Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Slow, simple, subtle, changes can make a big impact on your quality of life and they are more likely to become habitual, leading to long term success in 2008.
Here are 50 different ways you can change your life EASILY.
1. Wake up 30 minutes earlier in the morning. This extra time can be "me" time dedicated to whatever makes you happy. Do it gradually starting off with waking 15 minutes earlier the first few days.
2. Drink more water. It energises you. Aim for 1.5 to 2 litres a day or three to four small 500ml bottles.
3. Laugh more. It really is the best medicine, relieving stress and protecting your immune system. Watch your favourite comedy movies and make sure you have a real 'belly' laugh.
4. Get a pet. Research shows that stroking a cat or dog can help lower blood pressure and increase life expectancy.
5. Be honest. With yourself and others. It can be very liberating ... but be diplomatic too.
6. Do crosswords and other puzzles to engage those little grey cells and keep you young.
7. Clear out your cupboards. Get rid of clutter and energise your living space.
8. Take up gardening, the hottest anti-stress therapy for 2008. If you live in an apartment then garden for a friend or explore the world of pot plants.
9. Drink green tea. Its powerful anti-oxidant levels will help repair free radical damage due to environmental and dietary 'pollution'. Remember though that it is high in caffeine so don't drink after 4pm if you have trouble sleeping.
10. Seek out elderly people in your family and community. Take time to talk to them and listen to their experiences and wisdom. You will both benefit from this exchange.
11. Go through all those photos of friends and family and label them and put them into albums or make a collage to keep on your wall. Relive those happy times.
12. Reduce the amount of salt you add to food. This can have dramatic positive effects on your health. Try adding more fresh herbs and spices instead or use a low-sodium salt substitute.
13. Forgive yourself and others. Holding grudges is negative for everyone. Make the first move after disagreements, it's a sign of strength, not weakness.
14. Take a bath. Most of us jump in and out of the shower. Too impatient? Run a warm soothing bath, while cleaning your teeth, or shaving etc, add your favourite bath product or shower gel, and tell yourself you will stay in for only five minutes. Once you experience the positive benefits of bathing those five minutes will never be enough!
15. Give up smoking and avoid inhaling passive smoke. Be polite but firm and say 'no' if someone asks if you mind if they smoke. If someone lights-up without asking you then be assertive, start coughing, waving your hands around the smoke and politely ask them to extinguish their cigarette. It works every time.
16. Eat carbohydrates, we do need them, but try not to eat them after lunchtime.
17. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. If you live or work in a high rise building then begin by walking up two or three flights then riding the elevator. Aim to walk up an extra floor every day or so. Not only will it help your fitness levels, but it is an almost painless way to shed those excess pounds.
18. Do something for someone else without looking for a reward or a reason. It feels great!
19. Standing in a queue? While the time away by clenching and relaxing those butt muscles, at least then queuing is not a complete waste of your time.
20. Get more sleep! Sounds so simple I know, but sleep is vital to both our physical and mental health. Research shows that quality and quantity of sleep are equally important.
21. Eat Chocolate. Yes! You did read that correctly! Eating chocolate is not as naughty as you think. Packed with goodies such as magnesium and calcium, and anti-oxidants, it is easy to justify your daily fix of cocoa. BUT and yes there is always a 'but' - that does not mean you are free to gorge on sugar-packed candy bars. Being selective is important. Choose dark chocolate over milk. Check out the label to ensure the cocoa content is 70 per cent or more. But beware! Eating good quality chocolate can also produce 'phenylethalamine'! This scary sounding chemical is also said to be released by the body when you are 'in love' producing that wonderful, heady, natural high. It's enough to turn you into a total chocoholic!
22. Floss your teeth every night before bed. Research indicates there is a link between periodontal disease and heart disease. So keep those gums healthy.
23. Read regularly. Mental fitness and relaxation can both be aided by reading regularly. It doesn't really matter what you read as long as it is something you enjoy. If you have kids then read to them and encourage them to read as it can really help improve their vocabulary and writing skills.
24. Colour your life. Colours have different specific vibrations and can affect your mood and health. Green is said to reduce blood pressure whilst orange can energise you. Red can keep you awake so avoid it in the bedroom and blue and yellow are said to be a perfect combination for a relaxing, uplifting family room.
25. Learn a new language. You don't have to become fluent overnight but at least learn a few phrases. If you are an expat living in Bahrain, ask yourself how much Arabic you speak. Being able to communicate with others in their own language is very powerful, even if it is only a few words.
26. Eat more broccoli. Cited as one of nature's superfoods it is said to have a clever cocktail of anti-oxidants and cancer protecting ingredients. Raw, thinly sliced in salads or lightly steamed is best.
27. Tell someone dear that you love them. We often take it for granted that our loved ones know our feelings. Don't leave it too late.
28. Volunteer for something! How about helping out at a local charity thrift shop?
29. Write down your innermost feelings. Classed as "writing therapy" this can be incredibly enlightening. It is a means of unburdening your heart and mind and is said to be a truly cathartic experience.
30. Have a massage. Not only will it help relax you and tone your muscles but regular massage can help strengthen your immune system and clear your mind.
31. Restyle your hair. Go to a hairdresser you trust. Even if you are a follicularly-challenged man there is almost always an improvement to be made.
32. Test your eyes. You may not be experiencing any visual problems but some eye problems can be detected and cured at a very early stage even if you are unaware of any symptoms.
33. Pray. Whatever or whoever you believe in praying has been shown to keep you healthy in later life. Those with no spiritual or religious beliefs tend to have worse overall health as they age.
34. Check your blood pressure. Do you know what a healthy blood pressure reading is? (120/80). It can seriously affect your health but many people with dangerously high blood pressure don't display any symptoms.
35. Wear a magnetic bracelet to ease aches and pains. This will give your red blood cells a small electric charge, improving your circulation and oxygenating your body, speeding up healing and helping to ease headaches, sciatica, rheumatic pain etc.
36. Eat seaweeds for fabulous health-giving properties. Every wondered why the Japanese have such low heart disease? They eat the same amount of seaweeds in one day as an average European eats in a year! Packed with nutritional goodies, seaweeds can help keep your body in balance and provide it with essential vitamins, minerals and proteins. If you can't bear the taste then try seaweed capsules.
37. Balance your chequebook! Fill in each entry as you write out your cheques and cross match your bank statement every month. This will help you keep your finances in check. Do the same with your credit cards.
38. Be confident. When you are confident you give off positive energy which means others respond to you more positively. Make a list of all your good points and keep reading it everyday to remind yourself how great you are. Your self-confidence will soar and others will see you in a new light.
39.Panic and anxiety attacks can be scary. Try to STOP whatever you are doing, sit quietly and breathe in deeply through your nose, pushing your tummy out as you do so. Exhale slowly through your mouth and repeat three or four times. This will help your blood chemistry return to normal and calm your mind.
40. Car Rage. Yes, it is here in Bahrain so use preventative measures. Keep your car doors locked. Keep your favourite music in the car, making sure it is uplifting and energising. Keep your car free of junk and use an energising essential oil such as lemon to clear your mind and keep you focused.
41. Exercise. Sorry! I know many of you won't want to read this but before you panic let's just think what exercise MEANS. If you have palpitations at the thought of jogging machines and free weights then think of exercise as "any physical activity that raises your heart rate and makes you slightly breathless". Use your imagination and GO!
42. Create your own Mantra. Decide on a positive, inspirational statement and that has special meaning to you. Repeat this to yourself several times a day to help you achieve your goals. You can also write it down and paste it around your living and working space to surround yourself with inspiration.
43. Take a quality multi-vitamin everyday. Today's highly-processed foods and the use of pesticides etc can leave our "fresh" food severely lacking in nutrients. Consult your pharmacist and choose the combination most suited for your age group.
44. Eat more oily fish. Salmon, mackerel, sardines, all have heart protecting and brain boosting oils. A recent study in the UK found that school kids who were given a fish oil supplement and increased their concentration levels and improved their reading skills within a few short weeks. It works for adults too!
45. Give to Charity. This does NOT just mean money. Give your time, which is much more valuable for you and the charity. Donate all those unwanted gifts and clothes, shoes, etc that you have lying around.
46. Make your home more eco-friendly and ban as many chemical-based cleaning products as you can. Instead try using aromatherapy oils. Tea Tree oil is the most powerful natural antiseptic known to man and can be used to clean your toilet bowl, drains, floors. Lemon oil can be used to clean out your fridge and disinfect your kitchen surface. Try using talcum powder liberally laced with lavender and rosewood oils to clean your carpets. Sprinkle it over and vacuum it up, leaves your carpets clean and your home smelling sweet and fresh.
47. Make lists. Using a simple "things to do" list can really help you to prioritise, be more productive and prevent you from being side-tracked and wasting time.
48. Have no regrets. No matter what you do in life or how badly you feel some things turn out, have no regrets. Think about what you have learned from even your worst experience and how you would do things differently in future. Feeling negative and blaming yourself does not allow you to move on and enjoy those new experiences that are waiting for you just around the corner and how are you supposed to know what to do/how to do enjoy life if you don't have previous experiences to relate to!
49. Reduce Stress with self-acupressure. With your right palm facing upwards, press your other thumb on the fleshy part at the base of your thumb and massage firmly in a clockwise direction down towards the base of your index and middle finger and back up top the base of the thumb again. These areas correspond to your chest, solar plexus and adrenal glands and stimulating them in this simple way can reduce stress and encourage deep relaxation.
50. Be more assertive. This does NOT mean being aggressive. Simply find ways not to let others take advantage of you or waste your precious time. Look them in the eye, smile and say "no". Soften the blow with a phrase such as "I have something else arranged" etc. You are not being selfish, just self protective AND helping them face up to their responsibilities and learn how to prioritise! Better still, share the '50 Ways to Change Your Life in 2008' list with them and you have fulfilled several of them yourself!
