New Year, a time when many of us create great big lists of all the changes we want to make in our lives. If you want the best chance at hitting those goals here are a few tips we’ve learnt along the way.
Dont create a list that is absolutely massive, you’ll feel overwhelmed and if one of them isn’t going well, it could mean you dump the lot of them.
If your goal is to get fitter, here are some things to consider
As far as our bodies go, we’ve just been through the period of the year when many of us consume the most food and drink. If you suddenly decide that a diet of lettuce leaves might be a good thing, your body will say “what on earth are you doing” and work against you to thwart your weight loss goals. Take it easy. Make some small adjustments here and there. Micro-goals, thats what its all about.
Joining the gym? Good luck with that. The 2nd of January is when most gym’s earn their money. People join up, usually on a 12 month contract, go for a month and then dump it. You keep paying, they keep smiling!
People give up to early. It can take at least 6 weeks for your body to work out what youre doing with all this new fangled food and exercise, so if you stop after a month, you’ll have not waited long enough for the good stuff to happen. Plus, you’ll probably feel hacked off and reach for some comfort food!
Instead, maybe look for other ways to begin your get fit journey. get outdoors. long walks. Fresh air and parks, woods, forests etc will benefit both your body and mind. Maybe try some yoga or something similar. A gym can be quite a solitary undertaking unless you are joining with a friend, but group classes etc can feel a lot different. also look for local places that do “pay-as-you-go” classes. Dip your toe in, try some different things, see what ones work for you.
Dont beat yourself up
If things dont suddenly start to look and feel different, thats ok. It’s Winter. In our humble opinion, not the best time to start all these things. So if it hasnt gone to plan, wait ’til Spring. Spring, a time of rebirth, renewal, it doesnt get dark so early, it generally feels a bit better than Winter. You might find that the extra bit of energy you’ll have will help you reach your goals.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that “New Year” is just a by-product of an ancient calendar system. You can choose to change whenever you like 🙂
If you are struggling with life you’ll find a handy list of helplines and listening services here > https://www.sthelensunlimited.co.uk/2018/12/24/helplines-and-listening-services/
So, there you have it. Some of our thoughts on New Year, New You…..
Stay Classy 🙂
