Make 2011 One To Remember

Anyone who has ever made and broken a New Years Resolution can appreciate the difficulty of a behavior change. Making a lasting switch to your daily routine is rarely a simple process, and usually involves a substantial commitment of time, effort, and emotion.

Whether you want to lose weight, stop smoking, or accomplish another goal, there is no single solution that works for everyone. You may have to try several different techniques, often through a process of trial-and-error, in order to achieve it.

It is during this period that many people become discouraged and give up! The key to maintaining your new years resolution – for real – is to stay motivated.

So. Take your big goal and break it down into smaller ones. Here are some BIG resolutions we’ve come up with. How to break them down will be different for everyone. It doesn’t hurt to try! And if you fail halfway, don’t worry. You can pick up where you left off at anytime…like say, next year?

1. QUIT SMOKING
Its bad for you, expensive, and you’ll probably need some kind of unnecessary surgery later in life. It ruins your skin, teeth, nails and hair. Pick up a hobby like knitting to keep your fingers busy. Read a book. Chew gum. Hang out with your non-smoking friends. And if you’re feeling brave, start the trend among your smoking crew. People need people to get through tough things. It will be easier if you have a caring support group around you.

2. LEARN TO SAY NO
Part of looking after yourself is not feeling obliged to be a 'people pleaser'  or a ‘yes-woman’. If a request is  going to stress you out, or over-burden you, all you need to do is say a simple and straightforward NO. No need for any explanation. We tend to overwhelm ourselves when we say yes too often. Introducing the rare ‘no’ into your vocab may be all the change you need for a stress-free new year.

3. CONQUER A FEAR
This is a tough one, especially depending on your fear or phobia. But once you put your mind to addressing your fear, overcoming them might be a walk in the park (unless you are afraid of parks). Arguably, the most effective way to overcome a fear is to expose yourself to what you’re scared of.  Scared of heights? Hit the top floor of the tallest building in town. Sacred of mice? Visit a pet shop and ask to handle one. Scared of the dark? Well, we suggest that you grow up... Be advised, though, that extreme fears, or phobias, are best dealt with by a professional.

4. BE KIND TO YOURSELF
It's so easy putting yourself last. We seem programmed to feel guilty when being good to ourselves. Forget that! If you've run yourself into the ground you're no good to anyone. Heap some self-affirmations on yourself (who cares if you're packing a few pounds around the hips - it's your funny, kind and/or caring side people love), switch-on a kinder internal voice, switch-off the inner critical one, and recognize the fact that overly high expectations damage self-esteem.

5. GET WHAT YOU WANT FROM SEX
Speaking of men, let 2011 be the year you really get what you want out of life – and in-between the sheets. Accept once and for all that men like to be told what turns you on. It might seems weird at first. Sex should be for the both of you, not just for your partner.

6. MEDITATE
Take five, turn off your Blackberry, and relax. This is the time to reward yourself with a little treat, a short snooze, anything that recharges your batteries. Join a yoga class. Take ballet. Make a pact with yourself to not be near any electronic devices or screens at least an hour before bed. Studies show that when we are exposed to screens for too long, we might actually be losing out on sleep. finishing up some work on computer before bed may keep you awake long after you turn the computer off. A new study shows that the bright light of a computer screen may alter the body's biological clock and suppress the natural production of melatonin that's critical to the normal sleep-wake cycle.

7. HELP OTHERS
We could better ourselves til the cows come home and not have anyone to share it with. Don’t be a self-centered you-know-what. It’s a popular, non-selfish New Year's resolution, and when your helping others, you’re more likely to commit and actually do it. Volunteerism can take many forms. Whether you choose to spend time helping out at your library, mentoring a child, or building a house, there are many nonprofit volunteer organizations that could really use your help, and they are usually pretty flexible in terms of scheduling. You’ll meet a ton of people doing great things everyday for people who need it most. If you can’t volunteer your time, try to find other ways to be a more active member in your community. Donate old clothes, furniture, start a tradition with your neighbours to host monthly get-togethers, in support of helping a local charity. There are so many options here. The only limits are your imagination and your heart.

Hilary Lauren Fox
		About the author:
		Sometimes she's a redhead, sometimes she's a blonde. Some days it's H&M, and on other days, it's Chanel. What ever the mood, she is a woman who is passionate about the arts, fashion and social media. Born in Toronto, Hilary Lauren Fox is an only child to artist parents - mom was an illustrator and pattern maker, dad was a painter.  Rather then studying the arts as her parents hoped for, Hilary opted for a degree in psychology with dreams of working in a clinical setting. But after graduating she realized that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and that the arts was in her blood, applying her education within the art and fashion world.
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