Looking good for 2013

We’ve adopted her as one of our own since her wedding to Chris O’Dowd.

The party season is now firmly behind us. Facing into a new year in the cold light of January can be an intimidating prospect.

You may even be tempted to feel a little sorry for yourself as you look upon your over-indulging, under-achieving self and hope to get fit, eat well, look good, and excel at your relationships and career in 2013. And have beautiful hair.! Here are some tips to show you how:

1. It’s really important to feel satisfied with your life outside of work, so that you don’t feel like sitting at your desk is the only thing you ever do. Make the effort to meet a friend for a drink after work and plan fun things to do at the weekends, even if it’s just a trip to the cinema.

2. Walk. It sounds obvious but you would be surprised how little walking some people actually do over the course of the day. Personally, I think life is too short to go to the gym, but if you love it and fit it in then good for you — part of me envies you, the other part of me thinks you are crazy. For me it is all about walking from A to B.

It’s really important to keep active, so carry your trainers in your bag and walk to work, get off your train a few stops early or use your lunch hour to stomp around the block. Fresh air and exercise go hand in hand in releasing any cobwebs in your brain, and don’t use the weather as an excuse not to do it.! Just be sure to invest in a decent brolly.

3. It’s important to feel amazing. I know that sounds like a vacuous comment but I don’t mean be done up to the nines with every part of you waxed, plucked and covered in makeup. I just mean make a little bit of effort with the way you look and confidence will surely follow. Other than my hair, for me it is about my clothes. I will dress a rainy morning with a bright coloured vintage dress and even when the weather is telling me I should be wearing wellies, I just wear the dress anyway — with wellies. If you add some bright colours, some vintage fun, and a pair of quirky shoes into the mix then it’s sure to give you a confidence boost.

4. Read. Get lost in someone else’s world. No matter how busy, how stressed or how little time you think you have there must always be time to lose yourself in a story. Anything from a gritty thriller to your favourite celeb’s autobiography will keep your brain ticking over and inspire you to get stuff done.

If you are too tired by the time you get to bed then switch to Audio Books, download it into your smart phone and listen on the way to work, at lunch time and on that long walk you are about to go on!

5. Keep clean and smell nice. Now, before you think I just stated the obvious we can all admit to being slack at washing our hair sometimes, or not spritzing perfume on before we leave the house.

Scents are lovely, not necessary, just lovely. Find a perfume that suits you, they really do smell different on different people. Have fun choosing and enjoy knowing that when you walk into a room you give everyone a whiff of something really gorgeous. And don’t just stop at perfume, if you keep your hair smelling nice then if anyone gets really close (eye, eye, wink, wink) then you can have confidence with that too.

6. As much as I would love to say ‘don’t bother with make-up, we don’t need it’ I won’t, because... I need it. But unless I’m on the red carpet, I like to keep it minimal. A good moisturiser, some pressed powder, a swish of blusher and a pink lip gloss are my daily staples.

7. Stay in Touch. A busy life means you have less time for those people in your life who matter, which can leave you feeling hassled and guilty. I have recently starting putting phone calls and emails into my diary. As hideously modern as this sounds it is getting me in far less trouble with my family.

8. But for me my number ONE tip will always be to make sure your hair is the best it can be, and Apple Fresh will take care of it for you. It’s mild, gentle and you can use it every day. It means you will be 100% flake free and your hair will smell gorgeous.

Head & Shoulders Apple Fresh is available for €3.85.