Last Updated on May 4, 2024 by Nadim Alamuddin
“Carpe Diem”, Latin for “Seize The Day”, is an expression to say “live your life today to the fullest without thinking too much of the future.” In this blog post, I wanted to outline outstanding ways to seize the day to overcome some of your everyday challenges.
Have you been having a rough patch lately? Has it been tough to get up in the morning, go through your day? Have you lost anyone special? Are you so overwhelmed with your studies, or work, that it’s all bringing you down? Have you had a fight with your loved one? Is your financial situation depressing you?**
[**If you have a medical condition, please seek professional help.]
There are often a few factors that occur in our lives that can bring us down. Even if we’re the “happy go lucky” type, some days will feel as if we have to drag ourselves out of bed, into our daily routine, whether school, work or whatever activities that occupy your day.
Here are the 5 key strategies that I practice to overcome my “challenging” days:
Table of Contents
No.1: Practice Gratitude
No matter what or how you’re feeling, you should be thankful for who and what you have in life. Think of all the people around you, your loved ones, your extended family, your friends, colleagues, anyone who, just by being associated to you, brings you comfort.
Think of your job, classes, daily activities and imagine those who don’t have this kind of luxury. Be thankful for what you have.
Be Thankful For What You Have And Don't Take Anything For Granted!Click To TweetNever take anyone or anything for granted. You may lose that someone or that something in a flash. Be thankful for them, appreciate them and tell them so.
If you practice this simple exercise, which can take your 5-10 minutes, you’ll be amazed how much better it’ll make you feel.
Related post: Reduce Your Stress, Be Happier By Practicing “Gratitude”
No.2: Take Some “Me” Time
Another strategy that works well with me. Take time for yourself. All alone. Take away all distractions, switch off your phone, just let go. You can do this in bed, as you get up in the morning, or go somewhere peaceful. It’s really up to you.
Lately, I’ve been going to the beach. Alone. I sit and watch kite surfers in the distance. While I’m there, I think back to my life, plan strategies, think of my loved ones, and practice gratitude every chance I have. It brings me some peace. I enjoy this so much that I do it even if I’m in a great mood.
Think, reflect, plan, meditate or just think of nothing. It should be a way to help you get on with your day.
Related post: Top 5 Strategies To Overcome The Feeling Of Overwhelm
No.3: Exercise
If I had written this post a few months ago, I’d have omitted this outstanding way to seize the day. The reason is I wasn’t doing any exercise! Exercise is the no.1 list item on my New Year’s Resolution goals. And, no matter what anyone says, just 10-15 minutes of any exercise will make you seize the day.
So, beginning this year, I have been going exercising and my mood has elevated so much. I feel happier, I’m sleeping better, I have more energy. All combined, I feel wonderful. In fact, so far this month, there hasn’t been a lot of events that have brought me down.
If you’re stuck at home because of a cold winter (which usually brings down a lot of people) or whatever the reason, you can easily do 10-15 minutes of exercise in your room. There are many iOS and Android applications that walk you through simple exercise techniques (see link to article below). All you need to do is TAKE SOME ACTION and watch how you’ll seize the day!
Related post (external): Best Workout Apps We’ve Used: Improve Your Fitness In Just 20 Minutes A Day
No.4: Chunk It All Down
Whatever is bothering you or bringing you down should be tackled in bite-size manageable tasks. Before tackling them, you need to classify them into two buckets: things that are within your control, and things that are out of your control.
If something is out of your control, you can’t do much, can you? There’s no reason to get worked up about it. All you can do is assess what the impacts could be if these things should happen. And prepare for them.
If something is within your control, you should set up a plan of action of how you’re going to tackle it. Make sure the tasks you set up are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realizable, and Time-bound. In other words, these tasks should be SMART. Just like my post on SMART Goals.
When you divide your worries into smaller manageable tasks and you start completing them, you’ll feel like you’re finally accomplishing something. You will be amazed how this strategy will help you “seize the day”.
Related post: Setting The Right Goals Is The Secret To Success
No.5: Reach Out For Help
This is a toughie. A lot of us hate to ask for help. But, sometimes, this is what we need to to be able to overcome our challenges. Reaching out doesn’t need to be for professional help (unless you have a medical condition). It could be just to confide in a best friend or in your loved ones. Surround yourself with people who care.
I have always been open and a good listener. One of the things I enjoy doing is to mentor colleagues or just to talk to friends at all levels. I know when I open up and share things that are bothering me, I feel like I’ve lifted a huge load from my shoulders.
However, I do understand this doesn’t work for everyone. Some people are naturally very private, don’t like to share anything personal or otherwise. This strategy may not be one that would work for them. But, if you’re like me, I find it liberating!
Carpe Diem! Seize The Day!
Thank you for stopping by. What challenges are you trying to overcome? Please leave me your comments at the bottom.
Some nice reading for you, in case you missed them:
- How To Create Your First Epic Blog Post Using Gutenberg (Block Editor)
- Top 5 Reasons Preventing You From Being More Successful
- 7 Keys You Need To Overcome Your Struggles
- Overcome Your Fear Of Change Using 5 Quick Fixes
- Revealed: 11 Simple Ways To Be Your Very Best
Featured image by Bruce Mars from Unsplash
Great topic! One of the above points that I find my self following mostly is “Practicing Gratitude”. I really keep telling my self what be grateful for your family, friends, loved ones, and a healthy life in general. No matter what challenges we have, as long as the REALLY important things in life are well then there really ain’t anything to worry about.
One point though I must do my self is the excising bit 🙂 I keep on pushing my “Gym day” to next week because it coincides with the “Me time” which I like to take to do my hobbies. So Ill “reach out” to you and seek your advice on how would you manage gym when you have little time left during the day after work 😉
Hey Motaz,
Thanks a lot for your feedback. I agree with you on the topic of gratitude.
On the gym side of things, I used to be like you. The way to overcome this, for me, was to wake up earlier in the morning, go to the gym before work! This works really well because, as you said, if you do this after work, and your return home fluctuates, eventually you will stop going! Good luck in this new discipline. I’ll follow up with you to see how it goes!