Alternative New Years Resolutions - Supporting you though your compassionate journey

January is a popular time of year for settings goals, but it can often be difficult to see them through. Research has shown that most people (up to 80%!) give up on their new year’s resolutions by the second Friday of January – so if you set a resolution this year, you may have already given up on it by the time you read this blog. We can often feel pressured to set unrealistic goals in the New Year due to unkindness – whether it is unkindness from others or because we are being unkind to ourselves. We want to encourage you to Choose Kindness this new year and to consider the things in your life that you really value so that you can set more manageable and achievable goals for the New Year. 

Joyful Movement

Being more physically active is a fantastic goal, but it is important to remember to choose kindness for yourself when setting new year’s resolutions, and you should aim to take part in physical activities that bring you joy. This is both great for you as you will be having fun but is also more likely to lead to long lasting habits because it is something that you enjoy.

The idea of Joyful movement is that you engage in physical activity that you enjoy, and it is natural and intuitive to you. Joyful movement is also defined as “a way of approaching physical activity that emphasizes pleasure, choice, flexibility, celebration and intuition”. At its very core it is taking part in physical activity that brings you joy. This is different for everybody - you might find joy in dancing, or you might find joy in football, it is about doing whatever works best for you and whatever brings you the most joy.

For more information on moving your body more this year, check out the Get Doncaster Moving website: Let's Get Moving! | Get Doncaster Moving

Embracing Nature

There are a number of potential benefits to connecting more with nature whether this be through taking walks through nature or gardening perhaps in one of Doncaster many allotments. Connecting with nature has many benefits, and, according to Mental Health Charity Mind UK, these benefits can include:

·       Improve your mood.

·       Reduce feelings of anger and stress.

·       Help you take time out and feel more relaxed.

·       Improve your physical health.

·       Improve your confidence and self-esteem.

·       Help you be more active.

·       Help you meet and get to know new people.

·       Connect you to your local community.

·       Reduce loneliness.

·       Help you feel more connected to nature.

·       Provide peer support.

Find more information about local green spaces here: Parks & open spaces | Get Doncaster Moving

Social Prescribing

This idea of the benefits that connecting with nature can bring has been taken a step further with something call green social prescribing which is as defined by NHS England as “the practice of supporting people to engage in nature-based interventions and activities to improve their mental and physical health”. Green social prescribing can be seen regionally too, with “South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw was one of the seven test areas which trialled how connecting people with nature can improve mental ill-health. After initially receiving £500,000 to introduce the scheme, a further £298,000 has been awarded to continue the work for the next two years.”

If you want to look at running a group yourself or if you might want to run an event or activity in Doncaster green land, then please click on the link below for further information;

Doncaster Green Space Network | Get Doncaster Moving

Connecting with Others

Social connection is a really important but often overlooked aspect of our wellbeing. There are lots of ways to meet new people and get out of the house in Doncaster, whether that be:

·       Visiting a local library - Doncaster libraries - City of Doncaster Council

·       Joining an exercise class at one of our leisure centres - Doncaster Culture & Leisure Trust | DCLT

·       Joining a local community group – there are so many to choose from! Check out our Directory on Your Life Doncaster for more information: Directory - Find groups and organisations near you - YourLifeDoncaster

·       If you have a chronic health condition, consider joining one of our peer support groups: Peer support | Well Doncaster