9 New Year Resolutions for 2016 to turn my life around

This time, New Year's eve was AWESOME… the best ever. I was fast asleep by 10pm.

Now wait, before you write me off as an old fuddy-duddy, let me tell you I was just getting an early start on my New Year resolutions. Right there at #9:

#9: Early to bed, early to rise

You know what they say about every hour's sleep before midnight being equivalent to two hours of sleep post-midnight? Considering that I usually nod off while telling my kids their bedtime story at 9.00pm, I think it's time for all of us to shift bedtime back - I could do with feeling more energetic this year. And while I don't quite like the "early to rise" part of the deal, I'd like to get in some me-time before the clan wakes up and starts howling for attention.

#8: Less of the social media brouhaha

I think I turned into a social media junkie over the last couple of years, and there's very little point to it. It's another dangerous time-and-energy suck (and by the way, I don't watch TV either, but that's old now). So in 2016, I'm just going to use Twitter to stalk people and Facebook for sparingly reaching out to make some real connections. Some un-friending might happen. Frankly, I don't think anyone will even notice. Except my real buddies who may be surprised by a sudden call from me this year.

#7: Use my smartphone in a non-dumbass way

This is of course related to the point above, but goes beyond. Our use of phones is alarming - really, really alarming. So some ground rules: no checking work mail on the phone when unnecessary; no pressing the snooze button anymore; and every time I realise I'm staring blankly at the screen, go and force myself to do something more meaningful, which brings me to #6. …

#6: Family time:

The number one regret that people have when they die is that they didn't spend enough time with people who really mattered to them. We all know this. How many of us act on it NOW? Yeah, I thought so. Not very many. This year, I resolve to really LISTEN to my kids. And to help me along, I've even taught them to say stuff like, 'What's more important - me or your phone/laptop/work?' Of course, sometimes I snarkily tell them the latter item is marginally more important than them, but still.

#5: Write something NEW

Our passions are what keep the fire burning. I've already got a manuscript ready to pitch, and two works-in-progress. How I long to write something afresh, a new story, with all the excitement that it brings. It feels like years since I've done that. And I'll be able to do this only if I accomplish my goal of waking up early and writing an hour each morning. When else is there time?

#4: Refuse all invitations to be BITTER

Whether it's a snivelling colleague at work or another author venting on social media about how tough/pointless/suicide-inducing it is to be an author in today's India, I say: thanks very much, but I'm going to just focus on doing what I need to do and being grateful and happy. Bitterness falls nowhere in that scheme of things.

#3: Bring back the music

I've always loved music, and here's the thing. This year, I'm resolving to commit little bits of time to something I'll never be REALLY good at. Do you have any idea how liberating this is? We use "amateur" in a derogatory way, but it means someone who does things just for the love of it. I'm learning to read music and play the piano. I have a twenty-year plan. I'll be good by the time I'm 55 and about ready to retire. I'll wear a long flowing skirt and play Mozart. I'm also reviving my love for the guitar after almost a decade of no strumming. A few minutes each day, no pressure, weekly lessons with easygoing but wonderful teachers, and it's very de-stressing.

#2: Fitness, fitness, fitness

I'm a Zumba instructor on weekends, and do yoga each morning and guess what? It's STILL not enough! When you're in your mid-30s, you realise that you need vigorous exercise every DAY. I've started using the Fitbit and seen that I'm not moving enough - I need to get in those 10,000 steps a day. Measuring my weight tells me a few kilos have snuck up on me. So I'm resolving to take up a biweekly fitness class in addition to the other stuff I do. Forget three times a week. Seriously. It has to be every. single. day. And I'll keep measuring.

#1: Do more for other people 

This year I re-enter the workspace as a full-time employee. I've achieved a lot of my personal and professional goals over the last few years, and yes, I've failed plenty too. But I'd like to turn more attention to helping those close to me achieve THEIR goals. As a rather selfish person (hey, come on, how many people do you know who admit this so readily?), this will take major effort. But at this ripe old age, I've realised that if you're not accepting your weaknesses while simultaneously challenging yourself to do better, you're not growing, you're not learning … and therefore, not living.

I'm stopping with nine, but I have plenty of other resolutions … like laughing more, controlling my temper, meditating, reading more fiction, tidying up more often. Maybe I'll get to those in 2017.

But enough about me. How about YOU? What are YOU planning to take on in 2016? Don't be shy. Tell us. We're all in this together.