These days, more than ever, we’re seeing fresh creative ways to live life fully. It’s the people in our lives that matter most. You may be finding that the best things in life are free.
Yet, we all love to buy our way to happiness. I don’t know if you agree, but sometimes saving money, protecting your family’s finances, and cutting back seems smart – but not fun.
This week, I decided to change my perspective. Instead of viewing more money as meaning more happiness, I’ve decided to take on a new challenge. I’m looking for creative ways to live life fully—and save money.
1. Shift Perspective
In life and art, it’s often the frame we put around a picture that makes the difference. If the frame of ‘saving money makes you feel sorry, sad, and depressed…what can you do? Change the frame. Tell a different story.
Instead of putting an unhappy frame around the story, but a new one up. Find a way to shift your perspective towards bravery, challenge, and creativity. With a new frame, you’re likely to spot fresh opportunities.
2. Shift Your Day
The early bird gets the worm, right? It’s true. I started getting up earlier and I’m getting a taste of the joy, power, and benefits.
I feel happier. It’s one single thing I can do that changes my feeling about the day. It doesn’t have to be at the crack of dawn—although that may work wonders too. Just setting my sights on getting up 5, 10, or 15 minutes earlier.
I’m just in the early days of this, but I’m already feeling more charged and ready to go.
3. Shift Your Home
If you’re feeling like you’re going stir crazy or have cabin fever, you are not alone. A lot of people are looking for ways to get out of their four walls.
One of the most flexible options for finding a new home is coliving. If you haven’t heard about it, this is a way to explore living in different locations without making a huge commitment. You can get a shared living space or a private apartment. You don’t have to sign a long-term lease or spend a fortune.
With coliving, you can try out different neighborhoods, cities, and locations. If you’ve been feeling like the rent or mortgage is sucking the life out of you, this is surely something to explore.
4. Shift Your Company
Are the people you’re spending time with upbeat and positive?
Our friends and associates can have a profound influence. Think about it. If you’re around people who are heavy drinkers, smokers, and hate exercise—how long before you adopt poor habits?
On the other hand, if you’re with people who make healthy choices, and love being in nature—what happens?
No doubt, you’ll get into healthier habits if you’re around like-minded people. Check out your group of friends and see if something is needing your attention.
5. Shift Your Budget
I know, even the word ‘budget’ might get you in a dark mood. It doesn’t have to be this way. I like to shift my budget by looking at what I value. If you’re living in tune with your values, your budget will follow.
Here’s how it works. I value being out in nature whenever I can. Guess what? Most of nature is available for free. We can go to the park, walk on walkways, and explore national forests if we make it a priority.
Many of the national parks and forests offer yearly passes that are very affordable. It’s a way to nourish the body and mind for hardly any cost.
6. Shift Your Creativity
A lot of the things we love to do rely on our natural creativity. Playing with paint. Writing poetry. Growing flowers and vegetables. Making a beautiful arrangement.
Creativity is always available to us. We can be creative in how we prepare a meal, how we dress, and how we help our children express their ideas.
Creativity is one of those great arenas. You can use your creativity at work to stay safe, and you can explore ways to enhance the beauty in your home. If you’ve been hankering for beauty, it may be your way of reminding yourself to be creative.
Sum Up
Shifting things up is a great way to focus on what’s truly important. I hope you enjoy these 6 ideas and I’d love to hear what you are doing to stay creative in your life.
Nickida
Nickida is a first-generation Trinidadian American wife and mother of four. She enjoys sharing recipes from her childhood growing up in Trinidad with her readers. Nickida has a son with Autism and shares posts around traveling with a child with special needs to help other families like her own. She loves television, movies and is a true 80's baby.
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