Want more advice on how to kick-start 2012? We've got a few more words of wisdom from China-side life coaches about getting to know yourself, setting a rhythm to your life--and not letting "perfect" be the enemy of good.

Date Yourself

Making connections in Beijing is often ridiculously easy. So easy it seems rather rude to stay home when exciting new acquaintances are dropping into your lap on a daily basis. Coach Nina Juraschek has seen much evidence that the most vital connection of all gets neglected in the dizzy whirl of life in Beijing: your connection with yourself.

“Beijing is one of the most exciting cities in the world, filled with possibility, opportunity and endless new ideas. This is certainly not a bad thing, but finding balance, and “keeping it real” can become an issue here.

“People start to suffer when they don’t make real time for themselves. That means giving yourself a breather and collecting your thoughts. It might mean, shocking as it sounds, turning down an invitation to dinner, lunch, or coffee. But marking out an amount of time to simply be alone and have time to reflect a bit is one way to stay in touch with you are – because your own well-being should be your priority.”

It’s all about Rhythm

Did you know that the majority of heart attacks happen on Monday and Tuesday mornings? According to resilience training specialist Thomas Tang of the Resilience Institute, one of the key reasons for this is the disruption to the body that occurs over the weekend, and subsequent return to weekday rhythms again.

Thomas says one of the most important secrets of good health, energy, confidence and creativity lies in respecting your 24-hour circadian rhythm, or body clock.

“It’s really important to go to sleep and get up at the same time every day. Even on weekends, when you might feel you deserve a lie-in, you should get up and start your day at the same time as during the week. This strengthens the body and mind, improves alertness and protects from disease.”

“During the day, try to be aware of your body’s ultradian rhythm by taking a break every 90-120 minutes to walk away from your desk, maybe get a glass of water, or just tune into your breathing and relax. By taking a definite break from the task at hand, you can maximize your energy and efficiency.”

It’s not always easy to take breaks during the working day, but by being aware of our body’s natural rhythms, we can recognize and be prepared for dips in energy and take a break instead of reaching for the chocolate or coffee.

Willpower is Overrated

Thomas Tang knows a secret about willpower: It’s stressful and you can do without it by harnessing the power of ritual instead.

“Do you need willpower to brush your teeth every morning? Of course not! All the things that seem to require lots willpower in life, like getting up in the morning to do sport, maintaining a clear distinction between work and family life, or even just eating a healthy breakfast every day, can become second nature by building them into rituals.”

Thomas says it takes just six weeks for physical ritual to become a good habit, and eight weeks to set up a mental or emotional ritual.

“Modern life is all about compromise, which means it’s even more important to put rituals in place and protect them. It’s in the interest of your own wellbeing.”

“The more you rely on ritual, the less you rely on willpower, and you’ll find you have more energy, confidence and resilience every day.”

Thomas says that it’s not necessary to live like a monk! The daily rituals may occasionally have to be abandoned but the secret is to be aware of when the routine’s been broken and come back to it as soon as possible.