9 Things You Can Do To Get Inspired

Imagine walking around feeling inspired all the time, inspiring everyone within striking distance of that twinkle in your eye, and breathing inspiration into every hopelessly negative situation you encounter. Think how obnoxious and irritating you’d be to all the cynics you know. How great would that be?

1. Get out of the house

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The suffocating feeling of being stuck or trapped at home can be extremely depressing and counterproductive. The obvious solution to ridding yourself of this feeling is to get out of the house when the oppressive comfort of it makes you want to do nothing more than sink into the couch and sleep away a life of dullness and despair.

If you’re trying to get work done or give your mind some fresh stimuli, go to a cafe, coffee shop, tea shop, or anywhere in public where you can park yourself by a window and feel as if you’re participating in society while simultaneously forcing yourself into a position to be productive.

2. Exercise

For those who want the quick fix, do 20 pushups, 20 squats, 20 lunges, and a 1-minute plank. Maybe 2 or 3 times a day. Then stuff your face with apples, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, any fruit you can get your hands on. Quench your thirst with a cup or two or water. And for the icing on the metaphorical cake, use that water to knock back a daily vitamin and an omega-3 supplement.

I am far from an expert on the subject of diet and exercise, but I know that if I exercise and eat a few fruits and veggies on a daily basis, I feel way more energetic and better about myself. And that’s all that matters.

3. Go outside

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This could be included with #1, but I think it deserves its own section. Going outside is easily one of the best ways to lift your spirits and get inspired. Just getting some fresh air and hanging out with nature can do wonders.

If you live in a city and nature is less accessible, find a park. Or just go for a walk. Get a bike and coast around town. If you live by mountains, go for a hike. If you live by the ocean, go to the beach. At night, go someplace where you can look at the stars. Everyone knows the therapeutic effects of nature, but not enough people take advantage of them.

4. Read something that inspires you

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Among many other things, a book has the power to entertain, inform, and inspire you. So if you’re looking for inspiration, go find a book that does exactly that. It doesn’t even have to be a book; it can be a poem, an essay, a religious text, whatever gets the job done for you. Everyone’s different.

For the lazy, create a collection of your favorite quotes.

5. Watch something inspirational

For those who don’t have the attention span to sit down and read a book, an easy way to get inspired is by finding videos or movie clips that inspire you or get you pumped. Check out films like The Shawshank Redemption, Braveheart, or The Dead Poet’s Society. Or Fight Club, or Gladiator. The TED Talks are also a great resource for stimulating and inspirational material. Find a few clips that lift your spirits and fill you with energy, and BOOM. Bookmark the hell out of them for future reference.

6. Listen to music that gets you pumped

As Aldous Huxley once said, “After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”

So make use of it! Everyone loves music. Even Nietzsche the crazy philosopher loved music almost as much as he loved consonants. “Without music, life would be a mistake,” he said. So make a playlist of music that pumps you up.

7. Laugh

Obviously if you’re feeling depressed, discouraged, dejected, or just a little down, laughter is the best medicine. Laughing is not only a powerful antidote for adjectives that start with “d”. It also boosts your immune system, relaxes your body, improves blood flow, and releases endorphins in your brain.

So spend time with friends. Laugh with other people. Laughter is contagious, just like yawning. Or herpes.

If you don’t currently have access to a friend, watching or listening to comedy can easily put you in a better mood. Studies have shown that interaction with clever comedy can stimulate creativity.

8. Learn something new

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If you’re curious about the meaning of life, study the great philosophers and religious thinkers. If you’re curious how cars work, study automobile mechanics. If you’re curious how computers work, study programming. If you want to learn how to write better, read great literature. Get inspired by great ideas.

Educating yourself will also help you find your passion, if you’re still not sure what it is. If you’re always learning, you’re more likely to stumble across something that may change your life or your worldview. Approach education with an open heart and mind.

9. Meditate

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Everywhere I look on the internet seems to recommend meditation. It’s been associated with improving focus, “thickening” your brain, and giving you much more control over your mind, body, and emotions. It’s a skill that requires practice and dedication, but the benefits are said to be well worth the initial struggle to make it a habit.