As black women, I think we’re internationally known for taking care of everything and everybody to the max. And while it’s not a bad thing to be reliable and strong, sometimes we’re so busy worrying about everybody else that we forget to look out for ourselves. As crazy as Katt Williams seems to be acting now, he once said in a stand-up performance that in the new year, you need to look out for your star player–you. Why? Because nobody else is going to go out of their way to take care of you, so why neglect yourself trying to run up behind somebody else?

I know sometimes I’m so busy trying not to disappoint people that I’m ripping and running around the city trying to meet up for brunch, dinner, drinks and everything else, and if that’s not enough, I’m trying to make time for my boyfriend, my God (which I have no problem going to classes and service for), and to reconnect with my parents every couple of days. I’m doing the absolute most the minute my feet hit the ground out of bed that by the time my weekend comes to an end, I’ve not really had the chance to relax before the hectic work week begins. Because of such neglect to myself, by the time it’s Monday morning, I’m wishing, hoping and praying for Friday, struggling to keep my eyes open and my spirits high. After having numerous times during this last year where my immune system gave up on me because I wasn’t getting enough rest, and after waking up with my face was covered in pimples because of stress, I realized I wasn’t really taking care of myself like I should.

For someone like me, all I need is time to lay around in bed until I can’t stand to anymore, and after that, I should be good to go. But for others, making time to pamper and care for yourself might mean relaxing and getting your nails done, going to a movie by yourself, cooking and catching up on your shows, or cuddling up to a book you’ve been meaning to read for a really long time. Whatever you decide to do to reboot, just make sure it makes you happy. We spend so much time trying to please other people in this life that when folks ask us how we’re really feeling, “happy” is the last thing on our minds. Your time is more precious than you think, and while it’s fun to grab mimosas and pancakes with friends and run from train to train to meet up with folks, it never hurts to say, “No thanks, I think I’m going to chill for once.” Your body and your mind (if you’re still in your right one) will thank you for it.

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With New Year’s still fresh in our minds, self-improvement is important to everyone. But, it’s easy to be dedicated in January. The true test is honoring those resolutions for 365 days. That’s 52 weeks of discipline! Dropping the cash to lock yourself into a year-long commitment and making good habits a part of your daily routine are two easy ways to preserve that “new you” you told all of social media would debut in 2013. Here are nine ideas, some for free and others with a cost incentive, to keep you on track.

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Don’t you love that quiet lull the office falls into between Christmas and New Year’s Day? With clients and coworkers traveling for the holidays, the workplace can feel like an adult version of Home Alone. But, there are better things to do with your downtime than playing Facebook games or building towers out of office supplies with your cubicle mates. This is the perfect time of year to gain perspective on 2012, and get focused for the New Year. Follow these steps to make sure your mind is right for 2013.

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From YourTango

With New Year’s Day around the corner, New Year’s resolutions are not far behind. In our weight loss and healthy habits goals, we look forward to the promise of a fresh start, a clean slate and a new list of what we will surely accomplish in 2013.

But a resolution is not much more than a firm decision of sorts. It does not mean you have a bulletproof plan or even know how to really create the successful environment that will pave the path to your dreams.

Your partner plays an important role in your support system and can add significant obstacles to your path if he is not encouraging you to be the best you can be. When asked, most partners admit they would not like their significant other to be overweight or obese. At the same time, many couples do not always agree on food, exercise and free time activities. The strain becomes more obvious if one of you is trying to make a change and the other is not.

How you can tell your partner does not support your success:

1. Your partner makes you feel bad about changing habits. Calling you selfish for taking time away from him/the house/the kids or negative comments to his friends means that a guilt trip is not far behind. Instead of feeling proud of your accomplishments, you make excuses about them.

2. Your partner directly sabotages your efforts. He creates demands on your time just as you were heading to the gym. He eats fatty foods when you are dining out. He leaves you with the kids for the whole day without checking your plans. He insists that his meals remain the same while the ‘rabbit food’ is yours alone. You start to feel alone in your efforts and squeezed out of possibilities to do well.

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It’s that time of the year when my Twitter timeline and Facebook news feed are both filled with declarations like, “2012 is my year,” or “Can’t wait to leave so many people behind in the New Year.” Unfortunately, many of these same people will find themselves in the same situations come December of 2012.  Just because it’s a new year doesn’t mean you or your situations will automatically change for the better. If you discover you constantly are breaking promises to yourself, even though on the first of January you’re so amped to make a change, it could be because you’re falling victim to the following New Year’s resolution pitfalls:

(Black America Web) — The day after approximately 2,000 delegates attending the 101st NAACP convention in Kansas City, Mo., voted unanimously to adopt a resolution which condemns the blatant acts of racism being displayed by members of the Tea Party movement, NAACP leadership and others downplayed the controversy as “being focused on by the media.” We passed 75 resolutions in session,” said NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous, “but only one is being focused on by the media. There were 16 on criminal justice. There were more than a dozen on the issue of education. I gave a 42-page speech, half of one page addressed the Tea Party, and that is all everyone has talked about.”

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