If you’re anything like me then you’ve probably started the new year hungover and stuffed to the brim with leftovers from Christmas dinner, chocolate, crisps, more chocolate and a whole heap of alcohol! Because of this (and the fact we use ‘but it’s Christmas…’ far too often throughout December), January is the month the majority of us choose to take back the reigns and decide to start our year off right -to be as healthy & active as possible.

Setting a new goal or target, can help you pull through (especially after the news we’ll be entering lockdown 3.0 *eyerolls*). From big projects like learning a new skill to something a little smaller, like trying out a new recipe, setting yourself new goals or targets gives you a focus and a sense of control, which helps improve your mental state. In light of this, I’ve outlined some ways you can kickstart your new year to help achieve your 2021 goals…

Veganuary

Since 2014, Veganuary has inspired and supported more than 1 million people from all over the world to try going vegan for the month of January (indeed, this year it has seen a record breaking 500,000 sign-ups!). It encourages and supports people and businesses alike to move to a plant-based diet, as a way of protecting the environment, preventing animal suffering, and improving the health of millions of people. Veganuary health benefits range from better sleep at night and weight lost to a boost in mood and better skin (who doesn’t want a glowing complexion?!).

Dry January

Dry January focuses on going alcohol-free for the whole of January. By doing this, you can bring huge, obvious benefits – but the real stuff is under the surface….

70% of people sleep better

86% of people save money

65% of people notice generally improved health

Dry January helps people to drink more healthily year-round. Research shows that 6 months after Dry January, more than 70% of people who take on the month are still drinking more healthily. On top of this, they have boosted levels of wellbeing and much more besides – winning!

Mental Health

Although there is no specific event assigned to mental health in January, the January blues are real! After the rush of the Christmas holidays, January can be tough on the mind. It’s easy to push mental health to the side, but just by setting aside 5 to 10 minutes a day to work on your mental health will make positive, life changing alterations. You could try…

  • Meditation
  • Stay active – dust your wellies off and get outside for a walk or try stretching out your muscles with a bit of Yoga
  • Talk to someone you trust when you’re feeling down
  • Read more – you can never gain too much knowledge!

By challenging yourself this January and setting yourself small achievable targets to accomplish you can get a real sense of achievement, as there’s no better feeling than ticking things off your list! Why not give one or two of the above a go? Remember, it’s never too late to make a positive change.

 

Ellie Murrell
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