Dolly Buckley: How to look and feel great in 2019

A new year is always a positive time to make changes; and we are the only ones who can change ourselves, as no one is going to do it for us.

While we are well settled into 2019 now and some of our January resolutions may have already gone by the wayside, it’s not too late to make small changes that will put a spring in your step.

Last January, for example, I stopped putting sugar in my coffee and promised myself that whatever the weather and no matter how busy, I would walk the canal near my farm five times a week for 30 minutes. I am proud to say I have stuck to both of these and feel so much better for it.

I also stopped buying bags of boiled sweets to have in my car, replacing them with sugar-free chewing gum.

I drive a lot with my work, so the sweets used to be a comfort.

But as we all know, they are bad for teeth and full of unwanted calories, so I’m glad I’ve given them up.

I also always have a bottle of water in my driver’s side pocket, and this has stopped me buying fizzy drinks when I park up for petrol.

So, here are some top tips to look- and feel- great this year.

1 Sleep: The whole idea of beauty sleep is not a myth. Did you know that while you sleep, your cells are busy repairing DNA damaged from the day before? So cosy down and give them a chance to get on with it. Getting to bed before midnight is a very good thing.

2 Drink water: While a nice cup of tea or a hot toddie seems far more appealing this time of year, if you would like your skin to look more youthful and glowing, then drinking a minimum of one litre of water a day will really make a huge difference.

3 Treat your skin: Rather than using a regular moisturiser on your face, try an anti-age cream. Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Intense Advanced Serum, €34 for 30ml, works wonders by tightening and smoothing away fine lines and can be worn under your regular face cream.

4 Bad habits: Now is definitely the time to stop puffing on those ciggies or weird-looking vape contraptions! As well as being so bad for your health and stupidly expensive, smoking deprives your skin of oxygen, accelerating the process of ageing by depleting the collagen in your skin. Due to the constant sucking motion, smokers have more lines around their mouths. Not a pretty look. Off-white teeth due to smoking is also very ageing.

5 Vitamin boost: Fewer daylight hours coupled with the cold weather means we spend more time covered up, so getting the essential vitamin D that our bodies need can be a challenge. Vitamin D from the sun’s rays keeps our teeth, bones and muscles healthy and is vital for our immune system. Mushrooms are a great source of vitamin D, as are oily fish, fortified dairy products and cereals, egg yolks etc. Vitamin C is also a potent antioxidant for fighting infection and keeping our skin looking youthful, so sources such as strawberries, avocados, red peppers, broccoli and tomatoes are great and can all be eaten raw, which is even better.

6 Clean hands: Did you know that one of the worst places for picking up germs is the handle on a supermarket trolley? So, if you ever buy yourself a sneaky treat to munch on in the car on your way home after your big shop, always sanitize your hands first! Or better still, get out of the habit of buying treats when you’re out food shopping… they all add extra calories we don’t need.

7 Change: Another positive thing to do for yourself in the new year is to change your hairstyle/colour. Ask yourself how long you have had this same look. Then be brave and make that change. A good place to start is by looking in the magazines at different looks and also ask your hairdresser’s advice. Even something as simple as a few highlights in the front of your hair to lighten up your face or having a slight fringe cut can make a difference. Fringes hide forehead lines brilliantly, which in turn will make you look more youthful. If you always have short hair, let it grow, as length around the face is soft and flattering. If you always have straight hair, get it curled next time you go for a blow dry. Minor changes make a big difference and it’s a bit of fun.

8 Be nice: I am always telling my children that if they don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all and that whatever they put into life, they will get out of life. It’s nice to be nice and I think if we all could be a bit more considerate this year, show kindness to others and do more for our communities, we will certainly feel good about ourselves. So if you are still mulling over your new year’s resolutions, why not consider giving blood, volunteering at your local charity or arranging a fundraiser for your local hospice?