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New Year Resolutions

I love the new year - not the New Year’s Eve bit as being an aging lark now I’m certainly not the life and soul of the party at midnight – but I love the blank slate of January the 1st and am a serial resolution-maker, albeit with variable success. Like many of us I’ve failed quite a few and am starting to think about how best to approach it this year. After the last couple of years, it feels even more important to succeed at something, to be kind to ourselves and for things just to be that bit better than they were somehow. Sometimes my failures have been outside of my control. The 2020 resolution of ‘throw a dinner party per month’ did not survive a global pandemic for example. Often though the failure is because I haven’t planned the resolution correctly, or it’s too big or just not right for me, so I have been researching how to succeed at resolutions. I think the most important thing is to choose a resolution for you – not for anyone else. It has to be something you really want to change and are ready to change. We could all do a million things better in the eyes of our family or GP or bank manager but the thing we change this year should be about us. It could well be stopping smoking or saving money each month - but it might be something as idiosyncratic as trying a different hairstyle each week or dancing to all the charttopping songs from the 1960s. If it will make you happier and therefore healthier, or braver, or move more, or get you meeting people or anything that is a positive change, then go for it.

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If you’re serious about using this moment to enact change it’s worth taking time to think about exactly what it is you want to achieve and why. For example, a common resolution is to ‘lose weight’, but this is so vague and so vast it feels instantly overwhelming. Make sure the final goal really reflects what you truly want, perhaps it’s not really to lose weight but to be able to enjoy playing football with your son (although losing weight is certainly part of that journey). To stay motivated to reach that goal it’s useful to write down why you want to make this change, and why it will make your life better. For example, the ways playing football with your son will make your life better could be: ‘I’ll get to have quality time with my son, I’ll be able to reconnect with some old friends who play social football, it will improve my health, it will inspire the whole family to be more active, it will allow me to do more active things with daughter and wife’. If you’re ever feeling a little discouraged, boost your morale by checking in with this list. Instead of having just one end goal break it down into minigoals and things to achieve. For the resolution ‘lose weight’, rather than having set weight goals and failing your resolution if you don’t meet them, you could have a list of steps like this: • January: stop buying chocolate biscuits and crisps on weekly shop • February: join a weight management class with a friend • March: start walking an average of 7000 steps per day • April: try one new sport/exercise group per week So every month is exciting with a new challenge and you are constantly achieving things and winning. You don’t need to change everything on 1st January. It’s a good idea to tell people/someone about your goal so they can support you. Even better, join forces with someone who wants to achieve the same thing as you so you can support each other. We are significantly better at self-improvement when we know someone is checking in on our progress. Keep a journal or a record of some kind about your successes along the way - and be kind to yourself and forgive the lapses. We are all human and if this change was easy, we would be doing it already! Remember this new year the focus should be on happiness, fun, joy and health – focusing on the positives and not the negatives and being kind to ourselves. For anyone who makes a resolution - good luck and enjoy succeeding!

Dr Jo Coldron Tavyside Health Centre, Tavistock

The Silver Line Helpline

As we get older it’s not as easy to stay in touch with people. But you still want to tell someone about your day, share a thought or a joke, or talk about a problem. Being able to have a conversation with someone about the big or small things in life is a very important part of anyone’s day. 225,000 older people often go for a week without speaking to anyone. The Silver Line is open every day and night of the year and people call us just for a chat, to say good night or good morning to someone, or tell us how their day was. Others call for information, to seek support about something, or share a concern or worry. Our helpline is always open and available for people aged 55 and over. Our helpline: 08004 70 80 90

No question too big No problem too small No need to be alone

Our specially trained helpline team can: Offer immediate friendship and comfort to lonely and isolated older callers Help with information on all issues faced by older people Refer older callers to other sources of support, such as regular weekly calls with a trained volunteer

Signpost callers to appropriate support services they may find helpful in their area

Support older callers who may be suffering from abuse or neglect “You always know the right thing to lift my spirits and when I picture you it’s like you are the lifebelt on the end of the pier.” (Silver Line caller)

The Silver Line Helpline is free to callers, from a landline or mobile phone. All costs of calls are covered by the Silver Line. We rely entirely on donations from organisations and people who care about the welfare and safety of older people. You can find out more about how to support us at thesilverline.org.uk. The Silver Line is a confidential service. Callers are free to express their feelings, and describe their lives honestly, and can trust us to respect their privacy. In cases of abuse or neglect, we will involve specialist safeguarding organisations such as Action on Elder Abuse, the appropriate social services team, or the police. We record calls but only for training, supervision, and safeguarding purposes. Telephone Friendship Service

Delivered in partnership with Age UK, the free telephone friendship service matches people aged 60 and over with a friendly volunteer for a weekly chat. If you or someone you know is missing the joy of regular conversation, the telephone friendship service is an easy and safe way to meet a new friend, all from the comfort of your own home. To find out more visit ageuk.org.uk and look under Services, for Befriending services, and then Telephone friendship.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR CLIENTS

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