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It’s that time again - the beginning of another new year. A time when many people make resolutions about changes they would like to see in their lives. Unfortunately, for many, in less than a month's time most of the resolutions will become forgotten or ignored. New Year’s resolutions can be hard to keep, but sticking with them can improve your life.

Here are a few simple rules that you can follow when setting goals that will help you achieve them.

Be Specific

If your goal is to “get healthy” (lose weight...) think about the specifics the goal involves. How, specifically, will you change your eating habits to achieve better health?

For example, you might think "I will eat fresh fruit and vegetables every day, and will only eat dessert once a week. I will go to the gym three times a week for 45 minutes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and I will take a multivitamin and mineral supplements daily."

Put Your Goals in Writing

Once you have decided on your specific goals, write them down and post them somewhere you will see them often. Make them binding contracts that you promise to keep.

Set Realistic Goals

Be sure that your goals are within your means. Consider your schedule, finances, and other personal obligations and limitations when setting goals. The idea is to challenge not over-burden yourself.

Have a Plan of Action

Create a timeline with steps you will take to reach your goal. Failing to plan is planning to fail.

Be Positive

Surround yourself with positive influences. Read books about motivation and success. Share your goals with supportive friends and family members who will help you stay motivated. Avoid negative people whenever possible.

Be Prepared to Change

Don’t become discouraged if things go wrong. Anticipate that setbacks may occur. Use shortcomings or failures as important information to refine your efforts.

Reward Yourself

It's important to acknowledge your achievements. Give yourself a reward that makes you feel good or that you enjoy doing, when you have reached you goals. Be reasonable - don't let the reward derail your continued success.

New Year's doesn’t have to be the only time you set goals. Setting clear goals, year-round, can help you lead a healthier and more rewarding life.

Make this the year you follow through on your resolutions! [ Copyright © 2004 World Image Naturals, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

Have you been doing a lot of shopping? Entertaining? Working? These types of activity can leave you with tired, achy feet.

As we age, the natural fat pad on the soles of the feet begin to thin. Placing an orthotic cushion in your shoes may help to compensate for your loss of natural cushion, and allow you to be on your feet longer (without as much pain).

Your feet have approximately 250,000 sweat glands, and can excrete as much as 8 ounces of moisture each day. Therefore, it is important to remember to drink plenty of water.

Keep your toenails trimmed, straight across, to avoid painful ingrown toenails Always wear shoes that fit properly.

If you overdo it and end up with swollen, tired feet, resting with your feet, elevated above your head, for 10 minutes will help to reduce swelling. Soaking your feet in warm water and bath salts or MSM will feel great. [Copyright © 2004 World Image Naturals, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is an inexpensive detergent used in products such as shampoos, bath gels, cleansers, floor cleaners, carwash soaps, and engine degreasers. SLS is very corrosive to greasy surfaces. [Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a variation of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate that has a higher foaming quality, but shares many of the same characteristics as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.]

SLS is a tissue irritant. It has been used widely in laboratory testing on humans and animals to irritate the skin, so that other agents could be tested to see how they affect the irritated tissue. Because of its irritating affect on the skin, SLS is classified as a drug when used in bubble bath products. SLS actually eats away the skin and may cause rashes (which could lead to infection).

SLS may react with other ingredients in skin products, forming nitrosamines (nitrates; cancer-causing agents). Studies have revealed that SLS penetrates (with prolonged retention) deep into the tissues of the eyes, brain, heart, liver, and other vital tissues.

SLS cleans by corrosion. It strips away protective lipids from the skin. It is believed to attack hair follicles which can cause hair loss.

Many alerts, including governmental, have been released about the dangers and/or negative affects of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, yet it is abundant in many popular products.

Check your personal care products (soap, shampoo, toothpaste...), to see if they contain SLS. Decide for yourself if SLS is a good choice for your health.

Diet and exercise are not the only components necessary in an effective weight loss plan. A recent study indicates that getting enough sleep may be just as important as diet and exercise for reaching and maintaining a healthy weight.

Sleep deprivation affects two hormones: leptin and ghrelin. Leptin is the hormone that tells you to stop eating, and ghrelin stimulates appetite. When we don’t get enough sleep, leptin levels fall and ghrelin levels rise and normal control of appetite is lost.

In addition to loss of normal appetite control, the sleep-deprived tend to crave foods with sugar, salt, and starch like chips, cakes, and crackers - further adding to their weight problem.

A recent study at Columbia University found that people who slept four hours or less per night were 73% more likely to be obese. Those getting 5 hours sleep per night were 50%, and six hours, 23% more likely to be overweight. “Getting more sleep actually had a protective effect against obesity” according to the lead researcher James E. Gangwisch.

So, if you are want to obtain your perfect weight, you must eat a balanced, nutritious diet, exercise, and get a good night's sleep (at least 7-8 hours). [ Copyright © 2004 World Image Naturals, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]