Ground-Breaking Ways to Live Differently

Posted by , Updated on December 4, 2023

Break out of the mold! ‘Ground-Breaking Ways to Live Differently’ will show you how to transform yourself from someone following the crowd, to someone who lives an alternative lifestyle. I know I struggle to carve my own path rather than stay in a safe zone. Yet, when I do make those changes, I’m always grateful I did. Being different can sometimes bring admiration and other times, derision. Your friends might question your motives or make fun of you for being “weird.” Just remind yourself that they’re not thinking for themselves and are merely following the pack.

The truth is alternative ways of living, especially when it’s for the better, can make your life a whole lot healthier and exciting. If your goal is to live a boring life and be like everyone else, you likely don’t have to try too hard. However, if your life goal is to make your own decisions and live on your own terms, then look at what the masses are doing and start doing the opposite. Once you make these changes, you’ll likely never want to turn back. Here are a few Ground-Breaking Ways to Live Differently.

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25

Think Big

think big

Most people aim for what they think is attainable, but in reality, they are only giving in to limiting beliefs. It’s just as easy to think big as it is to think small; it only takes a small shift in your mindset. Besides, when you think small, you have to compete with everyone else who thinks that way. Think big, and you’ll be in a class of your own.

24

Make yourself wealthy, not someone else

money

Who owns the company you work for? If it’s not you, then you are working to make someone else wealthy. If you’re going to work hard, why not work hard for yourself?

23

Get inspired daily

be inspired

Most people go through life without ever getting their heart pumping. Figure out what makes you tick — what gets you going — and drink from that well daily.

22

Get out of your comfort zone

risk

Do something every day that scares you. Better yet, put yourself in the position where you have no choice but to be scared. The higher your tolerance for fear and uncertainty, the more likely you are to be remarkable.

21

Travel

airplane

The percentage of people who never see the outside world is staggering. If you want to understand how the world works, you need to get outside your bubble.

20

Refuse planned obsolescence

iphone

Consumer electronics companies make it seem like they worked all fiscal year to come up with these brilliant innovations for the next product release. The truth is that it’s all a ploy to get you to wait in line for a few lousy gigabytes of memory. These companies purposely release new features very, very slowly.

19

Explore medical tourism

medical

Guess what? The best doctors in the world are not necessarily in your country. I had $3,000 worth of simple dental work done for $400 in Costa Rica. My dentist spoke perfect English, studied under American professors, and used the same materials as my dentist in New York. Better yet, he gave me a free initial consultation and was open to negotiating on price.

18

Stop commuting 9 to 5

Trafficjam

Sit in traffic? Be jammed into the subway? That sounds like the rat race to me. Find out when you are most productive and where. Go to that place at that time. Maybe it means you’re in bed on your laptop until 10 a.m.

17

Don’t rely solely on doctors

doctor

Health professionals are taught in school how to diagnose and fix you once you’re already broken. True health means being proactive. Eat a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables and make sure you’re exercising for at least thirty minutes a day. Focus on your mental health through meditation, prayer, and thinking of others. Stay on top of your health now so that you won’t have to spend thousands at hospitals and doctor’s offices. 

16

Don’t rely on the government

capitol hill

Want to take life into your own hands? Don’t leave it up to a bureaucracy. The government might have programs to help you out, but at the end of the day, they don’t really care about you. Besides, expecting the government to take care of you will only stunt your potential and growth. If you want to live differently, remember that nobody will look out for your well-being like you will.

15

Stop eating food that’s killing you

junk food

It’s pretty plain and simple: Junk food, fast food, food saturated in fats, sugar, and salt, is killing people. If you want to live longer, healthier, and better, change your habits, eat better food, and tell yourself daily that junk food is destroying your body. 

14

Do you

pointing

Between society, family, and friends, everyone has their own agendas for what they want to see you do. We live in a world where we strive for others’ approval without truly asking ourselves what we want. “Live the dream” means your dream, not someone else’s. Ask yourself what your dreams and goals are and make it happen. 

13

Train your mind to live off of less

train mind

Bigger isn’t better when it comes to material things. As Notorious B.I.G. said, “Mo’ money, mo’ problems.” Bigger salary, bigger house, bigger car: it’s more stuff occupying a BIG part of your life, and it’s probably financed by more debt. Marketers want you to buy more things because it fattens their wallets. Instead, train your mind to tune out the marketing noise, to live off of less, and you’ll likely be happier and have a bigger bank account. 

12

Stop paying for education

open book

All the information we need to educate ourselves is out there. Matt Damon said it best in Good Will Hunting, “In 50 years, you’re gonna start doing some thinking on your own, and you’re gonna come up with the fact…you dropped a hundred and fifty grand on an education you could’ve gotten for a dollar fifty in late charges at the public library.” Read books, educate yourself, and don’t live in ignorance. 

11

Only buy stuff you can afford

piggy bank

It’s a shocking thought, I know, but just because the rest of America packs on credit card debt doesn’t mean you have to. To live within your means, you’ll need to keep a budget and watch your spending like a hawk. Remind yourself that whatever gets measured, gets managed, and stay consistent. You’ll be surprised what you can cut out and how much money you can save when you do this. 

10

Work out for 30 minutes, max

fitness

Most people go to the gym, mess around for 60 or 90 minutes, do something half-heartedly on the elliptical trainer, and roam from machine to machine. Work out at full intensity, pour sweat, and feel the burn! You’ll see twice the results if you actually push yourself instead of just showing up.

9

Work for 90 minutes, take a short break, repeat

work

Studies show that your brain can only focus for an hour and a half, so don’t force it! Work as hard and as fast as you can for 90 minutes, and then take a break. When you “work” aimlessly for hours on end, you never really accomplish anything.

8

Work outdoors

work outside

Sure, there is tremendous value in showing up to the office and being with your team every day, but this doesn’t mean you can’t sit in the park for an hour and answer emails. Take your phone calls to a quiet place in the sun to get vitamin D and fresh air.

7

Stand, don’t sit

standing desk

Our bodies were simply not designed to be hunched over a computer all day. Make yourself mobile, and walk around when you have a phone call. Try out a standing desk, which many leaders, including Jack Dorsey, have transitioned to.

6

Go minimalist

minimalism

Seriously, you don’t need all that stuff. You don’t use it, and it weighs you down. Sell items that you don’t use on eBay. Getting rid of your excess baggage is an extremely freeing feeling.

5

Stop drinking bottled water

aqua blue

Again, you’re wasting money and destroying the environment. Get a water bottle with a filter, and take your first step towards living a sustainable lifestyle.

4

Use reusable coffee cups

coffee cup

Think about all the Starbucks cups you’ve sent to the landfill. Starbucks will give you a discount for bringing in your own cup, so take advantage. Save the environment and save money. It’s a no-brainer.

3

Stop unnecessary push notifications

twitter push notificationsSource: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/03/22/psychologists-warn-constant-email-notifications-are-toxic-source/

Why do you get alerts every time someone comments on Facebook, sends you spam, or “likes” your Instagram picture? If you want to be productive, check these means of communication on your own terms and turn off all push notifications on your phone. Also, psychologists warn they can be a serious source of anxiety and stress

2

Become cell phone-free

cell phone

You don’t have to disconnect your service, but why not try a day to be cell phone-free? Choose a day when you know you’re most likely to be with those closest to you. Do yourself and/or your family a favor and disconnect.

1

Cut your cable

library

Stop being brainwashed and getting sucked into channel flipping. If you really want to occupy your mind with something worthwhile, start building up your book collection. Turn your living room into a library. And, uh, crack those bad boys open and get reading. 



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