January can be difficult for many people; dark mornings and dark evenings can feel oppressive and a bit depressing. It is difficult to leave the house for work in the dark and return home in the dark, but what you can accomplish in spite if this can make all the difference as long as you try to have a bit of a plan.
New Year Resolutions
Setting yourself new goals in January is nothing unfamiliar, but the mistake often made is that these goals might not be realistic or achievable. However making any decision to change something about your lifestyle to improve your fitness, your physical or mental health and/or your wellbeing is definitely worth it. As a Type 2 diabetic I am trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle via diet and exercise and this has become a regular New Year resolution for me.
Exercise: I feel so much more positive if I can get out in the fresh air (all weathers) to walk. I am lucky enough to live in a beautiful area with the Millennium coastal path outside my front door. There are always fantastic views, a variety of wildlife and interesting people to meet and chat with. Over many years now, I have set myself a target and walked to raise money for charity. It’s easy enough to set up a Just Giving page and invite people to join you on your journey and give a few pounds to support you and a worthy charity. Last year I walked 100 miles and raised £915 (I set a target of £500) for Mind. This year I’m walking 100 miles for the National Autistic Society so look out for my walking diary on my social media channels.
Diet: I am not the best at maintaining a diabetes friendly diet… Last January I went through a really negative phase in my life where I was struggling to cope with changes in work that were not easy to come to terms with because of my stoma needs. I immediately started comfort eating which involved things that were bad for me. My diabetic nurse wasn’t pleased! This year I am determined to eat more healthily and return my blood sugar levels to a good place. I love cooking and having installed a new kitchen over the summer, it’s a good incentive to look through the many recipe books we have on the shelf. Obviously choosing healthy recipes that I can digest easily and have ingredients that won’t compromise my stoma health will be a slight challenge, but it will be well worth it.
Communication: Don’t be afraid to talk to people. It can be difficult to pluck up courage to do this, but just having a chat over a cup of tea, picking up the phone, passing the time of day with colleagues can make the difference to your mood. I know it can be a challenge when you’re feeling low, but the effort will pay off; remember you might even be helping someone else who’s feeling isolated or lonely in return.
The New Year is a perfect opportunity to make adjustments to your life. However don’t put too much pressure on yourself and make whatever measures you decide upon sustainable, manageable and therefore achievable. Good luck to you and I wish you all a happy, healthy and successful New Year.