NEWYEAR
TOP NEW YEAR ’ S RESOLUTIONS BY LISAMARIE LAMB
HAPPY NEW YEAR ! BIG BEN HAS STRUCK MIDNIGHT AND THE FIREWORKS HAVE MADE US ALL OOH AND AHH . WE ’ RE FEELING POSITIVE ; THIS IS YOUR YEAR , MY YEAR , AND YOU ’ RE GOING TO DO BIG THINGS WITH IT . THAT , OF COURSE , INCLUDES KEEPING NEW YEAR ’ S RESOLUTIONS . ONLY FOR THE MOST PART WE DON ’ T . ONCE THE DAILY ROUTINE COMES BACK INTO PLAY AND WE ’ RE BACK AT WORK , BACK DOING THE SCHOOL RUN , WHEN THE LEFTOVER CHRISTMAS FOOD HAS FINALLY RUN OUT AND WE HAVE TO FACE THE SUPERMARKET AGAIN , GOOD INTENTIONS OFTEN GET LEFT BEHIND .
THE TRICK WITH RESOLUTIONS , PSYCHOLOGISTS SAY , IS TO START SMALL . START WITH SOMETHING ACHIEVABLE . ONCE THAT ’ S DONE , YOU ’ LL HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO MOVE ONTO MUCH BIGGER THINGS …
SPEND MORE TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
We ’ re all busy , and 2017 is likely to be no less busy than last year . But does that mean you need to be completely focused on work and spare no time for anyone or anything else ? Human beings are social animals , and even the most introverted of us enjoy spending time with select friends and family . If during the last year – or more – you felt yourself falling out of touch with those who matter most and you can ’ t remember the last time you just hung out with them , make 2017 the year you clear your schedule to be with them more . Make the effort to visit , make that phone call , send that text . Just being with people we love has a beneficial effect on our wellbeing , so keeping in touch is in everyone ’ s best interests .
LOSE WEIGHT
Did you know that almost 70 percent of the people who bought gym memberships last January used them just once ? Which just goes to show – the gym may sound like a great idea amidst the champagne and selection boxes of the Christmas period , but when it comes down to it , it ’ s just not everyone ’ s cup of green tea .
But losing weight is still a great resolution to have , and if the gym isn ’ t something that will do it for you , there are other ways and means . Eating more healthily is the best way to begin when it comes to weight loss , and could be a more manageable resolution to have . Stop the takeaways and the fried breakfasts and eat more salads , fruit and veg . Once the first few pounds have fallen away , you ’ ll feel more inclined to keep going . Next step – exercise !
TRAVEL MORE
DRINK LESS
Drinking less goes hand in hand with losing weight , and feeling better in general . A glass of white wine has as many as 120 calories in it , and if you want to burn that off again it would mean you ’ d have to walk – briskly – for 15 to 30 minutes . Ouch ! So just one glass of wine each night means that by the time you reach the weekend , you ’ re going to need to go walking for around three hours . And let ’ s not even get started on the beer and spirits . Now does that tipple seem quite so appealing ?
Will 2017 be the year you hit the open road and travel more ? It should be . This is a big wide world we live in , and while we ’ re here we should make the most of it . You could start small , travelling around the UK and finding some off the beaten track kind of places . After that , why not organise some trips further afield ? We all need to unwind and recharge sometimes , so if 2016 felt as though it really took it out of you , make 2017 the year you take something back .
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