4 New Year’s resolutions that could change your life

The silly season is over, offering an opportunity for a fresh start in 2016.

Bryan McLachlan, CEO at direct life insurer Instant Life, suggests some New Year’s Resolutions that could change your life if you stick with them.

1. Schedule personal time

That’s right, schedule your personal time so you make the most of your time for family, rest, sports or hobbies. Many of us are good at scheduling in the context of work. But a growing body of evidence suggests that the most productive people are not actually the busiest, but rather those who prioritise their free time for personal passions unrelated to their jobs.

With a better life-work balance, you’ll be happier and more productive at work. Also, don’t commit to things you can’t do. Not overextending yourself will save you time and anxiety down the road. One of the best ways to stay on top of your goals is to schedule – relentlessly.

2. Maintain a health and fitness regimen

Don’t let your exercise routine slip in the New Year, even when you start getting busy. At the very least, build some time for a walk or two into your weekly schedule. By making exercise part of your lifestyle routine, you’ll not only keep kilos off and strengthen your body, you’ll also improve your happiness and your mental performance. Also, stay mindful of your diet. You don’t have to go full-Noakes or count calories, but sticking to healthy, natural food will do wonders for your mental and physical fitness.

3. Practice your smile

Social psychologists say that smiling can make you happier and healthier, even if your smile is forced. Many studies have confirmed a genuine smile is attractive to others around us and others show smiling can elevate your mood and the mood of those around you.

4. Take charge of your personal finances 

After the December holiday spending, your finances might look a bit flat and you could be waiting anxiously for January’s payday. What better time to get stuck into your personal finances to sort them out?

Look at your monthly budget and see how it compares with earlier months. Is your salary keeping up with inflation? If not, where could you save money?

Is it time to change to a new cellular provider or life insurer for a better deal? Would you benefit from putting some more money into your bond each month or taking a retirement annuity? Take a longer view of your family’s financial security, and look at how well you have them covered for the future in terms of education funding, life cover, and medical insurance.