Blog Posts by Redbook

This may be the easiest New Year's Resolution you've ever made:

Have sex more often.

Why?

Not only does it make you feel closer to your partner, but it may just stave off all sorts of diseases, according to a slew of studies that have determined some surprising findings: including the idea that having more sex could lead to a lower risk of cancer and people who have more sex tend to be slimmer than those who don't (sex burns 50-60 calories per encounter!)

The article goes on to profile a couple who made the decision to have sex every day for a month to try to kick bad habits (she: smoking, he: chocolate) to the curb. And the surprising thing? It worked for them!

I love that resolution! And I also feel that studies like this highlight how important sex is to our emotional and physical well-being. Oftentimes, in our to-do list world, it's hard to take half an hour - or half a day - to get naked, get under the sheets, and just have fun - especially when you're in

Alice anonymously chronicles her sometimes thrilling, sometimes romantic, sometimes boring, real-life sex life at Hot & Bothered. The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the author.

According to a recent study, people whose latest sexual encounter was a casual one don't have any sort of different emotional status than those people whose latest sexual encounter was with a committed partner.

Wow! As someone who's single and dating, and, yes, have had a casual encounter or two in my past, this is something I've always known personally, but it makes me breathe a HUGE sigh of relief to have it acknowledged. We've all heard so much about how casual sex can be damaging, but this seems to show that casual sex - in itself - doesn't significantly change your emotional state. Now, of course, that all depends on your motivation. If people are having casual sex because they feel bad about themselves, because they want to get over a breakup, because they want

Write a spending plan now so that you can make all your money dreams come true this year!

Step One: Write a Financial Wish List
Start big. At the top of your list of money goals should be an emergency fund, says financial coach Judy Lawrence, author of The Budget Kit. "If something happens to you, your spouse, children, computer, or car," says Lawrence, "you'll need something to fall back on to avoid going into debt." Aim to save the equivalent of at least three months of your income. Next, list your big-ticket dreams - to get out of debt, remodel the kitchen, pay for the kids' education, travel to Europe. Also write down personal and household needs (New interview suit? Water heater?) and wants (Kitchen cabinets? Digital camera? Satellite TV?) that you'd like to purchase in the next six months. Finally, note small money goals, such as eating out or getting a manicure once a month. Next to each goal, estimate the dollar amount you'll need to accomplish it.

Step Two: Figure Out How

1. Set a fitness goal. And give yourself enough time to reach it. Your mission is the motivation that will keep you going on days when you feel like giving up. Be sure to create smaller goals too (such as doing 15 sit-ups), and reward yourself when you reach them, to help propel you toward your big one.

2. Formulate a workout plan. Aim for three 40-minute workouts each week, at specific times. Your exercise schedule needs to be as important as any other appointment you have. Vary your routine - maybe it's tennis one day and a dance class on another - to challenge yourself and ward off workout boredom. (Go to redbookmag.com/getfit for ideas.)

3. Do a reality check. Be completely honest with yourself about how fit you are. Getting in shape is a personal journey that requires a realistic self-perspective; some novice exercisers are overly ambitious and begin a workout plan or set goals that are too hard on their bodies. So take it slow. Keep your focus on where you are and the progress

Sage advice from anti-clutter guru Peter Walsh.

Why are we such a mess?
In the last 30 years, the size of the average American house has doubled while the size of the average American family has halved. It's not that we don't have enough space; we have too much stuff. Our culture says, "One is good, two is better," so stuff keeps coming into our homes - but very little goes out.

What does our stuff say about us?
Clutter does one of two things: It keeps you in the past or it keeps you in the future. You're never fully experiencing the here and now. Grandma's china, your college term papers - they represent your family history, your blood, sweat, and tears. But the memories are separate from the stuff. You don't need to hold on to them like a life raft.

What's the biggest mistake we make when trying to get organized?
I met a woman who bought an entire supply of Rubbermaid containers at a liquidation sale. Now, she has a house full of clutter and a garage full of Rubbermaid.

Yowza: Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults describe their sex lives at "hot" and "orgasmic." Below, check out all the other words 1,000 adults chose to describe their sex lives for Trojan's 2009 Pleasure Survey.

Average - 23%
Are you really average? What's really going on in other couples' bedrooms? We got the scoop from more than 2,500 women in our redbookmag.com sex survey. Read the no-holds-barred results!

Hot - 23%
Okay, it's hot, but want to make your sex life sizzle? Become a sexual goddess with 12 easy moves to make your sex life even hotter!

Orgasmic - 22%
Already orgasmic? Why not double (or triple) your pleasure in bed? Here's how to have multiple orgasms - or at least have fun trying.

Predictable - 19%
Always in the same positions? Add the smallest twists to your favorites to deliver a bigger bang for your buck with these 10 new sex positions to try.

Non-existent - 17%
Men always want sex. That's the message you hear from your friends, from talk-show experts, from TV

Is your resolution to get a handle on your cluttered house? Try one of these 5 steps to manage your messes.

1. Set small goals.
Pick the area of your home that would bring you the most peace if it were organized. Is your closet in disarray? Is your junk drawer overflowing? If the task seems too big, break it down: Instead of tackling the whole kitchen, take it one shelf at a time. The sight of even a small clean space will inspire you to keep going.

2. Make a plan.
Create a vision of how you'd love the area to look. This mental picture will help you develop your action plan. Then, figure out how much time you can devote to the project, and stick to that schedule. Be ruthlessly honest with yourself about how much time you can give to the task and how long it will take.

3. Don't blame yourself.
You're not the only one drowning in clutter, so don't beat yourself up about it. Save your energy for making positive changes. If you catch yourself thinking a negative thought like I'm such a

Put your health first in 2010 with these easy steps to losing weight and getting fit.

1. Get a checkup.
See your doctor if you don't know your most important health numbers: cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and BMI (body mass index). Think of them as guidelines that let you know if your health is off track. Once you see what you need to work on, you'll know better how to embark on your journey toward wellness.

RELATED: Try these fun ways to reduce your blood pressure - like eating chocolate and knitting!

2. Find your motivation.
You know you should get healthy, but you'll need to search for your deeper reasons for doing so, beyond improving your physical appearance. Do you have a family history of heart disease? Do you want to be a good example for your children? These fundamental motives will keep you going on days when you want to give up.

3. Set yourself up for success.
Pinpoint what's preventing you from eating healthfully. Do you eat too much fast food? Do you snack