50 Life-Changing Ways to Improve the New Year
- Never eat lunch alone.
- Write thank you letters. Thank you e-mails don't count. We're talking card, handwriting, envelope and stamp.
- Remember your server's name. You want the person handling your food and credit card to like you.
- Do housework in your skimpies – you have to do something to make chores more fun!
- Manage your stress; don't let it manage you. When you feel stressed, close your eyes and imagine yourself in your "I want to be there right now" vacation spot.
- Smile at people on the street instead of looking through them.
- Keep a gratitude journal. Write about what you're grateful for before you go to bed.
- Don't diet. Make lasting changes to your lifestyle.
- Make something homemade with your girlfriends.
- Holding a grudge? Let it go today.
- Every once in a while, surprise your coworker with a cup of coffee, bottle of water or an apple.
- Welcome change good change, difficult change, destructive change and transformative change.
- Throw pennies in fountains.
- Talk to strangers in the elevator.
- Mentor someone.
- Make a monthly resolution.
- Invest in monthly massages. Buy the package now, because you'll come up with excuses later. Other than just feeling good, massages can reduce signs of aging, blood pressure and stress.
- Surround yourself with people who encourage you. Let those that dont fall by the wayside, and embrace those that do.
- Go to Quotegarden.com, find an inspiring quote, write it on a Post-It and put it inside your medicine cabinet so you see it every morning.
- Fanning an old flame? Don't. There's a reason why he's in the past, and you can't move on until he's fully extinguished.
- At work, dress not for the job you have, but the one you want to have.
- Go to the mall and have someone show you how to put on eye makeup, and match you for a good lipstick.
- Through the good, bad and ugly remember to laugh.
- Do your "Dr. Kegel-recommended exercises." Confused? Look it up.
- Pay it forward.
- Don't do work in bed. Your sleep will suffer if you do – seriously.
- Walk with your shoulders rolled back to exude confidence.
- Find a good shoe cobbler to keep for favorite kicks kicking without looking like they're about to kick the can.
- Lean in when people talk to you.
- Write love letters.
- Believe in karma.
- Buy a 32 oz Nalgene bottle, fill it up with water and make it a goal to drink two every day.
- Get into aromatherapy. Put lavender on your pillow to relax you at night, burn a citrus candle in the morning to wake you up and chamomile at work to relieve stress.
- Wear clothes that fit.
- Learn about your family lineage.
- Invest in a good eye cream – no matter how young or old you are – and apply it with your pinky finger.
- Fix your teeth. People look at them. A lot. Just warning you.
- Make a point to compliment at least one person every day. It feels good, and it will score you serious popularity points.
- Buy those comfy shoe insoles.
- Have "date night" with your favorite gal pals. Get dressed up and go to a cute swanky place.
- Volunteer.
- Invest in a new pair of sunglasses. Prevent those squint-related wrinkles and revamp your look at the same time.
- Get up 10 minutes earlier so you can apply your make-up in a well-lit room, not on your drive to work.
- Buy a planner and use it daily. Make sure to add address and birthday info.
- Send friends birthday cards. Or at least call. Remembering birthdays is beginning to be a lost art.
- Work out in the morning. Too many excuses can pop up if you do it after work.
- Get measured for your bra size. Time Magazine just reported that 80 percent of women wear the wrong bra size. You're most likely one of them.
- If you have to watch TV, at least do something productive. Stair master, paint your nails, iron tomorrow's outfit. Whatever. Just do something.
- Make a list of things you want to do before you die.
- Make the necessary plans to cross the first thing off that list.
