Do you feel like you're living your best life? If not, many people would agree with you. As a matter of fact, American happiness has hit record lows. 

You're responsible for your own life and happiness, and that's a lot of pressure, right? What happens if you don't do everything right? What could you be doing better?

Your journey is personal, and doing things "right" is subjective. That said, we're here with 11 things you can do to improve your life. Read on to learn more. 

1. Maintain a Consistent Schedule

Some people say that you have to be "early to bed and early to rise" to be a successful person, but this isn't really true. Some people aren't morning people, and that's okay. If you work at night, you prefer nighttime, or you just hate mornings, there's no reason that you have to be up at the stroke of dawn.

What you should do, however, is maintain a consistent schedule. Consistency will keep you on track. You'll be better at keeping up with your habits, getting everything done every day, and you'll be more reliable. 

Whether this means you go to bed at 9 pm and wake up at 5 am or you go to bed at 4 am and wake up at noon, find what works for you and stick with it. 

2. Be Open to Learning New Things

Successful people never stop learning new things. They understand that there's no way that they already "know everything," and they welcome new information. 

These people may seek out education opportunities like college, seminars, conferences, and other "formal" types of learning. They may also read books and studies.

Some people prefer to learn through others. They ask questions when they don't know something instead of just letting it go. They seek out people who know more than them so they can grow. 

Learning is a lifelong process. It doesn't stop when you graduate from school! This may be the most important key to success.

3. Keep an Open Perspective 

Speaking of learning new things, keeping an open perspective will help you have a successful life. You should never be too set in your ways to take in new perspectives and apply them.

This doesn't mean that you shouldn't ever "stick to your guns," especially when it comes to things like serious values, but you should keep an open mind and hear other people out. 

Consider why someone else's perspective might be different from yours. Do they come from a different background? Do they hold different important beliefs? 

Even if you don't shift your own perspective, it's helpful to understand where other people are coming from. This makes you more empathetic and a better communicator. 

4. Maintain an Exercise Routine

Exercise is essential if you want to live a happy and healthy life. You don't have to be a fitness fanatic, but you should move your body and take care of your health. You only get one body!

The CDC recommends that all adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week. This doesn't mean that you have to do heavy cardio or extreme weight lifting. You should move your body and put in a moderate amount of effort.

This could be jogging, riding a bike, power-walking (especially with an incline), bodyweight exercise, or really anything else that gets your blood pumping. 

Look for exercises that bring you joy. Yoga, pilates, rock climbing, swimming, and dancing (among others) are all great forms of exercise that can also be fun if you don't like the idea of the gym. 

Exercise will help you sleep better, keep you healthier, and improve your mental health and clarity! 

5. Eat Well 

You need to eat well if you want to live a long and healthy life. Eating well isn't just for maintaining your physical health. Food gives you energy, and you need that energy!

"Well" doesn't mean that you should resign yourself to eating steamed veggies every day. Learn how to make interesting and delicious foods full of fresh plants. Learn about different cultural cuisines and try to make them at home. 

Food expands your horizons. 

This also doesn't mean you can't ever "treat" yourself to "unhealthy" foods. Food is an experience. If a bowl of ice cream will make you happy one day, eat that bowl of ice cream. 

In other words, eat to fuel your body and mind, but also eat for joy. A good relationship with food will enrich your life.

6. Be an Active Listener

Listening comes naturally (or at least it should,) but active listening is a skill you need to cultivate.

When you actively listen to someone, you're following what they're saying and responding appropriately. You're encouraging them to continue talking and you're taking in as much information as possible.

Active listening is an incredible communication skill. It makes people trust you more, it makes them feel more appreciated, and it helps you learn new things.

Many "successful" people don't listen. They just wait for the other person to finish talking. Make an effort to listen to everyone around you and you'll see a huge change. 

7. Practice Gratitude

It's easy to sink into despair and frustration, but every day you should try to practice gratitude whenever you can.

There are several ways to go about this.

First, express gratitude to others. Never forget to thank someone for doing something for you, even if it's small. Show your appreciation even if the other person doesn't expect you to do so.

Reach out and tell a friend you appreciate them out of the blue.

You can also keep a gratitude journal. Every day, try to write down things that you're grateful for, no matter how small. You may be grateful for the good weather, for your health, for the cute animal you saw that day, or anything else.

Dig deep. The more gratitude you express, the more grateful you'll feel. 

8. Meditate

Meditation isn't right for everyone, but many successful people incorporate it into their lives. You should give it a try.

When you meditate, you "tune out" the world around you and focus on your own thoughts and emotions. It's a great way to "reset" when you're feeling overwhelmed.

Even meditating for a few minutes per day may help you improve your mental clarity. Learn how here.

9. Get Involved With Your Community

Everyone should do their part for their community. Do you get involved with yours? 

Look for local events that you can visit. They can be fun ones, like festivals, or events that give you an opportunity to connect with others for a specific purpose (such as clubs). 

Look for opportunities to help the people around you. Consider volunteering for local charity programs so you can do something good for your community. Lending a helping hand is important.

Volunteer with local soup kitchens and other food organizations. Donate food and supplies when you have the means to do so. You're a part of your community, so act like it!

In 2022, many people are so disconnected from their communities due to everything being digital. Your community is important. How can you improve it? 

10. Get Plenty of Sleep

Are you sleeping enough? The average adult needs between 7 and 9 hours of sleep every night. While many people sleep less than that, it's bad for your overall health.

When you're too tired, your physical and mental health will suffer. You won't be as alert, you may experience anxiety, and your brain and body won't have time to recover after a long day. 

Make sure you practice good sleep hygiene. Avoid screens before bedtime, set up a nightly routine, and avoid caffeine or alcohol before bed. 

Consider doing something relaxing before you try to sleep, like yoga. 

Sleep is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.

11. Question the Norm

Some social norms and customs are important. We should all treat each other well, contribute to society in some capacity, and do our parts to keep the world moving.

Some norms may not suit everyone, though.

If you're unhappy, consider what you can change about your normal life, even if it means going against the grain. Do you want to ditch your 9-5 job to work for yourself? Are you unhappy with the traditional life timeline that other people follow?

You can pick and choose what norms you want to follow. Pave your own path.

Are You Living Your Best Life?

Everyone deserves to live a life they love. Are you living your best life, or is it time to make some changes? 

These 11 things won't individually change your life, and you don't need to do all of them at once. Make changes one at a time and see how big of an impact they have. 

Do you want to live a bolder and happier life? Talk to us about it. We'll help you take the next steps forward.