BONUS - RUSTENBURG - In the spirit of the New Year, it is as good a time as any to implement changes that support your body, mind and spirit for a healthier, happier year– from fitness and nutrition to skin, hair and mental well-being.
For many, New Year's resolutions include becoming active and fit and a good idea is to move smarter, not harder. Nick Robert, sports dietician says: "Training improves cardiovascular health while efficiently burning calories, making even a short session highly effective."
For beginners, it is important to start slow, work one muscle group a day with light cardio, and gradually build up intensity. Robert suggests trying four exercises of four sets of 12–15 reps per set. “Focus on sustainable routines and proper nutrition rather than extreme trends.”
“Gut health is key,” Robert adds. “A healthy gut supports your mind, reduces reliance on medication and boosts overall well-being.”
Tanya de Lange of ShapeShift Online Body Transformations emphasises warming up and limiting initial sessions to three per week to avoid burnout. “Combine fitness running and functional training for a full-body challenge – for example, squats mimic sitting down and standing up, making daily tasks easier.”
For skin health, Dr Claudia Ngobeni-Mkize, dermatologist, recommends keeping things simple: cleanse, moisturise and apply SPF daily. “Stay hydrated, support the skin barrier with gentle, fragrance-free products” and she is adamant that “sunscreen is not optional on cloudy days.”
In terms of hair care and style, Jo-anne Gerber, owner of Gary Rom Hairdressing in Southdowns says that Scandinavian blonde and natural brunette tones, sun-kissed and multi-dimensional hair is a big trend in 2026. “Long, flowy layers with soft face-framing ends or polished midi or collarbone bobs” (easy to maintain and flattering for most face shapes), are also top of her trend-list.
Gerber’s hair care tips include using UV protection with SPF, prioritising scalp health, to balance protein and moisturise in your hair and to use professional, heat-safe styling tools.
Hairdressing icon, Johan Nortjé busts hair care myths: “Raw fruit cannot thicken hair and hair masks soften ends but do not repair splits – trimming is best. Also, shaving does not make hair grow thicker and frizzy hair should be washed only once or twice weekly to retain natural oils.”
Other better year/better you tips
* Sleep quality – aim for 7–8 hours nightly
* Say ‘no’ – avoid overcommitting; protect your energy
* Celebrate small wins – focus on progress, not perfection, for sustained motivation.
