Take A Hike

Staying active can be hard when life has other plans for you, writes DENISE BROWNSDON.

Like everyone else, I had my fair share of goals for 2020. And, just like everyone else, I’ve found life tends to get in the way! I don’t know about you, but I can’t believe it’s July already. It seems like a good time to check in and consider how well I’ve stuck to all my new year resolutions. I do this every so often, to try to hold myself accountable to the goals I’ve set. Staying active is always top of my list these days. I admit that I had a very slack week when COVID-19 hit our household. My husband, son and I were in isolation over Mother’s Day (and my birthday) and the exercise regime went out the window. I was a lot less active than I should have been when I started a new job. I was so busy getting stuck into that and getting used to new routines that I didn’t do enough exercise after I logged off for the day. There are always chores to do and excuses to be made right? Fast forward a couple of weeks and I now have COVID-19 myself. I have made a promise to myself that I will not stay inactive during isolation this time. Obviously, I will be careful and listen to my body but while I am feeling okay, I am going to do something to get active at the end of each day. Sometimes it feels easier to make excuses than to remember just how easy it is to get a bit of exercise – even if you can’t leave the house! All you really need are few pieces of equipment and simple body weight exercises. I’m lucky as my trainer organised for us to purchase special kits that we can use at home if we are in isolation, so I have dumbbells, a Pilates ring, resistance bands and a skipping rope (you can find all of these items relatively cheaply online or at your local shops). Using these, I will create a workout that includes some light cardio, dumbbell work, and body weight exercises (push-ups and sit-ups). I find if I do them at a set time every day it really helps to keep myself on track. I’m starting to incorporate more step ups into my sessions now as my injured knee has improved a lot and is now able to handle more pressure. The one goal I haven’t met this year is to get out on the trail again. I really can’t wait to be able to head back out on a hike. While hiking can be enjoyable at any time of year, it’s a particularly good way to get up and moving during the cooler weather. It’s not just about the exercise. Going on hikes with the Hike Collective has led me to meet such a friendly and diverse group of people. I’ve met so many people who are passionate about hiking and love going out whenever they can (for both the beginner and more advanced options). Each new hike also brings along newbies, who are a bit nervous when they arrive, but that quickly disappears once the hike kicks off and everyone just starts getting to know each other along the way. You get to enjoy nature at its best while you walk along and learn about the area from the experienced tour guides. On my hike through Araluen I got the opportunity to listen to other hikers, who had grown up in the area, sharing stories about the area from years gone by. Afterwards, there’s always a chance to debrief and share any photos you have taken along the way, as well as making plans to stay in touch with your fellow hikers. It’s been so easy – and so rewarding – to become part of this hiking community and connect with positive and likeminded people. Those sort of connections are what help keep you going – even when life is giving you more than enough excuses to slack off for a bit!

Maybe it’s time to take a second look at your goals. If the big ones seem impossible, why not set yourself some smaller ones to get started. It’s absolutely worth it for both your physical and mental health. After all, every great journey begins with a single step!