10 Essential Things to Do

There are essential things you should do so that you can be free, healthy, successful and, most of all, happy.

1. Exercise: Recently, a friend visited me. He told me, one day, a few months ago; he was feeling uncomfortable with his chest when he was with friends outside. It had never happened like this before. He was smart enough and decided to drive alone all the way to the hospital for a check-up. Along the way, his chest pain was getting worse. Finally, he managed to reach the emergency entrance of a hospital in town. Realizing the seriousness of his condition, one of the hospital staff told him to call home.  He dialled the number but he could not speak and so he passed the line to the nurse and he collapsed. When he was conscious, hours later with her wife beside him, he was told that his heart had stopped beating for a couple of minutes. He had a heart attack. The doctor who was attending to him told him that he must exercise regularly. Technically he was dead, at least for a while. Now he is living a second life. He is a lucky man. You may not be as lucky as my friend, but to prevent the worst from happening to you, be active and exercise every day.

2. Stop drinking and smoking: When you kick the bad habits you regain your health and save a lot of money. Your smoking habit also affects the health of your loved one adversely. The most important thing is that you prevent a tragic case of a fatal road accident after drinking too much. 

3. Give: Part of the money that you have saved from giving up your bad habits can be channeled to charity. Play a part and help others in need in whatever small way you can. 

4. Be debt-free: Curb your wants in life; this is one sure way to stay out of debt. Financial independence gives you peace of mind.

5. Hold on to your job (for baby boomers): The longer you work, especially doing things you are interested in and good at, the longer you can delay dipping into your retirement fund. Life is getting tougher and tougher. The cost of living is going up like nobody’s business and what you have saved and invested may not be able to cope with it. Keep your job if you are lucky enough to be gainfully employed.

6. Stay positive: Life is full of uncertainties and we may not get what we want to achieve in life. You need to stay resilient and be positive and strong. Look at the bright side of things because of tough times never last but tough people do.

7. Solve problems:  Take prompt action and be resourceful and confident to overcome each and every problem. Life is about problems or else life will be very dull and boring.

8. Be organized: Time is limited. It is necessary to plan ahead and get organized every day. The objective is to be productive, do less and achieve more.

9. Be creative: Be outstanding and be ahead of others by doing things differently. It is also necessary to be creative to solve problems at work and at home.

10. Be happy: You should be happy when you have done the nine things as mentioned here. After all, happiness is a matter of the mind. When you make up your mind to be happy, you are.

Do you have other essential things you must do? Please share with us.