many of us have been laid off from traditional jobs and in the freelancer space, the uncertainty is mounting.
Personally I had all my jobs for the year wiped almost overnight and many of my friends in the industry share the same sentiment.
But the important thing to note is to be proactive, not reactive.
Diversifying your income especially as a freelancer is now more important than ever. Now is a great time to work on your passive income stream so that when the world does turn around from this, you’re ready.
6. Get a Mentor or Business Coach
If you’re new to business or feeling as though you have stagnated, a business coach is a great way to grow, expand and most importantly: pivot.
A business coach will help you develop long-term and short-term goals. They will work with you to create strategies to get there – which means getting there sooner.
Only a month ago I created the Travel Blogger Master Course to step up as a mentor for those wishing to get into the travel blogging industry or better their blog for success. If you’ve ever wanted to pick the brains of someone who has made this their career, come join us!
7. Give what you can
Not only can you turn your life around, you can also help do the same for someone else. Unfortunately, we live in a throw away society. We follow trends and replace our belongings following an “out with the old, in with the new” mantra.
This is commercialisation at its best.
Now might be a great time to take stock of your belongings and more importantly, your buying habits. Whether your job has been cut or put on hold, this is an opportunity to strip back to the essentials and learn to live with less.
And remember, there will always be someone worse off than you. Take this chance to step up and help someone more in need. You’ll count your lucky stars soon enough.
8. Learn something new online
Now might not be the best time for your career, but that doesn’t have to stop you from learning a new skill.
With all this time available, now is a great time to learn a new skill or hobby you’ve had on your mind for some time.
Why not try learning a new language from the comfort of your couch?
Or check out the 10 best books for entrepreneurs.
9. Rekindle an old friendship
Now might be as good a time as ever to rekindle an old friendship you thought was long gone.
In these uncertain times, we need to connect with others more than ever before. There’s no excuse not to pick up the phone or send that text.
Chances are, you’ll pick right back up from where you left off.
10. Stop worrying about the outcome
No matter which way you look at it, worrying will not change the outcome. These are uncertain times, for sure. But before you know it the world will be back to normal and you will long for that free time.
Make the most of this chance to pause.
Turn this into an opportunity. Learn something new. Find yourself a business coach. Work on yourself from a distance. Find a positive news outlet. Enjoy the pause. Turn your life around for the better.
Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.
