Exercise doesn't have to be disciplined

Here's the fortnightly Get Active column with physical activity co-ordinator Hettie West of Fenland District Council...

Whilst many believe the New Year is a time for ‘getting back into good habits’ or ‘restarting their fitness journey’, it doesn’t have to be quite such a disciplined process.

See the New Year as a chance for a fresh outlook: instead of setting resolutions to hit the gym five times a week, how about aiming to try one new activity this month?

For many, January can feel like a month full of pressure and comparison; comparison to previous selves, comparison to where we envisioned ourselves being today, when we thought about it a year ago, or comparisons to others.

This year, try taking a different outlook; make the resolution to take pressure off yourself, experiment with physical activity, and find something you wake up and feel excited to get involved in.

Taking smaller steps towards achieving your goals can make it feel much less daunting. Here are some ways to integrate physical activity into your life gradually:

If you don’t feel ready to step into the gym yet, try out some at-home physical activity.

The Active Fenland YouTube has a range of follow-along workouts, ranging from yoga to HIIT and bootcamp style exercises. Just ensure you have a hazard-free space in which to do these!

Joe Wicks ‘The Body Coach’ also has an always-growing platform filled with workouts suitable for all abilities from complete beginner to advanced!

Try to make it work into your day-to-day life. Take a look at Move It or Lose It’s ‘Cuppa Routine’: a short, two-minute routine, to complete every time the kettle boils.

Every minute counts: the NHS have set up an Active 10 app. A brisk 10-minute walk every day, equates to almost half of your weekly recommended physical activity!

By downloading the app, you can track this if you wish, meaning every single minute will count!

Start where you feel comfortable. If you are new to physical activity, or a certain form of physical activity, don’t be afraid to join a beginner’s class. That way, you’ll be surrounded by those in the same boat as you and hopefully can make some friends too!

Track your progress. Now is the time to purchase a brand-new notepad and start some journaling.

Every time you achieve something, no matter how small, note it down.

Whether that be trying a new activity, walking for three days in a row before work, or cooking yourself a new meal!

Physically writing down these positive things will help you remain motivated to continue achieving these things: and it’s the smallest of successes that lead to the greatest positive changes.

To see what Active Fenland has got going on this month, head to the Active Fenland website and look for our New Year timetable. For any questions, call 07874893316 or email activefenlandbookings@fenland.gov.uk.