Here are 10 mantras for a happy and healthy 2017.

1. Exercise brain and body

This should be the mantra this year -- 30 minutes of exercise five days a week and mind games can do wonders for your physical and mental well-being.

2. Eat healthy, live healthy and love yourself

Remember size is just a number and we are never there however hard we try. We all have a particular body type and should love ourselves the way we are. Eating healthy is good, but obsessing about it can be detrimental to our emotional well-being.

3. Detox

Everyone needs some time off unhealthy food and social media. Unless suffering from a medical condition, we all should consider giving our digestive system a break at least twice a month. Go for light and healthy food like khichdi, soup, fresh juices. Excessive use of social media can have adverse effects on the sleep cycle and hamper concentration. Don't let that happen to you. Put aside all gadgets for a while every day.

4. Avoid fad diets

Any kind of extreme diet plan can have long lasting ill effects on our system. We may feel happy with the short-term results. But in the long run it may lead to severe nutrient deficiencies, emotional issues and binge eating.

(Read also: Diet Res-Illusions: Tips from the pros on how to lose weight)

5. Declutter

Declutter your wardrobe, your house and your life. Remove all the excess baggage, be it emotional or material. This will make you feel lighter and happier. Don't be an impulsive buyer. This will not only help you avoid clutter but also multiply your savings.

6. Invest in yourself

Make yourself happy because you owe this happiness to yourself. Pursue your hobbies, your passions. Do whatever makes you happy, be it singing, dancing, gardening, traveling, reading or simply playing a sport. Remember, you have just one life to live.

7. Spend time with friends and family

Friends and family can be our biggest stress busters and the best therapists. They are the anchors that hold us together in difficult times and have a multiplier effect on our happiness.

8. Show gratitude and share happiness

Count your blessings. Be thankful for whatever you have and be generous enough to share it with lesser mortals. Kindness can be in any form and for anyone. Care for people, animals and your surroundings.

9. Be a learner

Don't limit your knowledge. Knowledge brings power. It gives you the edge to excel and the freedom to explore. You are never too old to acquire new skills, learn a new language or read a good book. Knowledge can be your most powerful armor. So go for it.

(Read also: Great extracurricular activities in Jakarta to enhance your skills)

10. Love life

Love your life, your job, your house, your family. Being complacent can be bad, but being content with your life is what keeps you happy. Appreciate the finer things and enjoy your life. If you are unhappy then either have the strength to bring about change or be happy with what you have. Negativity attracts negative energy and being happy begets happiness.

Follow these mantras and let 2017 be a landmark year for you in terms of growth and self-actualization.

***

The writer is a senior banker who graduated to being a social campaigner, actor, writer and a parent. Now based in Jakarta, writes on social issues, economics and parenting. She can be found at her personal blog, www.shwetasplanet.blogspot.com.

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