New Year resolutions can become so pressurizing, with every January feeling like you should be planning and looking forward. However, once the recovery from the night before is well and truly on its way, we can start to think about taking those positive steps forward.

Give yourself a fresh look

A fresh new look can work wonders on our self-esteem and mental well being, and your bullet journal, smartphone or notebook can really help with that. Look through magazines, social media, Pinterest and so on, picking people whose appearance inspires you, from hairstyles, make up designs, body shape or fashion sense, anything that appeals to you. Save them in your journal, or device, and show them to your hairdresser. They’ll be able to recreate a style without you having to describe what you want. You could even book a session with a make-up stylist to get some tips on looking your best, and many larger clothing stores have advisors to help you pick outfits. Your inspiration collection easily demonstrates the styles you favour.

Now, with your diary in hand, phone in the other, and the perfect cup of coffee within reach, start making appointments. With many salons offering ‘the full works’ these days, you can achieve the perfect hair-style, laser hair removal, dermabrasion and even laser lipo without leaving the building. The British Institute of Lasers supplies and maintains these top-of-the-range machines, while their experts train salon staff to the very highest industry standards, ensuring you receive the best service possible. The Nu TriLaze Plus is an effective and superbly powerful laser hair removal machine, while the Nu eLite is a top of the line IPL machine – both of these machines can be used for hair removal, as well as skin rejuvenation.

So, with you primped and polished and feeling great, what next?

Make a list of 4 or 5 things you want to achieve this year

Simplify your life by deciding 4 or 5 attainable goals – they don’t have to be climbing Mount Everest or running the marathon, and can be as simple as reconnecting with an old, much missed friend, or reading a classic novel. But you could step outside your comfort zone and take up a new hobby, join a gym, book a hot air balloon flight, or fly to your dream destination. You’ll make new and interesting friends, learn new things, and the sense of achievement will be amazing.

Learn to say no

Sometimes it’s hard to say no to someone, and if you suffer from low self-esteem and self-confidence, you may feel nervous about turning down a request. But people will understand if you can’t help them, or have other commitments.

This is one of the key habits to simplify your life. If you can’t say no, you can become overwhelmed by everything you’re trying to squeeze in.

Make this year the year to learn how to say ‘no’.

Take charge of your money

It doesn’t matter how much money you have, if you’re not taking control of your financial situation, cashflow will occupy too much space in your life. It’s not something that you can hide away from.

Commit to taking charge of your money. Create a budget, establishing clear goals, and simplify your financial decisions.

There’s a real sense of peace and freedom that comes with financial organisation.

Gain control of your time

You can never earn more time. It’s your most valuable resource. Yet it’s very easy to waste it complaining, mindlessly scrolling through social media, or waiting for things to happen.

Don’t go through life being busy, but achieving little. Eliminate the things that are wasting your precious minutes, cut back on time-wasters (you know the ones) and make timefor the important things. Walking, enjoying the natural world, playing with your family, watch a sunset, and be in the moment. We all need time to appreciate the little things in order to cope with the bigger ones.

Our lives can get horrendously complicated and stressful, but by following these easy ideas, yours can be under control and simple enough to have the space necessary to deal with any unexpected upheavals in the year ahead.