“No matter how hard the past, you can always begin again.” Buddha
The start of a new year sees many people trying to create new habits and trying to avoid the January Blues. This playlist includes ways to protect your mental health after the festive period, a talk on why we quit our exercise plans, a podcast on how football handles mental health and some exercise and meditation recommendations.
Podcast: Football and how the game handles mental health
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning and Archie Rhind-Tutt, as well as former professional footballer and now writer/filmmaker Marvin Sordell, and Alex Mills, the head of education for Sporting Chance. Listen to the podcast here.
Netflix: Katie
After a 10-year winning streak and an Olympic Gold victory, Irish boxing champion Katie Taylor aims to rebuild her career amid personal losses. Watch the trailer here.
Yoga: YouTube
Yoga for New Beginnings | Yoga with Adriene – Yoga for New Beginnings is the perfect at home yoga practice for those wanting to create space in mind and body. Open your mind and heart and welcome in fresh breath, joy, opportunity and self-love.
Exercise App: Couch to 5K Runner
The hardest part of any run is taking that first step. Couch to 5K offers running novices all the advice, support, and help they could possibly need. The NHS program claims to get people off the couch and running in just nine weeks. Download the app here.
Spotify Playlists: Running Music 2021
If one of your new year resolutions is to try to run or walk more, a good playlist will certainly you’re your motivation. This playlist has over 200 songs to keep you going no matter how long you want to exercise for. Listen to the playlist here.
Read: 15 Ways to Beat the January Blues
Moods can dip following the excesses of the festive season, but they can be lifted again with a little know-how. Katie Byrne rounds up a group of experts and finds out how to keep the new year blues at bay. Read the article here.
Meditation: YouTube
Guided Meditation: Setting an Intention for the New Year – In this 10-minute New Year’s meditation by Aruni Nan Futuronsky, you’ll discover the power of a different kind of resolution. You’ll generate commitment based on the yoga practice of intentionality; not from the mind’s force, judgment, or expectation, but rather from the depths of your own heart. From inside-out, rather than from outside-in. This intention will be set by the longing of the heart and sustained by a willingness based in self-love, self-connectedness, and self-compassion. Return to this meditation time and time again to remind your body, mind, and spirit of what you really want for yourself in the year ahead.
TEDTalks: Why We Quit Our Exercise Plans and What We Can Do About It | Simon Long
Why we quit our exercise plans and what we can do about it will explore the critical issue of the weight loss industry as it currently stands. That issue being excessive restriction on personal choice and a gross misunderstanding of what constitutes exercise. This talk aims to provide that education, using a combination of self-efficacy theory and self-efficacy transference to provide individuality and variance to training plans. This will allow the avoidance of boredom, the achievement of adherence and the realisation of goals. Watch the talk here.
For the Children: Brainpop Jr. Movie of the Week
Brainpop provides kids all over the world with in-depth, yet easy to understand educational videos on everything ranging from Mozart to food allergies. Brainpop Jr. Movie of the Week is an app that gives younger kids access to these videos, plus short quizzes on them. Get it for: iOS, Android, or on the Amazon App Store.
Watch: Go Outside and Play
Getting outdoors to explore Ireland in 2021 isn’t cancelled. Let Carl Mullan take you on some local adventures in a brand-new season of his popular Irish travel show. You can watch the series here.
Food: 10 delicious vegan recipes for Veganuary
If you’re looking to take on the challenge but don’t know where to start, we’ve rounded up some of the most nourishing, exciting and downright delicious dishes for you to try.
The Mindful Traveller 