17 Happy, Healthy Choices You Should Make In 2017

To really bring on the romance, get in a night of great… conversation. Women find men who are good storytellers more attractive, finds new research from the University at Buffalo and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. To nudge your partner toward better tales: "Frame ordinary questions in a novel way. Instead of, 'How was your day?' ask, 'What were the obstacles you faced?' Then follow up with, 'What was that like for you?'" suggests Anna Osborn, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Sacramento, CA. "This isn't something we normally hear, so our brain has to pause and think about the answer." Nope, that's not indigestion you're feeling — it's butterflies.

RELATED: 20 Ways to Guarantee You'll Have Sex Tonight

The year has just begun, and chances are you already need a break. Yet in 2015, more than half of Americans hadn't used up all of their vacation days by the end of the year. While you may hope that sacrificing a beachy getaway could earn you Employee of the Month status, studies show that having unused vacation days makes you less likely to get a raise or a bonus. So force yourself to sip cocktails on that lounger (as awful as that sounds) and you may just come back to a bigger paycheck.

"We often confuse deliberation with making a wiser decision, but that's not the case," says Samantha Ettus, author of The Pie Life: A Guilt-Free Recipe for Success and Satisfaction. Instead, "spend five seconds deliberating, then let it go." If it sounds risky, that's okay: A bad decision is better than spending precious time agonizing over soup or salad. Again.

One day you misplace your keys, and the next you've let Dr. Google diagnose you with dementia. Don't panic! A study has found that your brain isn't failing — you're just thinking about different things. "When we're young, everything is worth noting, including where we put our keys. As we get older, we're less focused on details," says study author Natasha Rajah, director of the Brain Imaging Centre at McGill University's Douglas Institute. This is normal, but to boost your memory, multitask less.

Optimism is making a New Year's resolution to eat healthier. Realism is a fridge full of kale that nobody wants. You're more likely to stay motivated when it comes to eating healthy if you focus on consuming the good stuff you actually, you know, enjoy, according to a Baylor University study. "Make your favorite foods — like berries or broccoli — staples of your diet, rather than forcing yourself to eat things that make you miserable. Your diet will be more successful," says study author Meredith David, Ph.D.

RELATED: 16 Very Real Thoughts Every Woman Has While Trying to Stick to Her Healthy Eating Resolutions

Women feel the least attractive on Monday mornings (ugh), according to a national survey. So try beauty guru Mally Roncal's solution. "To make your eyes look bigger and brighter, swing your mascara brush toward your nose for a starburst effect." It's the pick-me-up your face — and spirits — need.

There is absolutely no reason to be bummed out by what you see in the mirror. If certain crinkles bug you, say, but you're wary of injectables, know this: "You can get smaller-dose injections that soften lines but still allow the skin to move, so it won't be obvious that you've had Botox," says New York City dermatologist Yoon-Soo Cindy Bae, M.D. Your face is your face: You deserve to feel great about it.

There is such a thing as a perfect apology — and it doesn't include a text with the crying-face emoji. The two most crucial components, according to a study from The Ohio State University, are to acknowledge you made a mistake and offer to fix the problem. Apologizing in person is wise, too. "Let the other person see that you're sincere," says study author Roy Lewicki. Do this and your "I'm sorry" will put things right again.

When it's your turn to pick the next get-together spot for your group, reconsider your favorite happy-hour bar. "My friends and I meet to exchange easy, quick dinner recipes or go for a long walk to get some exercise. It's just as relaxing as going out to dinner," says Emily Ley, author of Grace, Not Perfection: Embracing Simplicity, Celebrating Joy. This way you get your sanity-saving girl time without the empty calories.

With birthdays come cake, VIP treatment, an occasional dinosaur-themed card (groan), and, potentially, a higher quality of life. A new study found that people who felt bad about their age showed a sharp negative emotional reaction when faced with life stress, while those who felt good about aging proved more emotionally resilient when put in stressful situations. So develop the attitude that you'll only feel better and happier as each year passes, and you will — no matter what obstacles you may face. Now let's see a birthday wish do that.

RELATED: 25 Things Turning 30 In 2017

You don't have to be a fifth-grader to know a bully, and one study found that dishing hostility back to a grown-up one, like a mean boss, can make you feel better. But is that what you'd tell your 10-year-old to do? Lori Scherwin, founder of the consulting firm Strategize That, says the better solution (and one that'll keep you employed) is to advocate for yourself, not lob accusations. "Instead of saying, 'I hate that you don't give me credit for my work,' try instead, 'I love the work I'm doing. I'd like to get more credit for it. How can we make that happen?'" advises Scherwin.

Elderly friends have the best advice, so don't be afraid to ask. "I would inquire, 'How do you stay happily married for a lifetime?' or,'What's the best thing you did for your kids?'" says Karl Pillemer, Ph.D., author of 30 Lessons for Loving: Advice From the Wisest Americans on Love, Relationships, and Marriage. "There are some things in life in which you need to experience the whole thing in order to fully understand it."

This is a treatment that benefits your skin beyond making you feel blissed-out. "Getting one every few months can improve your skin's texture, unclog pores, and help the anti-aging process," says dermatologist Julie Karen of Complete Skin MD in New York City. Consider it skin maintenance — because taking care of yourself is a smart investment.

Achy knees do not have to be a given, says Heidi Powell, personal trainer and co-host of ABC's Extreme Weight Loss. Here's her best trick: Stand right in front of the couch (facing away) and step forward with your left leg. Lower to the ground so your left knee is at a 90-degree angle and your right knee is touching the floor. Lift your back foot so it rests on the cushions. Place your hands on your front knee, hold for two minutes, then switch sides. That steep staircase? It won't be a problem now (or later).

…if you want to eat a little less food. New research has found that increasing your water consumption by just 1 percent can reduce caloric intake by about 70 to 200 calories, as well as lower how much sugar, fat, sodium, and cholesterol you eat, says study coauthor Ruopeng An, Ph.D. This might just be the easy bikini-body diet you've been waiting for your whole life!

RELATED: 7 Weird Things That Happen to Your Body When You Don't Drink Enough Water

A simple way to feel more grounded is to study your feet. Chances are you never focus on them, so this is an exercise in truly paying attention. Take in the calluses, the tiny beauty marks, maybe the chip on your pinkie nail. This is mindfulness, and it's powerful. "It takes you off autopilot so you can focus on exactly what your mind is doing at that second," says Lori Haase, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at the Center for Mindfulness at the University of California, San Diego.

Big organizing projects are supposed to help you love your home more… not wish you could put it on the market and start fresh. To help them feel less daunting, follow the rule of de-cluttering what's visible first. "Don't waste time organizing areas that you won't ever enjoy, like the inside of your cabinets," says Dana K. White, author of How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind. "Once you spend 30 minutes sorting a spot of visible clutter, you'll smile every time you see that space and feel motivated to keep it neat."