How To Change Your Life And Live Your Dream Today

Whether we are talking about changing your financial situation or changing your lifestyle, there are many ways to start making changes in your life so that you can start living the life you want to live. Learning how to change your life doesn’t have to be hard. You can start off small and gradually move…

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Last Updated: December 18, 2024

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Find out how to change your life and live your dream life today. This is a great list!Whether we are talking about changing your financial situation or changing your lifestyle, there are many ways to start making changes in your life so that you can start living the life you want to live.

Learning how to change your life doesn’t have to be hard.

You can start off small and gradually move onto bigger changes. Or you can make one big change and start living your dream life even sooner.

Everyone has some sort of change they want to make in their life.

Maybe you want to travel more, learn another language, start your own business, get out of debt, be in shape, retire, or something else. Whatever the words “dream life” mean to you, there are ways for you to eventually get there.

Below are my tips on how to change your life today.

 

1. Think about your dream life.

The first step to improving your life is to think about what exactly your dream life is.

You should think about different things such as:

  • What does it take to reach your dream life? Do you need to go to school? Pay off debt? Learn something new?
  • What will your action plan be?
  • Why is what you’re currently doing no longer working for you?
  • What excuses are you currently making?
  • What are the risks? What will you have to overcome to reach your dream life?
  • How will you stay motivated? Related article: 8 Ways To Get Motivated And Reach Your Goals.
  • What are the positives of reaching your dream life? What is success to you?

Related tip: If you’re looking for a life planner, I highly recommend checking out Erin Condren and looking at their life planners and monthly planners. This can be a great way to stay motivated so that you can reach your dream life!

 

2. Take control of your finances.

Currently, you may feel stuck with your current life because of some sort of financial reason. We all do it.

Some don’t want to travel the world because they are too afraid of what they will do for money. Some are too afraid to seek out their dream job because that may mean their debt would be unpaid. The list can go on and on.

Taking control of your finances can help you reach your dream life in many ways.

By paying off your debt, making more money, not living paycheck to paycheck, budgeting better, and more, you may feel more free to reach for your dream life because you most likely won’t feel as tied down to your finances.

You will feel more free to take risks when your finances are in control and it can really mean a world of difference.

Related article: 10 Great Ways To Gain Control Of Your Finances and Reach Financial Freedom.

 

3. Do something outside of your comfort zone.

Being comfortable with life is an odd thing. While you might feel satisfied with life, you might always wonder what you are missing out on.

The best way to see what else is out there for you is to step outside of your comfort zone.

Without the occasional risk in life, it would be hard to grow. Stepping outside of your comfort zone may lead to motivation, feeling refreshed, and it may also lead you to your dream life.

Here are my tips for stepping outside of your comfort zone:

  • Start saying yes more. Before you think too hard about all the reasons for why you should say no, start thinking about all of the reasons you should say yes.
  • Think about your fears. What are you afraid of? Create an action plan to overcome your fear!
  • Start doing small things differently. If you don’t want to make a huge change at once, then try just changing up little things in your life in the beginning. This may mean just being more spontaneous. Go out to eat by yourself, go to a movie by yourself, just show up somewhere fun without plans, and so on.
  • Think about how awesome it will be afterwards. Can you imagine what it would be like when you finally overcome your fear? I bet it would feel amazing!

 

4. Get active.

I’ve been super active ever since moving to Colorado and I can already tell that it has changed my life for the better.

I am feeling more healthy, more energized, more happy, and I’m also feeling like I have a clearer mind.

Even if your goal isn’t to get more healthy, being more active can help you reach any of your goals in that it can actually help you receive better sleep, it can give you a more positive attitude, and it can give you energy to reach your dream life.

Even if you believe you don’t have enough time to exercise, I’m sure you do. With just 20 to 30 minutes a day, you can get a great workout in. Borrow some workout DVDs from your local library, do some yoga in your living room, or go for a run around your block if you are limited on time.

 

5. Start waking up a little earlier.

If you are wanting to learn how to change your life, then waking up earlier is something that many people who want to reach their dreams eventually have to do.

It may mean sacrificing some of your beauty sleep, being a little more tired, etc., but it is well worth it in the end.

In many cases, waking up earlier is very possible without sacrificing any of your sleep anyway. Instead, start managing your time better by cutting out any time sucks (such as TV) so that you can go to sleep earlier.

Back when I was unhappy at my day job, I pretty much made sure to wake up early every single work day. While I was tired, I knew that waking up early allowed me to have just a little bit more time so that I could work on reaching my goals.

Just waking up an extra 30 minutes or an hour earlier can mean enough time to fit in a workout, to work a little on building your business, to eat a healthy meal, to practice a skill, and so on.

 

6. Be positive.

I know, I know. I mention how being positive can change everything ALL THE TIME.

There’s a reason for this. It’s because it’s the truth!

If you are interested in learning how to change your life, then you need to have a more positive outlook on life.

There are many benefits of having a more positive outlook on life. Being positive can help bring you motivation, it can help you move on in life so that you stop dwelling on the past, and more.

Related article: Why I Believe Being Positive Can Change Your Financial Situation And Your Life.

What are you currently trying to improve or change in your life? What dream are you trying to reach?


Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Author: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Hey! I’m Michelle Schroeder-Gardner and I am the founder of Making Sense of Cents. I’m passionate about all things personal finance, side hustles, making extra money, and online businesses. I have been featured in major publications such as Forbes, CNBC, Time, and Business Insider. Learn more here.

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  1. Hollie

    Good points. We’re currently in the process of building our dream life. I got tired of wanting and wishing and now we’re finally doing it!

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Awesome! What’s your dream life?

  2. Fig

    all of these things will definitely change your life! I think being positive is one that gets ignored but has a huge impact. People treat you differently when you’re positive and you feel differently. I found that being positive and practicing gratitude were huge life changers.

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Yes, I agree!

  3. Kara @ The Daily Whisk

    I try to wake up early almost every day. Some days it is easier than others, but it’s SO valuable when I can manage it!

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Yes, definitely!

  4. Jason B

    Stepping out of my comfort zone is something that I plan on doing a lot more this year. I plan on doing a trip by myself and also networking a lot more. My dream life is being location independent.

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      I hope you are able to reach your dream life! 🙂

  5. Shannon @ Financially Blonde

    I am a big fan of using positivity to make things happen. I started my company almost 2 years ago and I have faced some pretty big and painful obstacles and there were moments when I wanted to get in a negative funk and stay there, but I am thankful that I have a glass is half full mentality that keeps me moving forward.

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Yes, this is exactly why I am all about positivity.

  6. Elaine Lee

    Great advice! I think 5 and 6 are the ones I struggle with the most. Getting up in the morning is so hard! I’m also terribly addicted to some TV shows like Game of Thrones.

    You’ve inspired me to try to manage my time a little better this week, wish me luck!

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Good luck!

  7. Jayleen @ How Do The Jones Do It

    I have to say I love my sleep;0) I am up by 6:00 every morning to get the kids off to school. Weekends are another story. Lol! We have lots of dreams right now … finding a new home in the school district my daughter attends, paying off debt and getting this blog thing going;0)

    Number 3 is my biggest challenge.

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Good luck with your goals!

  8. Sylvia

    This post came at the right time, I totally have to start doing point 3 and get back to doing point 4 & 5. #3 – I guess trying new things or taking on a new task, will help me to grow as an individual. #4 -When I was in Uni I was very active, and than stopped working out once I get a job. I need to get back to being active. #5 – I

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Yes, even just 30 minutes earlier can mean a big difference!

  9. Kim

    I would say the most important part of my day besides taking care of my child is being active. I feel really sluggish and unproductive if I don’t get some sort of exercise. I also think a positive attitude is so important to get things accomplished. Negativity makes everything so much harder.

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Yes, negativity makes every so much harder! Thanks for stopping by Kim.

  10. Naomi

    Positivity breads positivity!!

    I have found more and more than if we say it WILL happen, we will do anything in our power to make it happen.

    The only thing I have trouble with is waking up earlier as I am a night owl. I would much prefer an extra hour in bed and stay up working through till 4am instead!! I find that the later it gets the more productive I am, it’s just there are less people around to see it!

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      I am a night owl as well Naomi so I definitely understand where you’re coming from 🙂

  11. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

    I agree Mike!

  12. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

    Awesome! What are you working towards?

  13. Jessica

    I love this list. Right now, I’m really considering some sort of career change and I’d like to buy a house in SoCal. So I’m working to pay off my debt and figure out what I want to do work-wise so we can make that happen. I do have to say that being active and having a positive attitude make such a huge difference. I’m more motivated when I get regular exercise. I do struggle with stepping out of my comfort zone and waking up earlier, though I’m working on both. Thanks for the motivation!

    1. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

      Thanks Jessica! 🙂

  14. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

    Awesome!

  15. Remy Boudreau

    Thank you for sharing the article. It’s very interesting. Hope to hear more from you.