I had no idea what it means to reinvent yourself until recently. Last month, while binge-watching a Netflix series, I suddenly started feeling that my life has been hit by a wave of constancy. I felt stuck, despite everything going right in all the departments of my life. As someone who hates consistency, I knew this was called for as I had become too comfortable in my daily routine. But this time, it was like a never ending cycle of monotony which was driving me crazy.

And when you are working from home, the feeling only worsens with time. I visited friends, tried to play around with my schedule and even shifted to another room. I kept hoping that a little change would make me feel better. While the idea worked to some extent, I knew that I needed a long-term solution to feel better.

It’s normal to crave change every now and then. You can think of it as nature’s way of pulling yourself out of your comfort zone. The same job that once used to fill you with excitement now seems boring. The friends who used to be an inseparable part of your life have now grown distant. And the relationship that once used to give you butterflies now seems dull and predictable. All these things make you feel out of touch with your life making you search for ways to change the situation. And with the desire for change comes the need to reinvent yourself.

While self-reinvention might sometimes be a necessary change that you need in life, it doesn’t have to mean that you end up walking away from your job, your partner and your social life. Self-reinvention is rather a form of personal growth that involves changing your mindset and overall attitude to be able to approach life in a positive way.

Here are a few steps to help you build a new you by recreating yourself:

1. Find Comfort In The Good

Did you know that the law of diminishing returns applies to happiness as well? It means that even if you think that you have a great career, a perfect partner, a supportive family and a good financial health, you will soon start craving for more reasons to be happy. In other words, the happiness you derive from your current state of life will diminish with time. Well, it’s human nature to crib about the one bad thing while ignoring a hundred other things going perfect.

In order to reinvent yourself for real, it’s important for you to focus on the good amidst the bad. Take a good look at what’s going on in your life. And find that silver lining that still keeps you going. I’m sure you will be able to discover a few things to be grateful about.

2. Assess your strengths

While in school, I remember being asked to write my strengths and weaknesses on a piece of paper as a class activity. That was the very first time someone had asked me to do it. And the fact that I had to think so much to find my own strengths and weaknesses left me surprised. But that day, I realized how important it is to know yourself to improve your life.

Assessing your strengths will help you know how you can deal with the ongoing and upcoming situations. Your strengths are your weapons to fight the difficulties that life throws your way while knowing your weaknesses is the first step towards being a better version of yourself.

Here are a few ways to know your strengths and weaknesses if you want to reinvent yourself for good:

• Take a piece of paper and spend at least an hour alone thinking about yourself. Do you think you are street smart? Are you a good communicator or a good listener or both? Are you expressive or are you self-conscious? 
• Ask each of your friends to tell you a strength and a weakness that they think you have.
• Past experiences and self-introspection can also come handy in assessing your strengths and weaknesses.
• You can also take this Aptitude Test to find your strengths and weaknesses.

3. Change Your Routine

Living your life around a single routine can often be the main reason for you to reinvent yourself. You are bound to feel stuck if you have been working round the clock like a human robot without having something exciting to look forward to.

A little change in routine can help you feel a bit different from your usual self. Changing the routine doesn’t mean that you should kick off every task that forms a part of your day, but rather make changes that can help you break monotony. If your routine involves reading a book before going to bed, try replacing it with movies and comedy shows. You can also ditch your car for a week to take public transport or meet your friends more often than you do.

4. Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone

We feel stuck because of our tendency to get too comfortable in the lives that we are leading. In order to make yourself uncomfortable, do things that scare you. Is being alone your biggest fear? Take yourself on a solo trip or dine out alone in a restaurant. Do you feel scared to experiment with clothes because you are conscious about your body? Try and wear something different without worrying about what others might think. When you begin challenging yourself, you will be able to discover a new ‘you’ that will make you fall in love with yourself.

5. Switch To Healthy Eating

Back in 2016, there came a time when I couldn’t live without soft drinks. Although it may not seem like too bad an addiction to worry about, I found myself losing my appetite because of it and my health started deteriorating. I tried cutting down on the consumption of soft drinks but it didn’t work out until I decided to go cold turkey. My appetite came right back up and I started feeling more active. The experience motivated me to switch to healthy eating habits and there has been no looking back.

A few good changes in your diet can go a long way in improving your health and overall mood. Healthy eating has the power to enhance your happiness besides helping you be fit and active. If you find it hard to let go of junk food, try incorporating healthy items in your diet one at a time. The positive results will surely inspire you to adopt healthier habits in every aspect of your life. Remember that you can’t reinvent yourself if you haven’t been keeping your body happy and healthy.

6. Get Rid Of Clutter

Sometimes, the key to self-reinvention lies in getting rid of the stuff – physical and emotional – that you don’t need.  When you let go of the things that you have been holding on to for too long without a reason, it feels like a huge weight off your back that can help you be more relaxed. Get rid of anything and everything that is possibly cluttering your mind and the closet – the old clothes that no longer fit you and the perfume gifted by your ex. Trust me, it will help you make space for new things and experiences that will lead your way to self-reinvention.

It’s never too late to build yourself a life that you will love. All you need to do is recognize when you are truly ready for the change. It won’t be a smooth road but is totally going to be worth it. You just need to recognize when it’s time to reinvent yourself and improve your life in a rather healthy way.