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New Year’s Resolutions Worth Sticking To Nyima Pratten

We know that many of you are well adjusted human beings, and already implement all of our 2014 New Year’s resolution suggestions in your daily life. For many of us mere mortals out there though, here are a few friendly recommendations to make this New Year happy, successful and environmentally friendly.

Wear A Seatbelt Wherever Possible We’ve all done it, become accustomed to not wearing a seatbelt when travelling in taxis around the city. Think about it, this is not acceptable behaviour at home, so why would it be here, where traffic seems to be about one hundred times more dangerous? Get in the habit of looking for seatbelts before you enter a cab A lot of the newer cars do have them, so make sure you utilise the strap. If it is an older taxi, try sitting upfront with the driver where there is more likelihood of a seatbelt.

Talk’s Top New Year’s Resolutions:

Invest In A Good Quality Face Mask AQI readings kept us all glued to our phones last year, with many questioning what long-term health problems this environment could be causing us. If you haven’t done so already, our number one top thing on the New Year’s resolution list is to buy is, a high quality face mask made from a material that is capable of blocking PM2.5. 3M’s N95 anti-pollution mask is a good option as 3M are the gold standard of air pollution face masks with the longest proven track record. However, they do need to be changed regularly as they become ineffective after a few days of use; best to bulk buy this type. Another option is the slightly more fashionable Vogmask, a reusable, N99, active carbon filter face mask; slightly more expensive, but a worthwhile investment.

Visit www.taobao.com to make your purchase.

Spend Time Volunteering It is always great to give back to the community that is so graciously hosting you in this city. There are so many fantastic volunteering programmes to get involved in throughout the year. It is also the perfect way to meet like-minded individuals, collaborate on projects and make a difference. We suggest the Shanghai chapter of BEAN; a global networking, volunteering and social group for young professionals, which is working on causes ranging from caring for orphans to blood donation.

Web: shanghai.beanonline.org

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January14

Healthy Food With the less than perfect air quality, pigs in the river and avian flu last year, we must find ways to incorporate high quality and nutritious foods into our diets, and ensure that we are receiving all the vital vitamins and minerals needed to maintain healthy bodies and minds. Making sure that you are eating enough greens can be troublesome in the city, but why not indulge, and perhaps get some mealtime inspiration, by arranging a raw, vegan meal at VCLEANSE Café?

Web: www.vcleanse.com

Get Your Own Taobao Account We all know what it is, but how many of us actually have our own accounts? It is so easy to ask our friends/colleagues to buy those must-have items, however, it is never nice to put somebody out. By setting up your own account, you can have so much more fun, without feeling guilty or self-conscious about putting your orders through a third party. It’s simple, all you need is a Chinese bankcard, Google translate and a bit of patience.

Web: www.taobao.com

Take Up A New Hobby Yes, we know it’s cliché, but a new hobby that is beneficial for your mind and body, whilst also being sociable, is a great investment of your time.

Our favourite spot this year will be Pure Yoga Shanghai with its private and group yoga session. With over 125 classes per week and 20 different types of yoga classes on offer, it is sure to keep you entertained. Wall yoga anyone?

Web: www.pure-yoga.com.cn

Spend More Quality Time With Your Friends And Family It is not always possibly to see our nearest and dearest in the flesh every year, especially if they are on the other side of the world. However, luckily, we live in an age where we can Skype or FaceTime people with ease.

After all, it’s all about quality time rather than quantity time. Even if they are in a completely opposite and inconvenient time zone, let 2014 be the year when you put that little bit of extra effort in, to fitting face to face chats with loved ones into your busy schedule.

Increase Your Public Transport Usage If you don't already have one, get a public transport card and use it on the metro and buses. It is not only better for the environment and saves you money, but in the crowded city with an extended rush hour period, sometimes jumping on the Metro can actually get you to your location quicker than in a car. Shanghai’s traffic authorities recently launched an app that offers route and transfer information covering 13 Metro lines and 1,290 public bus routes in the city. Unfortunately, however, there is currently no English version. We suggest using the app Explore Shanghai for Metro journeys and to plan bus journeys using Google Maps.

Web: www.exploreshanghai.com

Learn A Bit More Mandarin

Visit The Historical Sites Of Shanghai You may have lived in Shanghai for years, but who has actually been inside Yuyuan Gardens, seen the site of the first National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party or visited the Jade Buddha Temple?

It is extremely thought-provoking to catch a small glimpse of the city’s vast history. Not only that, but you can’t leave Shanghai without ticking off the top tourist attractions. You’ll feel like a fool once you get home and somebody asks you for travel advice. All we advise is that you visit on a weekday!

We all must have a splattering of Mandarin to get by in the city, some have more than others. But perhaps this is the year when you really get to grips with the language. Spend a little bit more time studying and the benefits you could reap are limitless. Understanding Mandarin will give you a much deeper understanding of the city and open you up to new possibilities. Take the time to practise speaking with your Chinese friends and co-workers or invest some money in Mandarin classes. We suggest Mandarin House for professional and well-structured group or private lessons.

Web: www.mandarinhouse.com

Donate Your Unwanted Items To Charity We can all be guilty of hoarding, and in Shanghai it is often hard to know where to donate any unwanted items. Start the year with a good, old-fashioned spring clean before taking your clothes and other items to a River Of Heart’s collection point or sorting party. River Of Hearts is a charity program under the administrative umbrella of the Community Centre Shanghai, which sorts then transports donated items to rural, inland areas before re-distributing them to people in need. It is, however, important to ensure that all items are clean and/or laundered before donating them, with a focus on quality rather than quantity.

Web: www.communitycenter.cn/riverofhearts

Watch Chinese Movies At The Cinema Make 2014 your year to buff up on the Chinese movie scene. The Chinese film industry has been growing exponentially over the past few years (as has everything else in the country), so why not catch a few of the latest releases to see what all of the buzz is about.

It can also help you to become more acquainted with Chinese popular culture and help with your Mandarin (revert back to previous point). Will “Chollywood” ever really catch on worldwide? This year, you decide!

January14 TalkMagazine