Hey Happiness Explorer, they say procrastination is the thief of time, but it can steal many other things as well; focus, energy and even happiness. If you're desperate to make changes to your life but the thought of it is so overwhelming that you don't feel like you can even try, don't despair. In this week's blog, the very brilliant Rich Clarke, Happiness Explorer Coach, shares five free, easy and effective ways to make changes to your life that are, quite simply, life-changing! And, as someone who started off in your shoes, Rich knows that these tips really work.

So, you want to start to change your life. Is it hard or easy? Well, I used to think it was going to mean making some huge lifestyle changes and a full team of support staff… not true! Here are five simple (free) things you can start to do TODAY to make the change you want (and no support staff needed).

1. Breathing

Yes, you read it right. Breathing! I thought I’d start off with an easy one, something we all do every day, right? Well, yes, maybe. Proper breathing exercises can help with many things; stress, anxiety, sleep, energy levels, mental clarity and calmness. From as little as five minutes a day you can start to improve your life, and all the videos you could ever need are right there on YouTube. Just type in ‘breathing techniques’ and you’ll have started to change your life. Simple!

2. Journaling

Another simple one. Firstly, journaling is not keeping a diary. It’s a record of your thoughts, feelings and perceptions each day. It can be done at the start of the day, at the end of the day or even throughout the day. I know people who just write quick notes on their phones on a regular basis during the day. Journaling is a simple way to get thoughts out of your head, leaving space for new ones, or as one of my mentors puts it, ‘pulling out the weeds so the flowers can grow’.

3. Increased knowledge

If you want something to change, you have to change something! Increasing your knowledge, a little every day is a sure-fire winner on the road to changing your life. This is a really easy one as it can be done with free apps, reading, podcasts, watching videos or even listening to audiobooks. Ten minutes a day will start to increase your knowledge and personal growth. This can be done in the morning, in the evening, in the car, on the bus, train or walking. With this one, there is really no excuse.

4. Meditation

Ok, let’s get one thing straight, meditation doesn’t have to mean hours of sitting in a painful position listening to plinky plonk music in a haze of incense and having no thoughts in your head. ‘No thoughts’ only happens if you are awakened or dead. Assuming you are neither of those things, you will have thoughts during meditation. Just acknowledge them and let them go. Taking a few minutes out of each day to sit comfortably and switch yourself off from the outside world can make a huge difference. I will be honest here, when I first started meditating, I hated it. Ten minutes of mind-numbing boredom; but that in itself is part of the journey and now I rarely go a day without it. I almost always use guided meditations from YouTube or free apps like Insight Timer or Calm. One of the main benefits I have discovered is a calmness of mind. Now I find I respond to situations intelligently instead of reacting without thinking.

5. Exercise

You must have known this one was coming. There are thousands of videos, apps and articles online highlighting the benefits of exercise, along with free routines to follow at home, in the park or in your garden. What I want to stress here is that you should choose and do what suits you. Willpower might get you started, but it is enjoyment that will keep you going. Choose something you enjoy and go for that. Another great way to stay on track with exercise is to workout with an exercise partner or buddy. Being accountable to someone else is a great motivator.

I'm Lydia Kimmerling - The Happiness Explorer - and I help you to quit the happiness waiting game and break the cycle of saying "I'lll be happy when...", "I have more success", "I lose more weight", or "I get more Tinder matches", so that you stop outsourcing your happiness to the future and discover what it means to be truly happy and fulfilled, in the now.

ARE YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH? Discover Your Direction, take the quiz -click here