5 Ways to Improve Your Quality of Life - Without Spending a Dime

In this social media-driven world, it is easy to think that unless you have a lot of money, you can never have a good quality of life.

Obviously, there are basic things money can buy that will improve our lives, but we're talking about the extras we're told we should have if we want to be fulfilled. Consequently, we might find ourselves always chasing money and forgetting to live. 

The cost of living has been going up, and unfortunately, many us are feeling the pinch in our wallets. A lot of people are living paycheck to paycheck, and when they finish paying off their bills, they don’t have much to spend on entertainment - or things that social media influencers suggest we need in order to be happy. 

But really, we don't always need money to improve our quality of life. Here are five other non-monetary ways to give yourself a bit of a boost without shelling out the dough.

5 Ways to Improve Your Quality of Life - Without Spending Money 

1. Put your phone away!

Some of us are constantly exhausted.

And when we look back, we notice that we haven’t done much with our day. But when we look at our screen time statistics, we realize that we have spent large portions of our days scrolling through social media.

Our phones can be a significant hindrance for us when it comes to doing things like:

• self-care
• learning new skills
• and just living in the moment

Use your time wisely, so that at the end of the day when you look back at the things you have accomplished, you smile!

5 Practical Tips to Help You Log Less Phone Time & Be More Productive→

2. Work Out//Exercise.

Getting up from the couch and doing something with your body will significantly improve your life by providing benefits such as improved physical and mental health. Exercising also enhances mood and improves your general well-being and cognitive performance. 

You might think in order for you to enjoy the benefits of a workout, you need to be in a gym. This is not the case at all, exercise does not have to cost money!

There are millions of fitness and workout accounts on social media, and a lot of them have videos of home workouts that you can use as a starting point.

Over time, you can also get small and affordable equipment like resistance bands and dumbbells, which you can use in your workouts as well. Moreover, you can also go out and do outdoor activities like hiking and walking.

If you’re comfortable, you can also join clubs, and that would be a great way to meet new people and enhance your social life. 

3. Don’t tolerate negativity.

Humans are social beings, and interacting with others is part of our lives.

Unfortunately, not everyone we interact with is enriching to us. Some people cause us more harm than good, and interactions with them can be exhausting both at a physical and mental level.

We don’t need that.

There are so many things beyond our control that stress us, and when we have the power and decision, we should eliminate the negativity that surrounds us. Spend time with people who enrich you, encourage you, and believe in you, even when you don’t believe in yourself. 

4. Get enough sleep. 

I am amazed by how so many people glamourize not getting enough sleep.

People talk about having only 3 hours of sleep as though that is okay and something everyone should do. It’s not. At the end of your day, do your routine and get to bed on time; this way, you wake up energetic and ready to tackle the day.

Most of us sleep late not because we are doing anything useful, but because we're engaging in revenge sleep procrastination. At first, having a strict bedtime routine might not be easy, but with practice, we become better at following it and reap the benefits of getting enough sleep and starting a new day rejuvenated. 

5. Read a book.

Picking up a book can be such a fun way to relax and explore the world from other people’s perspectives.

It is also a great way to improve your skills, learn and keep your cognitive ability up to date.

Moreover, the new perspectives you gain can also massively expand your knowledge on a wide array of topics, making you a more interesting person to interact with and a great team member when it comes to trivia! 

Remember, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.”- George R.R. Martin 

You Can Enjoy Life Without Money

Sometimes life can be overwhelming, and it might feel like you will never achieve a fulfilling life simply because you don’t have the funds. We can’t say we don’t need money; that would be a lie. We do. But money is not the only thing that can bring fulfillment in our lives. 

Things like: 

• Spending less time behind screens
• Living in the moment
• Spending time with people we love
• Exercising
• Spending time outside
• Reading 
• Learning new skills 
• Keeping our environment organized 

These are all areas that could improve our quality of life. These changes might seem small, but in the long run, and when all incorporated together, they can have a massive positive impact on health and the general outlook on life.

The trick is to be kind to ourselves, patient, and trust the process. We can do this!

Photo by Daniel Reche