New Year's Resolutions

For anyone who feels like their brain has slowed down, there's no need to blame this situation on age — it's not the only factor in this equation. If your healthy resolution for 2013 is to improve your mental sharpness, each of these tips and techniques will help your work towards this healthy (and admirable) goal.

Stay active with friends: Regular fitness boosts your mood, but working out also promotes brain cell growth. The study also found that loneliness can hinder the effects of exercise on the brain. Investigators found that mice who lived together grew brain cells after exercising on running wheels, while the ones who were kept isolated and exercised did not. Just another reason that having a fitness buddy works!

Sleep right: Sleeping too little can affect your brain function, but sleeping too long can also make you sloth-like. A study conducted by a senior research fellow from the University College London Medical School found that sleeping less than six or getting more than eight hours of sleep is associated with a decline in brain function. Do your best to get between seven to eight hours a night to keep your brain working at its highest potential.

Keep reading for two more tips to keep your brain in check.

Abstaining from alcohol (or just drinking less) may be your goal for 2013, but staying committed is tough. Besides all the healthy benefits drinking less will bring to your body (hangover included), having a few techniques under your belt will help you stay motivated and connected to your healthy resolution.

Be aware: Underestimating the amount of alcohol you're drinking every week is a common issue — even if you only consider yourself a "social" drinker. Knowing what 100 calories of alcohol truly look like can help put things in perspective. For one week, make a note of every drink you have; the numbers may surprise you. You'll find that going out to a club or a bar isn't the only culprit; those hefty glasses of wine and beer at dinner pile up!

Go for a mocktail: Feeling awkward at a party or a bar may hold you back from sticking to your guns, but holding on to an alcohol-free beverage can alleviate those social stresses. Opt for a club soda with a little fruit juice or water with a lemon wedge to enjoy while everyone else is getting boozy. This way you won't feel pressured from peers, and no one will know the difference but you.

Keep reading for more tips to stick to your resolution.

The New Year is here, and it's a time to leave all toxic habits behind us and start with a clean slate. Speaking of clean, decluttering is one of the most common resolutions that people have, but when old habits start settling in again, clutter can build back up. We talked to organization expert Peter Walsh to find out what's coming in between you and a clean room in the New Year:

"I always say that 'later' is the best friend of clutter and disorganization. Whenever you're tempted to just throw the dirty dishes in the sink or leave the clothes in the dryer unfolded, catch yourself. Realize that it's the small steps that need to be done to stay on top of the clutter. My one bit of advice on the subject would be to replace the word 'later' with the word 'now.' Get into the habit of repeating that word under your breath, and pretty soon you’ll have a ton of accomplishments you can be proud of."

There's a lot of pressure that comes with the New Year — resolutions and fresh starts to name a few. Try something different in 2013, by making easy, healthy swaps instead of setting out with a list of complex resolutions. Try switching out your pack of Splenda for flossing . . . yes, flossing! These little changes will eventually add up, and without realizing it, you will soon accomplish what you set out to do.

1. Take the stairs: Instead of hopping on the escalator or waiting for the elevator, take the stars. It may not seem like much, but eventually all those stairs add up. The result? A toned tush and killer calves — perfect for those heels!
2. Switch out Splenda for stevia: Although all those little yellow packs have zero calories, they often coincide with a variety of unwanted symptoms like headaches and stomach pains. Since the idea of a no-calorie sweetener is appealing, try stevia, a natural extract made from the stevia plant. This is a healthier option when compared to other artificial sweeteners and is a simple switch to make to your daily cup of coffee.
3. Stretch: An important act that often gets dismissed, a few minutes of stretching before and after your workout (and throughout the day) will make all the difference when it comes to your overall health. Showing your muscles a little love will prevent injury and will keep you long and lean. You can even stretch in the shower!
4. Floss: Flossing is part of any healthy routine and for good reason. Flossing takes seconds, but will prevent plaque buildup, which eventually leads to gingivitis. It also keeps your pearly whites white. Who doesn't want that?
5. Drink your veggies — daily: Juicing comes with loads of benefits. Juices and smoothies are fresh, on-the-go ways to flood your body with vitamins and nutrients. Make a smoothie once a day for an extra pep in your step (we promise).

Keep reading for five more ways to make 2013 your best year yet!

Last week, we asked you which healthy resolutions were on your to-do list for 2013. Your number-one resolution? Unsurprisingly, the top resolution for many was to lose weight in the new year; perhaps just as predictably, eating healthier and exercising more rounded out the top three. In fact, most of you said that your resolutions included a combination of our resolutions list.

While making a healthy resolution is the first step, many times it's easier said than done. If you've been wondering how to tackle your new goals, then check back here this week for our tips on how to lose weight, eat healthier, manage stress, and more! If you haven't finalized your new year's resolutions, then plan right by staying away from these healthy new year's resolutions that are bound to fail.

Vowing to lose weight this year? Here's a simple tip to help rev up your metabolism and keep you on track: don't skip breakfast. Your first meal of the day helps you burn more calories and stay full, so you don't succumb to a sugary midmorning snack.

If you want to lose weight, however, there's a right way and a wrong way to eat breakfast. Go for high-protein, high-fiber, and low-sugar meals that will keep you satisfied throughout the morning, and try to eat breakfast within an hour of waking up (or within two hours of working out). And don't forget to choose wisely when it comes to your morning meal: here are 41 healthy breakfast recipes to make.

Let's be honest: not all of us have the time, money, or motivation to join a gym or volunteer on a regular basis like we'd like to. But that doesn't mean we can't make meaningful resolutions in the New Year and stick to them. Indeed, we might have better chances of doing good if we start small than if we put ourselves up to an unrealistic challenge. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Send a handwritten note: There's something really meaningful about receiving a handwritten note just because, and that's even truer in today's tech-centric world. Whether you do it once a month or more often, put a smile on someone's face by sending them a card to say hi and that you're thinking about them.
2. Donate spare change: Know all that spare change that's collecting dust in a jar on your desk? Gather it up every once in a while and commit to donating it to others. That can mean giving money to a charity or treating your friend to lunch — either way, you'll be helping someone else out.
3. Say "thank you": Sure, most of us say thank you on a regular basis and think of it as a given part of our day. But there are times when we can make the extra effort to show our appreciation, even if it means going out of our way. For example, we don't often think of leaving a note for the office cleaning lady who empties out our trash every day, but we can certainly start.
4. Use fewer plastic bags: They might be convenient when we go to the corner store, but the negative effects of plastic bags on the environment outweigh their benefits. Keep reusable bags in the car, in your purse, or stored next to your coupons so you remember to grab them the next time you go grocery shopping.

See more easy-to-keep resolutions!