Happy New Year!
Welcome to a new year and a new decade.
Once again it is the time of year when we make resolutions to change our lives. The resolutions are probably the same ones we make every year, to get fit, to lose weight, to be more organised etc. We all know what we should do to improve our diet, health and wellbeing but finding the motivation can be a problem. In this article we will look at some different ways you can challenge yourself and find the motivation to achieve goals without it feeling like a chore.
If your goal is to drink less in 2020 then how about starting the year off by completing Dry January?
What is Dry January?
Dry January is not anti-drinking. Instead it is a way for millions of people to reset their relationship with alcohol through a one-month booze-free challenge.
The participants from previous years have reported that 86% saved money, 70% had better sleep, 66% had more energy and 65% had improved health.
You can sign up and commit to a booze free month here to receive support emails or you can download the dry January app which will help you to track units, calories and money saved.
Goal tracking
Rather than resolutions why not try following a monthly 30-day challenge.
A 30 day challenge can be anything you want it to be. The idea is to do one thing every day for 30 days. You could do a plank challenge or a sit up challenge and see how you improve over 30 days.
Maybe you want to increase your daily number of steps by going for a walk each day. There are lots of useful phone apps to help track your steps.
Running challenges
If you have never run before then why not take up the NHS approved Couch to 5k challenge. After just 9 weeks you could be running 5k! Click here for more information.
Or sign up for a 10k and work towards achieving your goal.
Visualise how good it will feel to complete that 10k and to get a medal. Then start in January by committing to joining a local running club. More information about Running groups in Bridgend.
Or take part in a local parkrun supported by our PYB Health Surgeries. (Find out more about how PYB Health supports parkrun).
If you need a bit more inspiration to get your trainers on then have a read of Tanya’s story, a mum from Bridgend that started with a couch to 5k and has run her first marathon in 2019!
Maybe this is the year you finally run a marathon?
Cycle Challenge
If your new year resolution is to dust off your bike and get cycling you can set yourself some simple goals to get started.
There are plenty reasons to get the pedalling aside from the health benefits. Joining a local cycling group around Bridgend that welcomes new members will help with motivation – more information about cycling in Bridgend here.
If medals and targets motivate you and push you to be better then visit the “Race at your pace” website which allows you to challenge yourself regardless of your ability.
Virtual Swimming Challenges
If your new year resolution is to go swimming more often then why not take on a Swim 22 challenge?
Swim 22 is not a race it is a commitment towards a healthier you. Swim 22miles (the distance of the English channel) over 12 weeks at your own pace.
Swim 22 is organised by Diabetes.og.uk to raise money for their charity.
If fundraising is not for you then you can still challenge yourself to swim the distance. At the end of the day you do not need to be accountable to a charity to swim the distance, the only person you are accountable to is yourself.
Set yourself a swim challenge and keep track of your results using an app such as SWIM 10 or sign up to “Race at your pace” to help keep you motivated.