Making a New Year’s Resolution doesn’t always have to be a grim business of weight loss and crack-of-dawn workouts. It’s easy enough to look at your profile in the mirror and declare you’ll drop 25 pounds in a month but if the prospect fills you with dread, you’re apt to be pretty disappointed a month hence. People often think of self-improvement as payment for a year of self-indulgence, an ordeal one emerges from worthier of enjoying life’s blessings. In fact, the more you focus on things you really want to do, the more likely you are to follow through on them. So why not resolve to do something you’ve always wanted to but always hesitated out of fear?  This year, try a different approach, one that leaves you feeling better because you followed your heart, not your conscience. There are many avenues to self-improvement. The one that leaves you looking better, feeling better and happy without having to suffer for it is well worth following.

Have you wondered what you could do about replacing a damaged tooth, or how best to improve a smile turned unsightly by years of coffee and wine drinking? There are lots of teeth-whitening kits on the market, but making a lasting improvement means getting professional help. Dental implants are considered the industry standard when it comes to replacing damaged teeth. Implants don’t affect other teeth and they’re a stable option because they anchor into the jaw bone structure, just like any other tooth. Best of all, implants give you a clean, healthy looking version of your natural teeth. If you need support for a removable denture, an implant can give you a more comfortable and appealing fit.

If you’re happy with your body for the most part but can’t get rid of stubborn fat from that one area, consider liposuction as a viable alternative. For many people, a flabby belly or wobbly thighs can be a source of embarrassment even for someone who’s toned and trim everywhere else. Some of the best candidates for liposuction are those who are near their ideal weight and just need to address a few problem areas. However, it’s not recommended for people who are excessively over weight or who have a lot of cellulite deposits, since it can only remove minimal amounts. Bear in mind that liposuction treatments may cause bruising that can take up to a month to heal.

Medical science holds that exercise and a healthy diet are the best ways to improve your overall appearance. But there are other ways to look great this year, improvements that require a bit more than hitting the treadmill and eating your vegetables every day. For women, breast augmentation offers the dual benefits of a healthier, more youthful look and a renewed sense of confidence in one’s appearance. It’s been the most common cosmetic procedure in the United States over the past decade, so you can feel confident that it’s a safe to normal activity.

Clothes go a long way toward shaping our appearance, and they have a lot to do with how we think of ourselves. If you’re considering making a change this year, adding some new fashions can help bolster your self-confidence. But rather than buying just anything, take a strategic and integrated approach, much as you would if you were shopping for new kitchen appliances.

This year, try envisioning a new you that’s not dominated by obsessive concerns over weight loss and exercise. Instead go in a different direction with something you’ve always wanted to try. Whatever you choose focus on making a change that feeds your happiness and sense of well-being.

Sources:  Lindsey M https://publichealthcorps.org/