2007 is rapidly approaching or perhaps has already arrived, depending upon when you are reading this. What are you going to do differently in 2007? What would you like to change in your life? Are you going to join weight watchers, or sign up for a gym membership, or come up with some new-year's resolutions? Do you think you are going to succeed this time?

Most New Year's resolutions will be abandoned in the first few weeks. Sometimes it is because other stuff comes along, and you find you don't have the time to commit to your resolutions. Other times, it is because we set our expectations too high. This leads to failure, and discouragement.

One of the top resolutions is to improve your health, and especially lose some weight. I know from my own experience that losing weight has its own challenges. A growing proportion of people in North America are obese, according to the body mass index. Myself, I am on the border between overweight and obese and my goal is to get down to just being overweight. Here are my tips if you are working on this resolution:

• Regular exercise is essential. It has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man. The minimum you want to do is 20 minutes at least three times per week. I like to go walking as I can talk and hold hands with my partner. For me a gym membership would not work, and I hate paying for something that I would not use.

• Sleep. It is quite simple to do, but the challenge is to stop doing all the things you have to do or want to do and hit the sack at a reasonable hour. I set an alarm for 10pm to remind me, but you work out the best approach that works for you.

• Drink water, it does a body good and it is cheap too. If you drink too much, you will feel like vomiting. If that happens back off a bit. If it does not happen, have another glass. :-)
  

• Eat healthy. I won't tell you which diet is right for you. Talk to your doctor or dietician for professional advice. I know what works for me, and when I don't follow it, I know I will gain weight. Here is a clue, donuts are not on my list.

• Reduce stress. Stress is a killer. There are lots of things you can do to reduce it, and I let you chose. For me I like walks, sleep is good too, and if you are in a toxic environment, find ways to get out either temporary or better still permanently.

I hope the above health tips help you. Feel free to add a comment with your own tips.

Another resolution people make is to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends in the coming year. Time is finite and you have to decide how you spend it. Perhaps it is time to make a list of those key people, and sort it by how important they are to you. Then go through your calendar and block out time according to your list. Keep some dates open for unexpected events yet to come. When you have used up most of your available time, stop. Now, if you follow your calendar, you will achieve the best you can do.

Quitting smoking / Drinking / Drugs is a common new year's resolution. This is a tough one, both if you are quitting and if you are around someone who is quitting. I have seen lots of people try and fail to quit smoking. It hurts. Ideally the best thing is to not start, but once you are hooked on something, you need to accept you have a problem and seek professional help.

Next comes getting out of debt. Lots of people overspend during the holiday season and look at the mess they are in and decide it is time to fix their problem. Again professional help is available. Some people are able to restructure their debts to get better interest rates and payment plans.

Another common new year's resolution is to change jobs. A change is as good as a rest. In Hong Kong it is common to switch just after the Chinese new year. That is because the employers usually give out a large bonus around that time, and you want to get that before you move on. I would not recommend running away from some problem at work, since ti could easily manifest itself at a new job. Life keeps giving you opportunities to learn how to handle things. Until you learn, the opportunities will continue to manifest themselves.

Duncan

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