Stoicism is something I've been trying to action for a long time now, and it's a huge subject. A few key things I've found have improved my life are gratitude journaling, goal setting and of course physical fitness (which in turn keeps the mind healthy). If you've never practiced stoic thought at all, a few Immediate things to jump in are;
- Gratitude journaling - journaling sounds a bit fancy, and actually all I do is list 3 things using my phone each morning that I'm grateful for. These could be simple things like having enough time to have a good breakfast, but are often people who regularly make me feel good also. Gratitude journaling teaches you to acknowledge what you are lucky to have and will leave you with a more positive mindset for the day.
- Make goal setting with reasoning a priority. You'd be surprised how many people never set clear goals. Reasoning means justifying why you want something. We can always have more, but it won't always give us a positive feeling unless we know why we're attaining it. Reasoning also feeds into a sense of gratitude once the goal is hit. 6 years ago I set myself a goal of being able to wear gym kit whenever I want (in the office etc) so that it's easier for me to integrate fitness into my lifestyle. I'm very grateful to be able to do that now.
- Spend an afternoon sat in a pub or the park with a notebook and try to understand what you really want and why. Many goals people set are based upon other's expectations. Set your own. Then review them every 3 - 6 months.