Stress Management Management Techniques 6 Ways to Improve Life Quality By Elizabeth Scott, PhD Elizabeth Scott, PhD Elizabeth Scott, PhD is an author, workshop leader, educator, and award-winning blogger on stress management, positive psychology, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 06, 2023 Reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by mental health professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by David Susman, PhD Reviewed by David Susman, PhD David Susman, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience providing treatment to individuals with mental illness and substance use concerns. Learn about our Review Board Print Trending Videos Close this video player The percentage of Americans considered to be "thriving" is on the decline while the number of individuals classified as "suffering" is higher than ever before. While this isn't a positive trend, the good news is that people who want an improved quality of life can achieve this goal. If this sounds like a monumental task, it's worth noting that it's possible to improve life quality, along with happiness and well-being, without having to make drastic changes. Here are six steps that, when taken, help work toward this effect. At a Glance Healthy relationships, adequate sleep, and regular physical activity can all contribute to an improved quality of life. A person can also improve life quality by finding meaning in their work, resolving energy drains, and making time for things they like to do. Press Play for Advice On Creating Your Best Life Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast featuring actress and author Ali Landry, shares strategies for living your best life. Click below to listen now. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / Amazon Music 1 Maintain Healthy Relationships Hero Images / Getty Images Our interactions with others can affect our mental health. Research shows that not only do healthy and supportive relationships increase happiness, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being, but they also reduce the risk of suicide. Conversely, negative relationships can create toxic situations filled with conflict and stress. Disconnecting from these unhealthy interactions and fostering healthy ones is vital to personal well-being. Ways to maintain healthy relationships include: Engaging in positive thinking Being open about our thoughts and opinions Assuring the other person that we care through both our words and actions Developing our own relationships with friends of people we care about Sharing tasks to help reduce each person's responsibilities 2 Get a Good Night's Sleep Not getting enough sleep can negatively affect our productivity levels, emotional balance, creativity, and even our weight. Yet, getting a good night's rest is often lower in priority than other things we have going on. Even if we're tired, bedtime may be pushed back to get more work done, catch up on social media, or watch our favorite TV shows. But sleep is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle, making it a priority if we want an improved quality of life. Ways to get a better night's sleep include: Going to bed and getting up at the same time every dayCreating an environment that promotes good sleep (quiet, dark, and the right temperature)Not eating big meals right before going to bedAvoiding drinks with caffeine or alcohol close to bedtime 3 Get Moving Regular exercise has a positive impact on both physical and mental health. Not only does it trim the waistline, but it can also curb depression, relieve stress, improve memory, and contribute to better sleep—all of which improve mood. Research indicates that even 30 minutes of exercise a day can make a difference. If sticking to regular daily exercise is difficult, joining a group fitness class, working out with a friend, and scheduling a consistent workout time are a few ways to stay motivated and inspired. Forms of exercise to try include: Brisk walkingCyclingHikingPickleballTennis Yoga How Physical Exercise Benefits Mental Health 4 Find Meaning at Work Working in a job that feels meaningless or directionless can be physically and emotionally draining, no matter how much it pays or the title it carries. The career we choose even affects our identity and shapes how we feel about ourselves. If work no longer has purpose or meaning, taking these actions can help: Offer to mentor younger or less experienced co-workers Look for opportunities to do tasks that feel more meaningful Show appreciation and gratitude for colleagues who make the workday more enjoyable Changing careers is another option. But if this isn't possible, that doesn't mean that we can't still find meaning in our lives. Taking part in other gratifying activities, such as charity work and hobbies, can also help. Engaging in flow-producing activities, or activities that take our complete focus, can infuse more enjoyment into our lives. ‘Doing What You Love’: The Battle of Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Motivation 5 Plug Energy Drains Several things can drain our energy throughout the day. For some, it may be a disrespectful co-worker or an unresolved conflict with a family member. Even small, seemingly inconsequential things like a cluttered table or a task we've been putting off can lower our energy stores. These types of stressors have a way of accumulating and weighing us down. Learning how to identify and eliminate them or, at a minimum, reduce their effects leaves more energy for doing things that we enjoy. To reduce energy drains: Pay attention to people or things that tend to create feelings of fatigue and reduce interactions with them if possible. Take care of tasks that have been piling up, aiming to complete at least one small 'to-do list' item each day. Learn to accept situations that cannot be changed or controlled. How to Shorten Your List of Stressors 6 Make Time for Leisure Many of us have enough work to occupy all our time—times two. But if we're not allowing ourselves to relax and have some fun in addition to taking care of our responsibilities, we could be doing ourselves a huge disservice. Research shows that engaging in a leisure activity not only lowers stress levels and improves mood, but also enhances problem-solving skills. It may even leave us feeling more energized and excited about the things we have to do. This makes learning to embrace leisure time important for an improved quality of life. Ways to do this include: Giving ourselves permission to slow down and not be productive every second of the dayIncluding leisure activities in our schedule regularlyDoing some leisure activities alone and some with others How to Improve Your Psychological Well-Being 11 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Witters D, Agrawal S. In U.S., poor life ratings reach record high. Gallup. Medvedev ON, Landhuis CE. Exploring constructs of well-being, happiness and quality of life. PeerJ. 2018;6:e4903. doi:10.7717/peerj.4903 Southwick SM, Sippel L, Krystal J, Charney D, Mayes L, Pietrzak R. Why are some individuals more resilient than others: The role of social support. World Psychiatry. 2016;15(1):77–79. doi:10.1002/wps.20282 We Think Twice. 5 tools to maintain healthy relationships. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Zeek ML, Savoie MJ, Song M, et al. Sleep duration and academic performance among student pharmacists. Am J Pharm Educ. 2015;79(5):63. doi:10.5688/ajpe79563 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tips for better sleep. National Library of Medicine. Benefits of exercise. Childs E, de Wit H. Regular exercise is associated with emotional resilience to acute stress in healthy adults. Front Physiol. 2014;5:161. doi:10.3389/fphys.2014.00161 Aftab A, Lee EE, Klaus F, et al. Meaning in life and Its relationship with physical, mental, and cognitive functioning: A study of 1,042 community-dwelling adults across the fifespan. J Clin Psychiatry. 2019;81(1):19m13064. doi:10.4088/JCP.19m13064 Knight R. How to find meaning when your job feels meaningless. Harvard Business Review. Zawadzki MJ, Smyth JM, Costigan HJ. Real-time associations between engaging in leisure and daily health and well-being. Ann Behav Med. 2015;49(4):605-615. doi:10.1007/s12160-015-9694-3 By Elizabeth Scott, PhD Elizabeth Scott, PhD is an author, workshop leader, educator, and award-winning blogger on stress management, positive psychology, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit