Q&A for How to Change Your Life

Don't put too much pressure on yourself to make major life changes in under 30 days or something like that. That's not a productive thing to do. Instead, just focus on making minor changes over time to gradually improve yourself. If you go out and try to do a complete 180-degree turn overnight, you're just going to get disappointed.

Too many people try to solve "being" problems with "doing" solutions. If you're unhappy with yourself on an emotional level, you aren't going to fix that by going out and exercising or eating a different diet. That said, if the changes you need to make a purely behavioral, going out and fixing your worst habits is a great way to improve yourself.

Set aside regular time to review and reflect on the progress you're making. That will help you maintain focus and stay motivated. Take stock of how you're doing every week or so and you'll be able to figure out if you're getting closer to your goal or not.

Goals need to be specific and measurable. It helps to write down specifically what you plan to do and how you will measure your progress. The following acronym is useful for setting goals: SMART Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Relevant. Time Bound

First, figure out specifically what you want to change about your life.Then, figure out the obstacles that are in your way getting there. Finally, plan specific and measurable steps that you can take to achieve your goals. It's perfectly healthy to seek the help of a therapist or mental health professional to get you started. Please don't hurt yourself. There is lots of help available. Call the National Suicide Prevention hotline, if you are feeling hopeless.