January! Sick and tired you've been hanging on me..."

“January sick and tired you've been hanging on me!...”

These are the words to a song released in 1975 by a band called Pilot.  January as a month has a bad press.  To most January is a long drawn out month.  You’re broke!  You've spent your money on Xmas presents, partying and a colossal feast all of which is now a distant memory!  Its ages before payday which has been made worse by your employer who as an act of goodwill paid you a week earlier in December which means its even longer between pay days! What’s more you’ve put on more weight due to the excesses of the festive period! 

So you want to make that leap and lose the extra timber by taking more exercise and start that diet.  Before you even leave the house there is a battle confronting you.  Facing you is all the remnants from your Christmas groceries.  There’s the unopened box of “After Eights”, the half eaten “Toblerone”, the 6 varieties of cheese that haven't even been opened, the pack of mince pies with the brandy cream waiting patiently in the fridge.  Not to mention all the left over booze.  You get the picture. 

The thought of stepping outside to do some exercise is daunting.  Well have you seen the weather? It's still the wettest drought on record and now they’re predicting snow! You could always join the gym but have you seen the cost and I’m really busy at work.  If all that is not enough when you wake up in the morning it is so dark and cold you can’t get out of bed.  The thought of doing exercise or indeed anything is just so depressing and takes so much energy.  January just does not inspire change.

Well actually is that true? For many January is the new beginning. January is the time where the past is pushed to back of the cupboard.  “This year is going to be different”  “I'm going to create the new me”.

So what are you going to do?  Sit there and take it? Or take the first step to making a difference to you and your family? Just put one foot in front of the other and strive for your goals. Structure your goals so that they impact other people’s lives not just your own.  By doing so gives you an extra motivation to keep going when times become tough.

The leftover food, the weather etc are all distractions.  Eat the food, store it or bin it!  Get the “workout dvd” out, wrap up warm go for a run.  Just clear out the “drag factors”.  Just get going! There are so many people walking or running around the streets now.  Most of whom are women dressed in “breast cancer” pink.

The most important aspect is not to expect instant results.  Build a routine and keep going.  It takes 30 days of repetition to create a habit.

Before you know it you will be on your journey to meeting your goals, affecting other people lives and the sun will be shining!

Be the person you want to be!  Life is too short