Hate Your Life? Here's What To Do
I Hate My life: Here Are The 5 Things To Do
Most of us feel fed up, frustrated, and lost at some stage. Hating your life can be an extreme state, particularly if it is long-standing. Even if you've hit rock bottom, you can bounce back if you hate your day to day life.
Use the strategies outlined below to turn things around.
Assess the scale of the problem
Determine how long you've felt this way and how frequently this mindset arises.
Start by considering how fixed this mindset is. Long-standing hatred that is present every day could signal a big problem. Consider seeking professional help in these circumstances. You may be facing a big challenge that requires additional support.
Identify your passions and interests
You must have 'internally meaningful' activities in your life. That is, you should do things that are personally fulfilling. You will lack purpose and motivation if you constantly do what you think other people want you to do. Work these activities into your daily life.
Start small. Spend time exploring new hobbies or activities that interest you. Focus on the process (immersing yourself in the activity) rather than the outcome.
Connect with others
Have regular social time in your schedule, and confide in people you really trust. Social support is critical to your mental health, sense of meaning and belongingness. Learn about social anxiety if you feel anxious or uncomfortable in social situations.
Reach out to those around you. Whether it's friends or family, good health comes from staying connected with others. If you're having trouble meeting new people, there are plenty of ways to get involved in your community. Volunteer at a local organisation, join a club or class or attend community events.
Use social media to make initial connections. But take these interactions offline asap and interact in the real world.
Celebrate your accomplishments along the way
Small wins really matter.
Some people write off their successes through imposter syndrome or constantly focusing on what's left to be achieved. Stopping to savour your daily achievements will help you to maximise the benefits.
Reward yourself for making progress, no matter how small. A little positive reinforcement can go a long way in helping you stay motivated.
Take a long-term approach
Improving a life you dislike is no small task. Finding what makes you happy and seeing consistent results may take time. Keeping expectations realistic from day one will reduce the risk of feeling frustrated and beaten down by unreasonable targets.
Also, focus on what you can control. You may not be able to change your job or relationship overnight, but there are plenty of things you can control. For example,
You can control how you spend your free time
You can control how you react to stressful situations
You can control your attitude and outlook
Summary
If you're finding that you hate your life, it's essential to take some time to understand why that is. It may be due to a big challenge that you're facing. Or it could be a lack of passion, meaning, or social support in your life.
Whatever the reason, there are things you can do to turn things around. Identify your passions and interests, connect with others, and celebrate your accomplishments along the way.
Taking a long-term approach will help you see lasting results. You can feel good again.
Finally, you need to seek urgent help if you feel depressed, feel hopeless or have thoughts of suicide.
I am a Coaching & Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience helping people conquer a range of wellbeing and performance issues at home and in the workplace. We can also help if you hate your life. Read more about my work, watch practical skills videos or browse other articles. Get in touch anytime.
