First thoughts? Easier said than done! Or, easy for you to say, living in sunny Southeast Asia!
I won’t lie — I do have a slight advantage, having laid my hat in a beautiful tropical country where I work, rest, and play with great joy and happiness.
But then again, you could do the same if you wanted or felt like you needed to. I had no choice 7 years ago, after a messy divorce and my horribly stressful and unhealthy existence in Upstate New York.
Thankfully, I woke up to reality, got a grip, read, studied, and radically changed my food, exercise pattern, and lifestyle — those actions most likely saved my life.
I suffered badly from the Monday blues living in the USA, France, and Spain. It’s just the nature of the work versus time off related-game.
I’ve never been employed and have always been independent. I built and operated multiple successful companies. Everything was going well until the world financial crisis hit, almost bankrupting us all.
Sadly, those who caused the crisis — the bankers — survived and thrived after the crash, and nobody went to jail.
On the other side of the fence, millions of small businesses like mine went belly up, and people lost their homes to the banks.
Thanks for that one, banker guys! There’s a saying for that lot, which I can’t write in full here, but I hope you’ll figure out the meaning.
The saying goes:
W…er Bankers!
Those were the good old “bad days” when I worked my ass off in the corporate world and ruined my health by drinking and partying far too hard over the weekends.
The partying was my stress reliever and “pleasure dome,” which lasted with substantial hangovers until Sunday evening when the frightful thoughts of Mondays set in.
Thankfully, those days are long since gone.
Back to the now and future — my steps to eliminating the Monday jitters and living a truly free life
1 — Quit your 9 to 5 job and become an independent freelancer
Do you not have the nerve to do so, or don’t you have a skill you can develop and create content with online?
If that’s the case, don’t worry. I was in the exact same position 7 years ago when I fixed my health and embarked on a new career I’d never dreamt of in the past.
Today, I’m a successful nutritionist, metabolic health coach, and online writer. I help thousands lose weight and regain physical and mental health.
You can learn, create content online, and make a living if you try and fully commit.
2 — Move to a place or country you’re burning to live in
Another radical change and disruption of your life and comfort zone?
Good! That’s precisely what the doctor (me) ordered, as it works wonders, improving your health, wealth, motivation, productivity, and happiness.
Don’t underestimate the importance of where you live and the environment you position yourself in.
Living in a dump will never allow you to find happiness or succeed.
If you live in a small paradise, your creative mind will explode with ideas, as will your productivity and income.
Sure, a move and the resulting success do take time. But again, I did it, and it worked.
3 — Work as much as possible outdoors in nature
OK, that may not be possible if you live in a cold climate.
Well, that’s all the more reason to first focus on the above point 2 and flee to a low-cost warm country, leaving all the unnecessary clutter and nonsense behind.
Most days I spend writing, exercising, or making videos outdoors.
I go to various resorts to write, swim and walk the riverside where I live.
In the evenings, I complete my work at a cafe while enjoying the sunset.
I get a ton done each day this way.
Moving from one lovely spot to another all day boosts my creativity and productivity and makes me happy.
4 — Go to bed when you want and get up when you want
There are no rules to this. I can’t stand the “know-it-alls” on social media telling us to go to bed at 9 pm and get up at 5 am to live an optimal life.
Sorry to say, but that’s utter rubbish.
You can and should run your sleep-wake cycle how best fits you. Some work better in the morning — others are more productive at night.
Just do whatever suits you and yes, sleep in and relax some mornings. That’s not a crime and won’t make you less successful.
The only thing that counts is to find the right work-life balance and have a clear, focused, and happy mind.
You cannot achieve those vital elements if you constantly push and overstress yourself.
5 — Treat every day the same, and don’t make the weekends “special”
Everyone is always looking forward to the weekend while dreading Mondays.
Both thoughts are counter-productive and silly. However, that’s what society and social media have made you believe.
Sayings like “Friyeah” or “Happy Weekend” are pointless and mess with your mind creating a false sense of reality and imbalance.
- I work, rest, and play every day
- I don’t care what day it is
- I’ll take a nature trip on a Wednesday, Monday, Saturday, or Sunday — whatever
- I don’t plan anything — I go with my flow and intuition
When I go on my trips, I clear my mind in nature by biking, hiking, and swimming, then head home to write about my day.
Job, playtime, and fun done — then I rest!
6 — Focus on you: Meditate, relax, practice mindfulness, and self-care (love), don’t stress
Nowhere near enough folks do this. My guess? Maybe 1% to 5% of the world’s population spends time on self-care and mind-training. That’s a small number considering the almost 8 Billion living on planet earth.
I make a daily effort to take time out, meditate a little, and practice positive affirmations and self-talk. I try to be mindful of everything I do.
That means I don’t rush. Instead, I move with razor-sharp focus and am aware of everything around me.
That’s mindfulness — a wonderfully powerful tool to possess.
Oh yes, I also never stress myself anymore. I only purposely subject myself to positive stress when exercising or improving my skills, such as the free handstand.
Final Thoughts
There’s no need to fear Mondays or overhype the weekends. Instead, treat every day like it’s your last and do things you’re passionate about and don’t hate.
→ If you dislike your work — change it, and don’t stay stuck in your rut.
→ If your life is boring — do something about it. Nobody is coming to help you — it’s on you to make life great.
→ If you dislike where you live, make a plan and get out of there ASAP.
That’s the best way to find happiness and a calm and balanced mind.
Rob
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The Ultimate Guide to Weight Loss, Fitness, and Health
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