Top 10 New Year resolutions

Many of us see the turn of the year as a time for taking stock of our lives so far and deciding what we need to change to make us happier, fitter, healthier or just generally more aware of what we want to achieve over the next decade.

Our health, relationships, finances and careers are often the main areas for self- examination and it is always a good idea to look at what we are doing now and see if there are any ways in which we can improve things – however small or large a change is needed.

We have found that the top 10 New Year resolutions tend to be:

Giving up smoking

It may be obvious, but smoking is one way we can improve our health, fitness and finances all at once. Smoking causes 114,000 deaths in the UK each year – from lung disease, cancer and cardiovascular disease, and passive smoking has been proven to affect those around us. Financially it takes a toll too, as the average smoker spends £1,750 a year on cigarettes, according to CanStopSmoking.

There are several organisations which can help you to stop, including the NHS, www.smokefree.nhs.uk or call 0800 022 4 33. You could also try Quit at www.quit.org.uk or Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) at www.ash.org.uk.

Getting fit

This is a time of year when gym memberships soar, only to become a burden on the finances a few months later when you stop going on a regular basis. If you are committed to going to the gym at least three times a week and know you will keep the attendance up, it is a great idea to invest the money, but this type of exercise doesn’t suit everyone – why not instead invest in a regular pilates class, yoga, dance classes, or take up running or cycling – even promising yourself to walk to work, or walk the kids to school will help get you fitter.

If you have any underlying health problems, check with your doctor before taking up any new form of strenous exercise and always declare any problems such as back pain to your class teacher.

Cutting down on alcohol

An easy win and one that will save you money too – Christmas is always the time when we overindulge in both food and drink, but reducing our intake of alcohol will improve our chances of losing weight, and make us healthier. It is recommended that men should drink no more than 21 units of alcohol a week and women no more than 14. And no more than three units each per day.

A standard small glass of wine has one and a half units of alcohol and half a pint of beer, lager or cider has one unit.

However, a small amount of alcohol, one to two units per day may help in reducing heart disease and stroke for those over 40!

For more information try Patient UK.

Changing jobs

If you are unhappy in your chosen career, or just unsatisfied in the particular job you have, now is a good time to start afresh and it is never too late to change direction. Work out a list of your strengths and weaknesses, draw up a cv of your complete work record and skills, plus all the courses you have taken and anything else you do in your personal life that you feel makes you a well-rounded person and will impress a potential employer, then register with agencies who advertise likely- looking jobs, check out the local paper and look at job sites online, getting them to alert you via email to any new positions coming up.

If you are looking for a change of career, make sure you have the relevant qualifications and talk to people in your chosen field to find out how and where to start.

Taking control of your finances

Simply looking at your bank statement every month and working out where you spend your money will surprise you. Many financial experts advise you to write down everything you spend money on each day – like a diary – so you can work out where you are being wasteful and what savings you can make. Simply ringing around for better deals with car and home insurance could save you hundreds of pounds a year – or checking out the gas and electric deals and finding out if you are getting the best value for money for your phone and internet rental.

Plus, try and start putting away some savings – even £20 a week will soon mount up to something significant and help you through difficult patches – or pay for a holiday in the summer.

Try sites such as www.comparethemarket.com or www.moneysavingexpert.com to find the best deals.

Spending more time with the kids

Many of us have to work full-time and get precious few hours to spend quality time with the children. The trick is to make that time count. Don’t let them disappear into their rooms to play on their consoles or computers – spend time helping with their homework, reading with them, plan a trip to the local swimming pool or park, get creative and stock up on craft materials that you can pull out and make stuff with – recycled boxes are great for making houses, dens and guns!

Cooking with your kids is a great way of spending time with them and getting them to understand how healthy food is important – and they can help make dinner too. Don’t forgte to impress upon them the importance of clearing away and washing up!

Taking more time out for you

Whether it is spending time in a pampering bath session on the weekend, or getting away from the family for a few hours, it is important to take time out for you – to recharge your batteries or simply get away from the madness of your daily life. Too many of us are so busy with our everyday lives that we have no time left for reflection or rest – but we need to relax and destress for the health of both body and mind.

Taking up a yoga class is a great way to clam the mind and exercise the body at the same time. Or making sure you use that facepack that has been sitting in the bathroom cabinet for the past year – a relaxing soak in the bath with a glass of wine and candles can work wonders.

Making a date for a coffee with a friend for a proper chat can also be good therapy – don’t work through lunch, meet a friend and take time away from your desk.

Reducing the weight

Most of us have probably tried to get rid of a spare tyre or two over the years, and dieting is a massive industry these days with countless products and faddy diets on the market offering to help take those excess pounds off. But there is no substitute for a healthy, balanced diet and a bit of exercise to keep your body trim.

Clubs such as WeightWatchers and Slimming World have a sensible approach to dieting and that weekly weigh-in is a huge incentive to do well and you get plenty of support from fellow dieters – plus you go for free if you achieve your goals, so they are there to support you long-term.

Learning a new skill

Ever fancied trying your hand at something new – drawing, painting, cookery, embroidery, playing the guitar, archery – the list is as long as you want it to be. Evening classes at local colleges can open up your horizons and expand your mind. Or why not try music lessons – learn to sing or play the piano, join a local choir or an amateur dramatics society. Challenge yourself to do something different – you may be surprised at the latent skills you possess but didn’t know it. Learning a new skill may even lead on to a new career.

Helping others

Whether it is simply donating all your old furniture, clothes and household goods to charity, joining a local charity committee, helping an elderly neighbour with their shopping, or volunteering at a Citizen’s Advice Bureau, there is a wealth of ideas you can look into for helping others.

The Scouts are always looking for people to be assistants and leaders for their Beaver, Cub and Scouts meetings and activities, for example, or organisations such as Love Music Hate Racism welcome people to help them fight injustice. You could volunteeer with an environmental charity, or coach local youngsters to play football – the list is endless. For ideas try www.volunteering.org.uk.

Tags: Careers & education, Finance & property, RC top 10s, Self improvement & wellbeing