By Tolulope David
I would have loved to write on new year resolutions but I woke up this morning feeling like its a Saturday and it dawned on me that everyday could actually be a Saturday and without a second thought, I knew it would be nice to share my feelings with you, maybe you also could share my optimism about life and possibly carry this into the new year. If everyday were a Saturday, that would mean every day would begin and end with laughter! And hmmmmm. The best part, though, is that I would never dread what tomorrow would bring. That, to me, sounds like bliss. Unfortunately, for most of us, life isn’t a continuing cycle of Saturdays. Our lives are a majority of work and a fraction of fun. Realistically, it’s the two days following a tiring workweek that we believe make up for our stress. However, once those 48 hours of paradise come and go, it’s back to work we go. This “work hard, play harder” mantra is inspiring. It gives us an incentive and something to look forward to during our bad days. But, life would be a lot simpler and a lot more fun if we constantly asked ourselves, if I can’t change the day of the week, why not change what I do during my day? This might sound too good to be true, but making every day feel like the weekend is possible. You just have to be willing to make a few of the changes below, and you’ll be smiling every day of the week, as opposed to just a couple.
Quit the job you dread.
Whether you’re sitting on top of hard-earned cash you’ve saved over the years, or just getting by thanks to your weekly paycheck, money will always be a problem. There will always be bills to pay, gifts to buy and unexpected things you’ll end up paying for out of pocket. But, money should never be the reason you’re stuck working somewhere you hate. Waking up unhappy day after day is far worse than not being able to afford rent. There will always be opportunities elsewhere to make money, but there won’t always be happy days if you hate what you’re doing. Quitting a job is a big step, but if it’s to better yourself, then all you’re doing is quitting an unhealthy lifestyle, which is nothing of which to be ashamed.
Figure out what you like doing in your spare time; get paid for it.
I understand the economy has left the job market in a state of sh*t. But, this is me, a medical graduate, pipetting serum and taking blood out of veins like no man’s business but now works at a place that just received free invitation to a dinner with the high and mighty. Seriously. I made a drastic career change by trying to make a career out of something I always enjoyed doing outside of work. Figure out what gets you the most excited in your spare time. Even if it’s just drinking with your friends, or getting terrifically excited about the debut of a new beer, maybe working in a brewery or working in the marketing department of your favorite distillery is for you. No matter how barbaric your favorite things to do are, it could lead you to a happy career.
Stop whining and start wining.
Because no one ever said they enjoy hanging out with a negative dude, there is always one person in every friend group dubbed the complainer. Trying to make others sympathize with you by constantly reminding them of your problems will probably do exactly the opposite; your friends will actually start complaining about you. Stop whining and start wining. Nothing solves problems like a good glass of wine, unless it’s followed by, like, four more … then you may have bigger problems to face.
Start your day with your favorite song.
I don’t care if you’re running late or if you wake up next to your soul mate every morning. The first thing you should always do after you awake is listen to a song that makes you happy, hum it and probably sing it loud to yourself, its i exercise that lifts your soul
Cut the fraying cord.
Break up with him or her already. If you find yourself complaining about the same person day-in and day-out, then you don’t need him or her in your life. “It’s complicated” is no way to define a relationship. If you’re truly in love with someone, his or her flaws will make you laugh, and the complications will be worth it. The easiest way to figure out if you’re ready to move on is by asking yourself whether it’s the attention or the actual person you’ll miss. There are seven billion people in the world who can give you attention. That answer should tell you everything.
If this list scares you, it should. Making these changes is not easy, but it is worth it. Because everybody hates a Monday (except of course, GENESIS INTERNATIONAL goes on sale on Mondays), and no one enjoys hump day; Saturday is when the party begins.
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