Is life complicated? No, that is just the way it works when you are an adult, or is it? 

We learn to go through life dealing with what comes our way at different stages. Worse when alone with no one to share the joys and struggles with. Does that make it complicated, or we do it?

With the recent fight to live with COVID-19, life has become complicated for most people. Having to adhere to quarantine rules, spending time away from loved ones, and little to no social life. 

The new normal has added to a rather complicated way of living as a society. It is not easy to live an uncomplicated life if the mindset is not changed. If you feel that you are living a complicated life, try and work on these areas:

Try journaling, talking to friends, or meditation to stay calm when worry strikes. It takes work and effort to navigate life and its challenges, but knowing what to do helps to face them.

2) Happiness (When it is dictated by other people but not You)
Your happiness is your responsibility, not the people around you. Hinging your happiness on others only complicates life. It leaves you constantly trying to please others to keep them happy while draining your energy.

Make a choice to value and believe in yourself. Make YOU happy.

3) Control
Control is a tricky aspect of life. We want to control some if not all aspects of life for safety, love, life enjoyment. On the other hand, exerting control on everything in life leaves you exhausted and not living. The world is complex, and control can only do so much.

Accept that some things in life you can’t control. This will change your outlook on life and make it not so complicated.

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react.” – Charles R. Swindoll

4) Perfection
We can’t be perfect, and it is okay to make mistakes. Trying to always be perfect not only stresses you out but also holds you back from enjoying life. Mistakes are also life lessons, embrace them and enjoy life as it is at the moment.

5) Deadlines
Setting goals for what you want in life is crucial. Having deadlines on them needs to be with a realization that they may not be met. Things may not work out as planned, but that does not mean that your goals are done with. Allow yourself time to restrategize and reset without putting pressure on yourself.

6) Yes Man
We sometimes get the urge to say yes to something when we’d rather not. This is not the best practice. Saying yes to situations that will put more pressure on you only helps to complicate your life. 

NO is an option available as a response. Learn to say it! Be selfish at times and work on things that you enjoy without the pressure of agreeing to those that you don’t.

7) The Past
The past is where it should be. Stop concentrating on it and look towards the future. Everyone has one, and some of the things there cannot be changed. Accept to grow and learn from them. The past is to be embraced, mined from, and used as a stepping stone into a positive, less complicated future.

Final Thoughts
Working on the seven ideas can seem impossible, but they don’t have to happen in a day, week, or month. Pick one, work on it and notice the difference. 

Challenging times in life will always come by, and they will be as complicated as you make them out to be. Focus on keeping calm, quieting your inner voices, and enjoy life.