Shake off those end-of-year blues

With just 36 days to go to the end of 2012, the final stretch is in sight and everyone seems to be feeling that general lull that comes with this part of the year.

We start looking back at our New Year resolutions and realise that only one out of 20 things has been done and we need more time to get to the other 19. Just thinking about it makes us tired.

I was starting to feel the pressure about three weeks ago, but decided there was only one person to blame for the way I was feeling - me. If you really want to start feeling alive again, follow these steps closely - they have been tried and tested. This is what I did and I hope that a combination or all of these will work for you too:1.Clear the clutter - things and people. You know the old saying "cleanliness is close to godliness." Spring-clean and give your unwanted clutter to charity or someone less fortunate than yourself. Give it away with an open heart, wanting the very best for the person receiving your gifts.

Also, clear your life of negative people. Spend less time around the people that drain you and more time in your own company or in the company of those who bring you joy and peace. You don't need to be confrontational or start an argument, you need to just maintain your space and distance.

Negative people drain our energy. Removing or minimising interactions with these people will help restore your energy. When you feel stronger and more energetic, you can deal with what actually bothers you about that particular person or relationship. For now, we just want to get the spring back in your step. 2. Get outdoors. Rainy weather results in hibernation for most of us . So, whenever there is a sunshiny day, get out there. If you are lucky enough to be near the sea, go for a long walk on the sand or as near to the sea as possible. If you are inland, find an open park and do the same. The fresh air, nature's beauty and a little exercise will help stimulate the brain. 3.Eat the good stuff. You don't have to detox or go on a crash diet. Just get a few healthy, fresh and maybe even raw fruits and vegetables into your body. Cut down on the red meat and chicken if possible and stick to whole grains, fish, nuts and avocados. Eat brown rice instead of pasta or bread where you can. Try and minimise fizzy drinks, sugar, juice and junk food and rather drink more water.

4.Pump up your heart rate. This does not mean you need to be fit already. Getting the heart rate up with some high-energy cardio will help with fatigue. You don't need more than 10 minutes a day. If you have a treadmill, alternate your speed between a steady walking pace to the fastest you can possibly run. This may even be one or two minutes on each level. Alternate between an incline and a flat. The 10 minutes will fly by as you won't be bored doing the same things for the entire time. If running is not for you, then try it on the bicycle, stepper or any other cardio machine. You just need to alternate between a steady pace and the fastest you can go. You may even catch the "get fit" bug and can up your time to between 15 and 30 minutes a session.

5. Yoga, meditation and breathing - you do not need to be flexible or have done yoga before. Controlled breathing can help with alertness and stress. Take five deep breaths in and breathe out for the count of five. Increase the count as your lung capacity increases. Sit still for five minutes daily - mornings are best. In this time make sure you have your phone turned off, your mind is still and you are in a quiet place. These five minutes will help you in your day-to-day tasks.

Yoga is available at the gym, online, at yoga schools or from a qualified private instructor. It is the best practice for rejuvenation of mind, body and soul.

These are just my top five fatigue busters. There are many more you can research online. If you are still exhausted after trying all of this, I suggest seeing a physician. Remember, there are only 24 hours in each day. To get the most out these hours, you need to segment them into portions of eat, sleep, work, exercise, social and spiritual time. Life is going to go out of balance at times, so don't be too hard on yourself about it. Always have a plan as to how you are going to make it better. As you know, there is only one person to blame for where you are and how you feel - and only that person can get you out of it.