Make this year a ten

After the excess of December come the inevitable "guilts", so what better time of year to convert this self-loathing into willpower?

I'm not a big fan of New Year. I love Christmas and, to me, New Year just marks the end of the best time of year and the start of deprivation — a.k.a. January. The mix of new diets, lack of money, going back to work and a feeling that you should be more grown up can leave you totally deflated.

Anyway, I am going to put all those feelings aside for this column, reflect briefly on 2009 and look forward to better things for the year ahead.

There's no doubt that 2009 was exceptional for all of us. The global recession has affected everyone, whether directly or indirectly, and we're all hoping 2010 will be much brighter.

For me, this is the perfect excuse to avoid making resolutions such as "lose 10kg", "give up chocolate" or "learn to speak another language". I think after a stressful 2009, we all deserve to be nice to ourselves and start the year as we mean to go on — by making it fun.

When I reflect on 2009, I will remember how brilliant my holiday in Nepal was and how I realised I had some of the best friends I have ever made. Similarly, I am going to try and forget the times I stayed home and ate ice-cream when I should have been at the gym and I won't beat myself up over the fact that I repeatedly got myself into debt.

That's what bothers me about resolutions. They seem like a punishment for a year of mistakes. You look back and regret that you still don't have the Madonna-esque figure you made a resolution about last year, so you punish yourself with the promise of spending 2010 eating nothing but raw food.

All regret does is bring up embarrassing or painful memories that make you want to go and curl up in a ball of self-loathing. So instead of making resolutions involving deprivation that will make the year seem bleak from the get-go, I am going to set myself more positive goals that will seem like treats. Maybe I will decide to go and visit the Ashram this year or maybe meet more people and increase my social circle.

One thing I have decided to avoid is acknowledging it is the end of a decade. Thinking back over the last decade's achievements will do nothing but make you feel old and decrepit.

Let's not dwell on the past and instead look to a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. Hello 2010!