Tips for a Happy New Year

I wrote this for a work newsletter so some of you may have already seen it but here are my tips for having a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

1. Eat healthier – If you’re like me you enjoy a large bowl of hot piping gravy in the morning accompanied by a stick of deep fried butter. While this is a tasty treat it’s not very good for your arteries. Perhaps in the future serve a smaller bowl of gravy and don’t fry the butter. Little changes go a long way.



2. Exercise more – I have a team of people exercise for me but my doctor says it just isn’t enough. A daily walk, a pick-up game of Australian rules football or towing an 18-wheeler using only your neck muscles are just a couple of easy to implement suggestions to get your heart pumping.



3. Be more environmentally responsible – Sure, everybody likes spraying aerosol deodorant and gasoline into a fire built from Styrofoam, plastic bags and car batteries but other than the pretty colours it serves very little purpose. Give something back to the environment by planting a tree for each Styrofoam cup you use. The tree can be cut down and burned later.



4. Volunteer – Many of my friends volunteer at a variety of places and even if it weren’t court ordered I’m sure they’d find it just as satisfying. Some people say that volunteering is its own reward but there can be financial rewards as well. Helping out at a prison may lead to many tips on where to get small appliances and electronics at enormous discounts. Volunteering at a senior’s resident almost guarantees you being put in someone’s will.



5. Learn a new skill – Neuroscientists now believe that the brain has a certain level of plasticity and by learning new skills we can actually increase our brain power. Last year I attempted to learn to juggle flaming samurai swords. In retrospect I probably should have started with balls but the cat’s hair grew back and other than losing a little toe I came out of it unscathed and a little bit wiser.



6. Follow a budget – The largest worry for 94% of Canadians over the age of 25 in a statistic I just made up is money concerns. With the holidays having just passed and the state of the economy as it is this worry is even more pressing right now. My suggestion is to create a budget and stick to it. I divide my bi-weekly pay by 14 (the number of days in the period) and spend exactly that much each day. It’s stressful when rent is due but a life of luxury the other 30 odd days of the month.



7. Get organized – The average person spends almost 300 hours in a lifetime looking for their house keys. Imagine what you could do with 300 hours; probably find your passport or 2003 income tax return. Many organizational gurus will tell you to have a place for everything and put everything in its place. For me the place is my hall closet. Other than furniture and food everything I own goes in that closet and that way I always know where it is.



8. Reduce stress – In this hectic dog-eat-dog rat-race world our stress levels are higher than ever. Some of my favourite stress busters are as follows:




• Take a long hot bath in Epsom salts with the haunting scent of a lavender candle nearby.


• Meditate with the haunting scent of a lavender candle nearby.


• Go down to the firing range and squeeze off a few rounds with the haunting scent of a grapefruit candle nearby.


• Curl up with a good book and a hot cup of cocoa while listening to the soothing sounds of ocean waves pound against the shore. NOTE: Do not read the book simply curling up with it will provide sufficient relaxation.