7 things every woman should try

They say life is short, but let's face it, in a world of routine, debt and stress, it can seem like a long walk on a slow treadmill. We've found 10 ways to take your life from 'Groundhog Day' to 'grand' in no time at all!

They say life is short, but let's face it, in a world of routine, debt and stress, it can seem like a long walk on a slow treadmill. Too many women rely on men to make them happy, but it's time to take matters into your own hands.

If you feel like your days have been stuck on autopilot, don't worry! We've found 7 easy ways to take your life from 'Groundhog Day' to 'grand' in no time at all.

by Brenda Della Casa
Go on a non-diet for the weekend

The Rut: You avoid the office biscuit tin, count the calories in your carrots and refer to yourself as 'bad' if you dare enjoy a slice of your own birthday cake. Hating our bodies has become such a pastime that running down a list of flaws to friends actually counts as conversation. How boring!

Try It! Deprivation may be commendable in the Nicole Richie Book of Health but it hardly makes for a full life, so give it a rest! Enjoy the wine, twirl the pasta and order dessert! Just as eating salad for one day won't make you thin, a few fun dinners with friends won't make you fat.
Book your dream holiday - go alone if you have to!

The Rut: You've always wanted to see Rome, and you bet the Foie Gras in Toulouse would be heavenly. You'd love to go, but you never seem to have the time and even if you did, you don't have anyone to share it with.

Try It! We'd all love to live out our own 'Under The Tuscan Sun' experience but when it comes to booking the flight, it's easier to make excuses than get off our bums and go.

The truth is that the time is never 'right' to do something amazing. If it were, we'd be having life-changing experiences every Tuesday. You have to make the time. And please, know that you don't need a boyfriend to taste tiramisu in Capri. You might meet one there!
Cut the credit card noose!

The Rut: University is a distant memory and your salary's not too shabby, but you wouldn't know it based on your lifestyle! Those credit card payments are really steep.

Try It! Call your credit card companies and renegotiate your APR fee. There's a good chance it's higher than you realise. Then, open up a separate savings account because you are about to save some serious cash. Small changes like making coffee at home, packing a lunch and hosting drinks at your flat, as opposed to slinging back martinis in your favourite bar, will make a big impact on your budget.
Kick your celebrity addiction

The Rut: You log onto your favourite blog every hour and can detail Mariah's favourite foods in alphabetical order. In fact, you know more about the relationship between Nicole and Paris than you do your own friendships.

Try It! Toss the tabloids and pick up the phone. Catch up with old friends, browse your local bookshop and get to know the world you live in, instead of pressing your face against the celebrity fishbowl all the time.

Added bonus: There's a good chance you'll start to feel better about yourself when you stop staring at a lifestyle you cannot afford and skin that's been Photoshoped!
Date yourself exclusively

The Rut: You want to find a guy, settle down and have a baby, but another bad date might throw you over the edge.

Try It! If dating has become draining, it's time to go on hiatus. Taking time to enjoy your own life, pamper your passions, hone your hobbies and truly get to know yourself will not only revive your spirit but also make you more able to look for a solid partner.
Work at your dream job

The Rut: You know that finance isn't your forte and you'd really love to be a writer, but you're probably too old to start something new from scratch right? Wrong.

Try It! Whether it's writing, accounting or opening your own cake shop, there is no reason you can't be doing something you love while earning a good wage. You just have to be smart about it. Start a blog, take a class or sell cakes on the side while you work at your current position. The more you indulge your dreams as a hobby, the more likely it is that it will ignite your passion. Motion creates motion. Sitting there complaining that you missed your chance will get you nowhere fast.
Let go of the past

The Rut: You've had the same look since university. You even wear some of the same clothes. Yes, you were cool back then, but that was 10 years ago!

Try It! If you're still wearing the same lip gloss you wore in biology, get thee to a make-up counter pronto! You may not realise it but your attempt at holding onto your youth may actually be ageing you.

Trends, face shapes and body types change over the years, which is why it's important to freshen up your look every so often. You don't have to go drastic but a few highlights, a new cut and some up-to-date fashions can help you see yourself in a whole new light.