Five Simple Ways To Avoid A New Year Meltdown

The festive period is well and truly over. Although a few of us may squeeze an extra few days out of it over the weekend, the majority of us will return to our normal lives tomorrow, (if we haven't already). We will take a seat back at our desks and pick up where we left off.  The New Year brings about a lot of mixed feelings. It's a time for reflection and more often than not, a time that many of us are quite hard on ourselves. So you didn't lose that weight you promised yourself this time last year you would. You're still in the same job that you hate. You're still part of an unhealthy relationship. You feel like your life is flying by and going nowhere. It is time to stop giving out and begin taking action. Here are five ways to help prevent the dreaded New Year meltdown.   1. Take a break from the booze. We're all guilty of over indulging over the holiday season, especially when it comes to alcohol. Why not take a break from drinking and check out Hello Sunday Morning, the group that are changing Ireland's relationship with alcohol, one Sunday at a time. The campaign provides "a platform for individuals to create meaningful change in their lives by taking a short break from alcohol." Start now by taking this quiz to unlock your Sunday morning.   2. Save money. Saving money is easier said than done. The January blues will be in full swing when the first set of bills arrive through the letter box. It's a tight month for everyone, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy ourselves. There are many free event nights to avail of, none of which have to involve the consumption of alcohol. Opt for having home nights in, getting back to basics, with a nice meal and chat with friends.   3. Quick and easy goals. Making New Year resolutions is easy, making sure they actually happen, is something entirely different. Set yourself some quick and easy goals that will act as stepping stones in order for you to achieve a much greater goal. A lot of people promise to hit the gym in the new year, but to save money and start exercising, getting outdoors is the best thing you can do. Set yourself the task of walking three or four times a week. Each week extend your route by a short distance, or period of time. You'll be clearing the cobwebs and allowing yourself time to think, while getting exercise. Perfect.   4. Organisation and routine.  Organisation and routine are key elements to having structure in life. Forget Spring cleaning, have a beginning of year clean instead, not just in your wardrobe, but your mind as well. If you work in an office, clear out your desk, organise files and begin the year with a bit of order. If you work online, tidy the desktop on your computer and sort out old emails. Our routines can be hectic, but it is vitally important for our mental health to set aside some 'me time', even if it is just a few minutes. Do something that you love and enjoy. Read one chapter of a book every morning on your commute to work. Listen to some relaxing music in the evenings. Unwind. Your body will thank you for it.   5. Add some superfoods to your shopping list. "You are what you eat", or so the saying goes. At the beginning of every year, a lot of us utter the words, "I'm off takeaways and chocolate," and we make a bid to start eating healthy. Introducing superfoods into your daily diet is a great way to give your body a boost that it needs. Losing weight isn't so much about the exercise, but about the intake of food. Many people think that denying their body food and starving themselves will help speed up the losing weight process, when in fact it has the entirely opposite effect. Adding superfoods that are packed with nutrients and vitamins to a healthy balanced diet can have amazing results. Here is a list of 15 superfoods or 9 foods for cleansing your system that you might want to add into your shopping trolley the next time you're doing the groceries   Happy New Year, folks. We'll get though this together!