From boosting your sex life to saving money, here are some New Year’s resolutions you can actually stick to
FESTERING in a hangover from hell, scrolling through wistful Facebook posts, contemplating the meaning of life and making dozens of unrealistic promises to yourself?
Stop it now. Research shows that only a quarter of us who make New Year’s resolutions keep them for the full year, with 22 per cent ditching theirs just six days into January.
If you are going to make resolutions, think of the small, niggling things you can change to make your life better, rather than trying to transform your world completely.
Lynsey Clarke and Claire Dunwell asked the experts how to set – and stick to – those achievable goals.
Have spot-free skin
ADULT acne affects up to 41 per cent of women. There is no miracle cure but a few simple steps will help.
Sarah Kugelman, founder of Skyn Iceland, says: “Focus, first on what’s happening on the inside.
“Sleep longer, ideally for eight hours a night, and drink lots of water with a vitamin B supplement. It is important to balance the gut and regulate the digestive system.
“Cut out refined sugar and white flour, as well as alcohol and caffeine.
“When it comes to skincare less is more. Use a gentle cleanser or micellar water, a moisturiser for sensitive or irritated skin, and a good-quality serum.
“Using too many products or changing your skincare routine too often sometimes confuses the skin or starts to irritate and clog pores.”
- Try Skyn Iceland Micellar Cleansing Water (£17.50, M&S)
Banish the bickering
ARGUMENTS between children can make for a stressful home.
Liat Hughes Joshi, the author of Five-Minute Parenting Fixes, says: “Firstly, set family rules.
“Whether they’re about screen time, chores or bedtimes, they leave kids with clear expectations and boundaries – so they’re more likely to deliver on them.
“If everyone knows what they are supposed to do and when, you’ll cut down on the conflict. It is important to take those irritating issues you keep arguing about away from of the heat of the moment.
“When everyone’s cortisol levels and blood pressure are through the roof in the middle of a bust-up, kids and parents aren’t well-placed to calm down and resolve or improve things.
“It will be much more effective if you talk things through when everyone has calmed down.”
Reach fitness goals
IT is not easy kickstarting a new routine, especially after Christmas. But don’t set yourself up to fail with unrealistic goals.
Sun Fitness Editor Jenny Francis says: “If you really want to reach those fitness goals you’ve always set but never followed through on, start small.
“Don’t try to go from zero workouts a week to six times a week. You’ll feel overwhelmed, exhausted and give up before you’ve even started. Try once or twice a week and build up from there. Chart your progress for motivation.
“You could take pictures of yourself beforehand and compare them down the line, or take note of how many reps you can do.
“Find your happy place. If you’ve set yourself a 10k running target but dread every step, change your target.
“There WILL be an exercise you enjoy, whether it’s lifting weights or playing tennis. Find that and you’ll stick to it.”
Booze less
AFTER last night, you might not feel like touching alcohol again anyway. But how long until you fancy the next tipple?
Lauren Booker, a consultant for Alcohol Change UK, says: “Get it clear in your mind why you want to cut back drinking, whether it is to save money or simply to stop the hangovers.
“Once you have strong motivation, it will be much easier to say no.
“Figure out why you drink. If you drink when you feel stressed or to help you sleep, find a substitute for those moments of temptation.
“Perhaps take a bath or go for a walk. To stop people offering you drinks, have an alcohol-free alternative in your hand. Dry January is a brilliant introduction to help you cut back all year round.
“More than 70 per cent of people who take on the challenge are drinking more moderately even six months later.”
Bounce out of bed
IF you snooze, you lose. The Sleep Council’s Lisa Artis says: “If you have trouble jumping out of bed in the morning, don’t press the snooze button.
"Your brain knows the alarm will go off again, so you won’t get any deep, resting slumber between snoozes.
“Set your alarm for when you really have to get up. Put it across the room from the bed so you have to get up to switch it off. That makes you less likely to climb back under the covers.
“Try sticking to regular sleeping hours, going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time each day.
“Keep gadgets out of the bedroom and stop using them at least an hour before bed.
“You will feel much better for it and getting out of bed the next morning won’t feel like such a struggle.”
Find your mojo
FORGET making a resolution to find “the one”. This year, make dating all about YOU.
Kate Taylor says: “Dating is only fun when it’s one part of an already happy and busy life. When dating becomes your whole life, it often means you are using it as a distraction.
“The trick to regaining your mojo is creating a plan of everything you’d like to achieve in 2019, whether or not a new partner shows up.
“Don’t set goals you feel are expected of you. Aim for things that make you feel genuinely excited.
“Then take active steps towards making those dreams come true. With your busy, focused life, you will meet people who share your interests.
“If you are dating, set boundaries – like how many messages you will send and receive before meeting up in real life, or how long you will date without making a real commitment.”
Relight your fire
IF your bedroom routine is more weary than steamy, go for a boudoir reboot.
Sex and relationships expert Kate Taylor says: “If you haven’t spent much time together in 2018, suddenly spending every minute together in 2019 can feel forced.
“Begin by making routine interactions more positive. Swap a peck on the cheek for a heartfelt snog. Snuggle up to watch Corrie and identify shared hobbies you can do together.
“If your sex life is flagging, discover what really turns you and your other half on.
“Watch movies with sex scenes and talk about them. What did you like? What did your partner like? Reminisce about the best sex you’ve ever had together and discuss what made it so erotic.
“ It isn’t always easy to talk sex – but it is important. The more you know about each other, the closer you’ll become.”
Stop scrolling
WE spend a whole day every week online, on average, according to a recent poll.
And we are so addicted to our smartphones, we typically click on them once every 12 minutes.
Eve Menezes Cunningham, author of 365 Ways To Feel Better, says: “Cutting down on the time you spend on your phone gradually will make it more achievable.
“If you try to go cold turkey, you’re more likely to go back to your old ways. Delete the most tempting apps and turn off notifications, so you decide when to check and respond. Use a visit to social media as a reward.
“Put your phone in another room and only go back to it once you have done the jobs you need to do.
“If you are out, keep your phone in your bag so you aren’t tempted to pick it up every few minutes. Less scrolling can improve your sleep, your relationships and your social life.”
Save money
FINANCE expert Rob Kelly says: “Open a savings account and be realistic.
“Set up a direct debit you can afford, then top it up each month if you can.
“Cut back on small luxuries such as buying coffees and lunch out every day by making your own at home. Small amounts soon add up once you get into the habit.
“Save money by being honest with yourself. Are you using the gym membership regularly enough to justify the amount it is setting you back each month?
“Can you switch to a cheaper phone tariff? Look into switching energy providers, too, as this is a great way to save.”
We love the Revolut debit card, which rounds up each payment to the nearest whole number and adds the change to a savings vault.
Winning wardrobe
PUT a stamp on your style this year. Sun Fashion Editor Gabriel Dirvanauskas says: “The first steps to freshening up your look are making room for the new and clearing away the old.
“If you have some pieces in your wardrobe you haven’t worn in the last 12 months, you probably won’t wear them again. Find what you feel comfortable in and what suits your body shape.
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“Then stock up on the basics and don’t buy into every fashion fad that comes along – those neon cycling shorts, we’re looking at you.
“Start with staples such as a well-cut coat, blouse, trousers and skirt you can dress up or down. Interpret the latest trends in a way that suits you.
“That could mean adding a printed bag instead of wearing the look top-to-toe. And remember, nothing is more stylish than confidence.”
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