10 of the best New Year’s resolutions …

10 of the best New Year’s resolutions … Why we never keep them … and thoughts on how perhaps we could!

1. Most of us should try to eat less …..  but stop the fad diets and simply eat half of what you would normally eat. My eternally slim grandmother's advice certainly goes a long way - it does require discipline however but not too much effort and change to your lifestyle and certainly makes sense to go on and give it a go. 

2.  Pledge to exercise more. We must invest in our health so I suggest that you find something you enjoy doing and stick with it. For me it had to be Pilates. I have watched my partner and children take out gym membership after membership, attend once and falter.

The three days a week that I have committed to Pilates has got to stand me in good stead as I age. Sure it lacks cardio but at least I'm doing something that puts me in credit each and every day and over the last 12 years my regular weekly commitment has even got me amazed.

3.  Do not sweat the small stuff, learn to say less, not to enter the high volume conversations and keep calm. Give everyone the benefit of the doubt and do not over think things.

You will be surprised at how good it feels when you truly do master this.

4. Be a lot more philanthropic … Give your time to people and organisations in need around you.

Put the heart and balance into your life.

5. Connect more. Connections with others simply advance your abilities and thinking; open your mind and think outside your own boundaries. Scratch the surface of a subject that interests you and enter a whole new world.

Always be learning, there is no excuse not to, the internet enables an endless possibility of knowledge and connections. 

6. Make this the year that you work, whether if be in employment or in business, towards doing something you love. Life is too short not to and you can never be great at something if you don't love it. 

7. Get creative. Take on a project with a long life and an interesting outcome and that gives you a new focus. 

8. Plan a holiday. Regardless of destination it’s all about the moments, the planning, the new experiences and it doesn’t have to be at a huge expense.

9. Aim to get really good at something, something you enjoy already, that if you practice and apply yourself may see you gain expert status. Remember it takes 10,000 hours to become a renowned concert pianist …surely there’s something on your horizon  

10. Conquer a fear, one that has stupidly sat there for your whole life and simply needs to be overcome. The power of the mind is an amazing thing, For me it’s going to be my innate and unexplainable fear of needles.