Southern Style Cooking: The 2 Things That Have Helped Me Stick to My Active New Year’s Resolutions

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

The 2 Things That Have Helped Me Stick to My Active New Year’s Resolutions

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New Year's Resolutions

The 2 Things That Have Helped Me Stick to My Active New Year's Resolutions

We're a few weeks into the new year now, so you know what that means: winter's dark and cold days make it a little bit tougher to stick to those active resolutions that seemed like such a great idea on Jan. 1. Whether you set out to take up running, cross-country skiing, or horseback riding, I've found two major things that help me stick to an activity goal.

Several mornings a week, I wake up at 6 a.m. to make the drive from my Brooklyn apartment to a farm in Sussex County, New Jersey, where I keep my young horse. Starting my day with a ride relaxes my body and mind, but I'm not going to lie: facing down 20-degree temperatures on a dark morning can dampen my motivation pretty quickly.

First, I've found that there are a few things in my winter clothing arsenal (besides a mug of hot coffee) that keep me warm and toasty and make it easier to brave these January days. A good base layer (I'm partial to Patagonia's Capilene line) will trap heat and wick away moisture and can be worn for virtually any sport or outdoor activity. Beneath a vest and a down jacket, I stay plenty warm—and, more importantly, don't end up chilled afterward.

Secondly, I also find motivation from keeping a journal of my progress. This is something that's helped me as a runner as well, and the simple act of writing a brief entry recounting my ride motivates me to find new exercises to work on and set new goals. Most days' entries are short—maybe just three or four sentences—but looking back through the months and seeing concrete progress often encourages me to do more. (I really should be better about keeping a travel journal, though!)

While active wellness is important to me any time of year, it's during the winter months that I find I get the most out of my efforts. Whatever your sport or activity of choice, I hope to see you out there.

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