We’re all so busy these days, and it is easy to get caught up in the rush and stress and before you know it, you’re hating your life.

How do I know this? Been there, done it, got the t-shirt.

But I’ve also learned that are a lot of little things we can do on even the most crazy busy, stressful day to give ourselves a little break and help us reclaim our joy. That’s why today I’m sharing my 5 tips to improve your life, and I promise you’ll find some peace when you give these a try.

5 Tips to Improve Your Life Right Now

1. Declutter your space.

Clutter and disorganization can cause a lot of stress, so it just makes sense that a few minutes spent decluttering will bring a little peace into your life. 

I tidy up my desk at the end of every work day so that I have a fresh, clean space to start the next day.

I spend Sunday afternoons organizing my closet and putting away laundry (and boxing up things I no longer want, to give to charity) so that figuring out what to wear each day isn’t a stressful, time-consuming endeavor.

Before bedtime, I do a quick run through my home to pick up clutter, shoes, dirty dishes, and anything else that’s out of place so that when I awake the next morning, my home is tidy and organized.

You can declutter your space in just a few minutes each day, and it really will make a difference in your stress level. Try it.

Check out my busy dog mom’s guide to minimalism to learn more about how decluttering can simplify and improve your life.

2. Avoid multi-tasking.

Used to be, the best advice for getting a lot of things done was to multi-task. Nowadays, our bodies and brains are so overwhelmed that we can barely focus on one thing, let alone multiple things, so multi-tasking is a no. 

When you focus solely on the task at hand, you’ll be more productive and you will produce quality results. You’ll also feel less stress. This is automatically an improvement to your life and contentment.

3. Prioritize yourself. 

When you make time for the things you love, your stress will melt away and you’ll live in the moment. 

Whatever it is that you enjoy – whether that’s a nice, long walk with your dog, taking in a matinee on a Saturday afternoon, or spending all of Sunday baking cookies in your kitchen – do it as often as you can. You will feel happier and more relaxed, and life will start to become a pleasure once again.

4. Be kind.

Basic manners and courtesies have fallen by the wayside here in the twenty-first century, and it’s up to us to change that. Show kindness to everyone you meet, even if they don’t deserve it.

Say “please” and “thank you”, hold the door for a stranger, and share your smile freely. When you are kind to others, they are more likely to return your kindness, and boom! All of a sudden the world is a little nicer place.

5. Stop complaining.

We all like to complain; we call it “venting”, but no matter what you call it, complaining brings a negative vibe to every situation. 

Rather than complain about a situation or a person, why not look for ways to change it. If it’s a negative person, distance yourself from them. If it’s a problem, look for ways to fix it. If you can’t find one, then the situation is beyond your control and complaining isn’t going to change anything.

When things aren’t going right, look for the solution rather than griping about the problem. Taking proactive measures to change a situation will relieve stress and give you a sense of purpose.

How do you manage stress?

In this busy world we live in, how do you reclaim joy for yourself? I’d love for you to tell me all about it in a comment below, or stop by my private Facebook group for dog moms and join in the conversation there!