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2017 is almost here and we’re all starting to make our New Year’s resolutions. This is often easier said than done, but here are some ways to change your life for the better next year…
Spend Time With Your Friends
One of the most important things you can do is make sure that you spend a good amount of time with your friends. It’s so easy to let friendships slide in this day and age – and although admittedly some of the time that’s okay as interests diverge and you all grow up into different people, it’s often a better idea to try to keep in touch. We all have busy lives and get tired in the evenings, but try to put a coffee date in your diary with each of your friends at least every two months so you can catch up and reaffirm your closeness. It’ll make both of you feel great. If you’re in a relationship, make sure that you dedicate time to each other and that you don’t take your love for granted. The more you put into a relationship, the more you’ll get back.
Invest In Your Clothes
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If you’ve never spent much on your clothes before, now might be the time to start. It’s easy to spend small amounts of money frequently on disposable fashion on clothes from shops that don’t make their products ethically and whose clothes fall apart quickly – but one way to become a real grown up is to start spending a little more money for better quality. This is especially important for items like coats, shoes and jeans that you want to last for a long time. If you’re not sure where to start, look online for designer clothing ideas.
Yoga
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You might want to get fit in the new year, but that doesn’t mean you have to go crazy at a circuit training class or start training for a marathon. On the contrary: set aside half an hour a day for yoga instead. Not only will it improve your body, and give you better strength and flexibility, but it’ll also give you the ability to feel more present in your mind. If you don’t always feel great about yourself and the way you look, yoga is a great exercise to do as it’ll give you confidence in yourself, and you’ll start to feel more love and respect for your body as your balance improves and your muscles get more toned.
Take Care Of Your Skin
As you get older, it’s crucial to take good care of your skin. Although it may sometimes seem like a pain, oily skinned people are lucky as they’re less prone to developing wrinkles than people with dry skin. If your skin lacks some of those natural oils, make sure that you moisturise before you go to bed and before you put your makeup on. Remember to use a moisturiser during the day with a high SPF, even during the winter – the sun’s rays don’t become any less harmful! If your skin is oily, use a gel moisturiser. You could also start to take your make up off with oils instead of a cleanser, which can strip natural oil from your skin. If you get enough sleep you’ll also spot your skin getting brighter and more blemish free.
Be Positive About Yourself
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A lot of women tend to put themselves down and criticise themselves too much. We think it sounds vain if we don’t put ourselves down after we get compliments, so if someone says I like your dress the answer is often something like This old thing? It was in the sale and I look horrible in it. But it’s important to just thank the person instead. If you use kind words about yourself you’ll start to believe them and to feel that way – and it’s absolutely crucial that you feel as good about yourself as you can. There may be things that you aren’t happy with, but the truth is that you can’t change everything – and if you got a nose job then chances are you’d find another part of yourself to hate instead! Point out the good things about your appearance, thank people for compliments and trust that they mean them with sincerity and love.
Make Sure You Eat Right
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There’s very little that will make you feel better than ensuring you eat a healthy and balanced diet. It isn’t a good idea to cut out food groups entirely – if you deprive yourself of something you’ll start craving it, and that simply is not a sustainable lifestyle. If you love chocolate then there’s no reason to quit it forever. Instead, make sure that you eat your favourite foods in moderation. You should also make sure that your diet includes foods from all the food groups – you may have heard that carbohydrates are bad for you, but you should still eat them in moderation! Enjoy your food and don’t listen to any talk about eating ‘clean’. That implies that other food is dirty, which isn’t a healthy way to look at it in the slightest.
Sort Out Your Mental Health
Is there anything that’s more frightening than admitting to yourself that you might have a problem with your mental health? But the first thing is to admit it to yourself and to then get help. If you’ve been having bleak thoughts or taking less pleasure in your hobbies than you used to, use 2017 as your opportunity to make yourself feel better and to heal. Talk to your doctor, and don’t be ashamed of the way you feel. Medication and therapy could help you to feel healthy and happy again.
Spend Time Alone
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A lot of us find it difficult to spend time alone. Listening to your own thoughts is often a scary thing to do. But it’s even scarier to miss out on things you love simply because you haven’t got someone to go with you to see your favourite band or a new art exhibition or a movie you can’t wait to see. If you feel disconcerted spending time alone or eating alone, take a book with you. In time you’ll feel less weird about spending time by yourself – instead you’ll feel like the accomplished and independent kickass woman that you are!
