Do you feel like your life has got out of control? Now is the time to take stock and work out which areas need reorganising. It could mean making a change to something major like your career or something small like your make-up bag.

Getting your life in order will mean you're more organised and more productive and have more time left over for you. To help you decide what to focus on, we've put together 10 simple ideas to help you make a fresh start.

Organise your morning routine

If you leave for work in a hurry, you can guarantee you'll leave a mess behind you. Coming home after a hard day's work to be faced with the breakfast washing-up can be really depressing. Why not write a schedule for your morning routine? Think about how long you need for your shower, hair, make-up, breakfast, etc. Then add it up and factor in an extra 15 minutes. And don't forget to reset your alarm clock. Coming in to a tidy home at night will make you feel in control of your life - and you'll end up with more relaxation time in the evenings too.

Sort out your finances

Stay on top of household admin: list all your outgoings in a simple spreadsheet. Then add in your income to make sure you're not spending more than you earn. List all your household bills, debts, travel expenses, food bills, etc. Then decide on a monthly budget to spend on any extras. Finally, buy a shredder and a filing cabinet. From then on, open your post every day and assess whether it needs filing, shredding, or responding to.

- How to save money on bills

Declutter your home

If you really want to feel in control of your life, it's time to say goodbye to the clutter. Set aside an afternoon and organise things into three categories: recycle or charity; dump; and keep. These days a huge amount of things can be recycled or donated to charity - check your local council website for details of local schemes. Be ruthless - if you haven't worn/used/looked at something for a year, get rid of it. And remember, stick to the one in, one out philosophy: if you buy something new, get rid of something old.

- Dejunk your home l Cash in your clutter

Get healthy

The healthier you feel, the more in control of your life you'll feel. So if you're feeling sluggish or a bit down in the dumps, try changing your eating habits and exercise routine. If there's a health issue that's been worrying you, don't ignore it - see your GP. Some surgeries offer well woman clinics, for a health MOT. Or perhaps a naturopath could help; you could be deficient in certain vitamins or minerals, in which case a supplement might help. Try joining a gym - but it doesn't have to be about going for the burn; you could go swimming or take a yoga class.

- A quick and effective yoga routine

Increase your circle of friends

As we get older, it doesn't get any easier to make friends, and sometimes old friendships can struggle in new circumstances. Perhaps some of your friends have had kids but you haven't, or maybe your career has meant you've moved somewhere new. If you're sitting at home watching too much reality TV, get some new mates! There are plenty of places to meet people, away from bars and the office. Try taking up a dance class or learning a new skill. Many people 'network' online. Why not try searching for a discussion group about something you're interested in? Online buddies can turn into lifelong friends.

- Meet new people in the Women community

Refresh your beauty routine

Empty out your make-up bag and throw out anything that's more than a year old, as well as anything that you haven't used for three months. It's easy to get stuck in a beauty rut, using the same products and techniques for years on end. But beauty trends change. So why not get some help updating your look? Visit a beauty counter for some tips on which new products will work for you; try one of the funkier modern brands such as Benefit or Mac for a really fresh look.

- Get beauty tips and advice from the experts

Revive your sex life

Even the best relationships can get a bit stale. If you feel like your love life needs a bit of extra va-va-voom, why wait for someone else to spice it up? Try reading one of Tracey Cox's great books, such as Hot Sex. Come up with some ideas with your partner - you could experiment with role-play, or try some new sex positions. Go shopping for sexy underwear together - that way you'll be sure to buy something that will turn you both on.

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Reconsider your career

If your job is getting you down, do something about it. Discuss any issues with your boss; it might be possible to work something out together. If you think a change is necessary then consider whether it's a new job or a new career you want. Make a list of what you're good at and try to match your skills to different roles. Remember, for most of us great jobs don't come knocking; it's really up to you to find them. Update your CV and register with recruitment agencies. Don't be afraid to contact companies and find out who's in charge of recruitment - great jobs often don't get advertised, so make sure you get to hear about them.

- Search for a new job

Get a diary

It might sound simple, but scheduling your time can help you stay in control. Choose a new diary that's small enough to keep in your handbag but big enough to contain all the information you need. Put in all your key events for the coming year - birthdays, holidays, dates, work meetings, etc. If you see a blank weekend coming up, plan to do something (even if it's just cleaning the house). Having your time a bit more planned will make you feel on top of things. And you'll never miss a birthday again.

Get a positive attitude!

It's often people that believe they're going to be successful that really are successful. It might sound like a load of claptrap, but if you don't think you're capable of success then no one else will. Work out what you really want out of life and come up with an action plan that focuses on how you're going to achieve it. Perhaps you want to change your career, which could mean going back to college. Or maybe you want to have a child, which could mean getting fit and healthy before trying to conceive. Whatever it is you want out of life, there's no reason you can't have a go at getting it - with the right attitude.

- Find out just what it would take to make you happy