The New Year has brought with it the clichéd plans and resolutions of yesteryear which hopelessly went off keel on January 2. But don't give up hope.

For gents struggling with spare tyres around the waistline or other grooming or wellness flaws, 2009 is the year to make a paradigm shift in your health, wardrobe, social life, in a nutshell, your total image. It's time to rebrand YOU.

Refocus on these nine disciplines and look fine in 2009. For all those men who have crashed and parked, it's time to call a wrecker, scrape up the pieces and get back on the road.

randy.stewart@gleanerjm.com

1 Real change starts on the inside, and will eventually shine outward. Begin with your health, and that means much more than eating your veggies and drinking eight glasses of water.

Maintaining a balanced diet, as well as regular exercise, is the key to physical and mental well-being. Thirty minutes of exercise a day can boost your confidence, improve your self-esteem and even reduce depression and anxiety.

2 Get enough sleep. Most men believe the rhetoric of their machismo, Mr I'm a Warrior working round the clock. That your body needs only four hours of sleep is nothing but a myth. Though the amount of sleep necessary varies from person to person, most men require seven to nine hours of sleep, with studies indicating an increased risk for diseases, and performance problems start to kick in when people get less than six or seven.

"Lack of sleep disrupts every physiologic function in the body," said Eve Van Cauter of the University of Chicago. Therefore, gentlemen, the choice is clear: Go to bed early rather than allowing the distractions of modern life, such as aimlessly surfing the Internet or watching late-night movies, to deprive you.

3 Develop a 'proud chest'. A good posture is worth a million dollars as it relates to image. Sit and stand up straight. Imagine taking a photo and maintain that posture without looking as though you are wearing a straightjacket. You'll look confident and successful!

4 Invest in your wardrobe. In developing coordinated clothing, every man should have a pair of black dress shoes, a black belt (preferably leather) and a standard white shirt. And it's time to spend dinero on at least one suit, so you won't seem like persona non grata at weddings, funerals and other special occasions. Before leaving the house, ensure that your shirt's properly tucked in and that belt and shoes match or complement your outfit.

5 Don't be the source of giggles at water-cooler conversations because you smell like yesterday's news. If you want to impress the ladies, scrub those ne'er-been-touched nether regions, clean the three tons of debris from under your fingernails and get an odour-buster for those smelly toes.

6 Salons these days are becoming more aware of men's needs than they were, say, 10 years ago. Young men have a chance to be pampered and groomed professionally. An immaculate haircut, clean-shaven face and manicured nails slash years off the body and convey that you take pride in your appearance.

7 Metrosexuals are redefining male finesse (the naysayers are a bunch o' haters), and more men are finally realising that it's OK to accessorise, proving they've got an eye for detail. But don't weigh yourself down as if you are preparing for war or get entangled with every geek gadget Q's got up his sleeve. Cool eyewear, a classic pen and a designer watch are all you need to exhibit edge. And if you're into jewellery, remember, less is more - the Mr T look is passé. 8 Make sure your first 10 words count. First impression lasts. and believe it or not, people treat you the way they perceive you. So if you speak like an idiot, they'll ...

9 Maintain a positive outlook and learn to push yourself rather than spend time dreaming about what coulda-shoulda-woulda. Be optimistic and pay close attention to the brighter side of your problems. No matter what you're experiencing, someone has been down that road before or even worse.

Check out great resource information which I found helpful at www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/08, www.professionalimagemgt.com/books_etiquette_pop8.htm