Chloe's Feel Good, Look Good Column // New Year, New You: How to Make 2012 Your Most Fabulous Year Yet

So 2012 has begun- are you ready for it? The New Year symbolises a fresh start and a new beginning. It’s a chance to set new goals, make more wishes, and fulfil our dreams.

All this can seem a little daunting, especially when trying to think of that New Year’s resolution. Often people will half-heartedly set a huge goal and feel like they’ve let themselves down when they don’t achieve it. Why not make this year different? Rather than setting one big goal in a single area, try and set smaller challenges in each domain of your life. These manageable dreams will be a lot more realistic and satisfying as you are bound to fulfil at least one of them! Most importantly, you will be making improvements to your whole life! So get planning and make 2012 the best year yet!

Health

Many of us have indulged over the festive period (quite rightly so!) leaving our bodies craving a detox. Although many people make weight loss their New Year’s resolution, very few are successful. We spoke to Bonnie Taub-Dix, weight loss expert and author of Read It Before You Eat It, to find out where women are going wrong.

‘Although the most popular New Year’s resolutions surround diet and exercise, they are usually ditched by the time the Valentine’s Day chocolates appear’, says Bonnie. She believes that the New Year is a great time to revise old eating habits and make some less dramatic changes. So, instead of going cold turkey on your chocolate addiction or attempting a crazy celebrity diet- why not make a more realistic goal? For example, try swapping unhealthy snacks for nutritious choices 6 days a week and allow yourself a treat one day a week! The mind works in strange ways- you may not even want that chocolate biscuit by the time Sunday rolls around! Bonnie also suggests keeping a food diary to slash calories as ‘writing down every morsel of food that crosses your lip will be a wake-up call and this weight loss tool won’t cost you a penny.’

If you’re looking to shift some pounds, the start of the year is perfect for finding yourself a gym buddy. Grab a friend that wants to get fit too and help keep each other on track. The prospect of a good girly catch up will make the idea of the gym much more bearable, I promise!

Relationships

Starting the New Year single can be tough- but maybe it’s time to embrace it. Rather than focusing your time and energy on someone else you can totally be yourself and do what you please! Be open, happy, and positive and you are more likely to attract a love interest while bettering your quality of life! If you are coupled up, keep your relationship strong this year by making some resolutions together! Maybe you could agree on a way to minimise arguments or make plans to travel together!

Career/School

Make this year one for achievements! It’s all very well having a grade you want to reach, but it’s the small goals which lead up to this that are important. Stay on time with your assignments, keep up with reading, and be sure to ask for help. Buy yourself a new planner to keep all your work up to date and pride yourself on being organised. You will feel happier, calmer, and will have more time for yourself in the long run! Another great resolution is to gain some valuable experience this year. Seek out internships that are available over the summer, not only will it give you something interesting to do to fill those long days, but you will also make fantastic contacts and meet a ton of new people! Think about what you enjoy doing and try to carve a career out of it. The most successful people are those who are passionate about their work.

Personal Interests

Hobbies make up a large part of our personal identities. What do you do to express yourself? You may already have found your talent- in which case, keep it going and think about ways you can build upon it. For example, could you play for a bigger sports team, start going to open mic nights to showcase your voice, or move up a grade on your instrument? Whatever your interest, share it with people and never be ashamed! If you are yet to find that thing that makes you special- experiment and make this a year for trying new things!

Confidence

Hopefully 2011 was a positive year for you, but if it had some drawbacks then you should use them to your advantage in 2012. Maybe you didn’t get the grade you wanted, broke up with a boyfriend or received harsh criticism from someone. Now is the time to fight back- thinking negatively won’t get you anywhere.  So rather than focusing on what happened last year, look for ways to change your life this year. We can all pick ourselves back up again- it just takes a bit of work.

If you only make one resolution this year, make sure it’s to believe in yourself and everything you do. Happy New Year, girls!