The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
This time of year everyone struggles to get back into a routine after the holidays. After two and sometimes three weeks of big meals, interrupted schedules and relative inactivity, it takes dedication and desire to either get back into your healthy lifestyle, or to keep those newly made resolutions about leading a healthier lifestyle this year. The best promises and intentions start to fade as the month of January continues to progress. It's often particularly difficult for women to be able to fit exercise into a hectic day. CAAWS, the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity has created eight simple rules to inspire you to get off the couch, out of your typical routine, and into a new, sustainable approach to keep the goals you have set for yourself. 1. Make it a Family Affair As part of your 2004 resolutions, do activities together as a family. Make walking the dog a family outing. Find a local skating rink, and go skating together. Take an afternoon and go tobogganing or sledding. Build a snow man together. An activity that involves your children encourages both you and them, and also establishes a pattern of healthy activity for them to follow. 2. Do what you love! Is there an activity from your past that you've wanted to revisit or try again? If you miss dancing, swimming, or hiking, rekindle that enjoyment by taking up the activity again. Keeping your resolutions is much easier if the activity brings you joy and satisfaction. Look for a class at your local community centre or school that may offer exactly what you are looking for. 3. Learn something new! Set 2004 as the year to learn something new. If you have always wondered just how curling works, or you would like to learn how to snowboard, look for beginner classes in your community. Most organizations offer adult beginner classes, where you can experiment with a new sport or activity, and challenge yourself to acquire a different skill. 4. Join a team! If you find motivating yourself is difficult, try a team sport. Although many recreational winter teams are already operating, they often will need an extra player to fill in, or may need extra people to fill out a roster. There are many women's recreational hockey , basketball and volleyball leagues now operating. If you are new to a community, team sports are a great way to make friends, and get to know the area. 5. Enlist your Friends! If someone arrives at your door to go for a walk, it forces you to stop what you're doing, and fit that activity into your schedule. Working out with a friend increases your likelihood of staying on track, and keeping motivated. Friends are also great workout partners in the gym, helping with weight programs, coaching you along, or simply being alongside you as you take a brisk walk. 6. Make it Fun! Whether it is learning a new activity, taking up a sport you left behind years ago, or developing a family-based routine you should build fun into the time you are spending. Remember to laugh along the way, to take pleasure in mastering a simple skill, and to encourage your friends and family to do the same. 7. Set Realistic Goals! Any activity resolution needs both short-tem and long-term goals. If you want to maintain an activity throughout the year, build in short-term goals that are both manageable and measurable. As an alternative to measuring weight loss, keep track of the number of kilometres you have walked, swam, skied or hiked. Chart them out on a map Ð and set a goal to complete 10 kilometres, then 25, then 100. Pretty soon, you'll have completed the distance between London and Paris, or Winnipeg and Saskatoon. Once you've completed your first goals, set new ones and work towards them. 8. Celebrate Success! Along with setting shorter-term goals, reward yourself once you achieve them. Build incentives into your resolutions that are also achievable. When you've done 100 kilometres on the treadmill, celebrate the achievement with a reward that fits into your overall goal. Listen to a new CD that you've saved for the occasion, move on to a more difficult program, or experiment with the newest exercise gadget you've been curious about. Find an incentive that is guilt-free, but gives you the satisfaction of accomplishing the first step in achieving your goals throughout 2004. If you would like more information on woman and sport and physical activity, visit the CAAWS website at www.caaws.ca.
