2021: The Best Year Yet! January Edition

So this year is pretty special. Not only is it the year we all get out from the clutches of this nasty virus, but... well... not to make me seem self-centred or anything... but I'm 30!

"What?" I hear you all cry. I know! Me? 30? Don't worry the thought of me turning 30 is just about as scary to me as it is to you...

But yeah. This year is going to be awesome. It's going to be the year we can we hug our friends and family again. The year the cinemas and non-essential shops can re-open permanently and the year we no longer have to be restricted by these Tiers. I, for one, am excited to see my family and go travelling... with a trip to Northern Scotland planned for September. Covid already stopped me seeing Bonnie Scotland in 2020, so I'll be damned if it stops me in 2021.

But anyway. Strangely, I've decided not to centre this year around films like I usually do (although films will definitely still be involved, don't you worry) and focus on my health... my physical health and my mental health.

I've always found January the toughest. It's when it's the most depressing... and I know I'm not alone. The credit card bill is due, the days are still horribly short and the cold is still lingering, as well as the rain, and with this year being a really tough January with new, stricter lockdown restrictions, it's even more important to get outside when we can and take advantage of our one exercise session a day.

JANUARY EDITION: PHYSICAL HEALTH

So what is this January Edition, you ask? Well, every month I'm setting myself fitness goals... and January's fitness goal is to run 1 mile a day.

Now, I know that might not sound like much, but after gorging myself over Christmas, I've decided enough is enough... the belly has to go! And I really do mean it this time! It's time to get my stamina back. A mile is a simple distance that I know many people run with ease... but me? Nope. Not at the moment. And my January goal is not only to get a faster mile... but to be able to run it ALL. No walking.

Now, I don't usually do this... and I feel extremely uncomfortable putting pictures of myself at the heaviest I've ever been here on my blog, but if I'm going to see the differences, I need to do a before and an after.

Like I said, after Christmas, I'm now the heaviest I've ever been, and with gyms closed and it being personally left to us keep ourselves fit, I'm going to take advantage of the fresh air and get out for a run, no matter the weather, no matter whether I'm feeling it or not.

Oh, and no crisps. Which is really making me regret buying the huge bag of Wotsits the other day. Oh well. All the more for Josie I suppose.

I was going to say no cheese... but that's just not fair to me AT ALL. I love cheese.

JANUARY EDITION: MENTAL HEALTH

Like I said, January is depressing. It's cold, it's rainy, it's back to work and it's still dark and dreary most of the day. I never really noticed it before, because I was still riding the high of being away for the Christmas holidays, or excited to get back into work to see colleagues and hear about all their Christmasses. But this year we didn't have that.

Being from London, my sister, my dad and I all had a Tier 4 Christmas, which meant we couldn't see my mum and grandma down in Bath as planned. And even though we had a great time - we ate too much and we fell asleep watching Star Wars (something I never do, thank you Carb Coma) - I sorely missed the rest of my family.

Tier 4 also meant I couldn't have a proper birthday either. For the first time in practically my whole life I actually wanted to forget about my birthday altogether. But when a couple of friends messaged me to say they would miss my annual birthday quiz, I told myself I was an idiot and that this is DEFINITELY the year I should do it. And I'm glad I did, because I laughed more than I had in months... and I'm sure everyone can understand the power that seeing a friendly face has. And seeing 16 friendly faces gave me a huge boost! :D

Some people might say that my mental health challenge isn't enough, to make note of the things that make me smile, because it doesn't take much to make me smile. But it's the small things. The ridiculous things. Every smile is a memory. And memories are important.

So the challenge is to take a picture a day. And then see the results. It's amazing how much one picture can make you smile. Let's see what 31 can do!

THE OTHER STUFF (see I told you I wouldn't leave films out completely)

JANUARY EDITION: FILM TALLY - 33

Cars, Gladiator, Cars 2, Cars 3, Saving Private Ryan, Christmas Wonderland, Holidate, Tangled, Turbo, Grease, Leap Year, 10 Things I Hate About You, A Knight's Tale, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Evan Almighty, Dirty Dancing, High School Musical, Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, A Cinderella Story, High School Musical 2, Captain Marvel, High School Musical 3, Iron Man, The Broken Hearts Gallery, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Lone Ranger, 101 Dalmatians, The Avengers, Zootropolis, Spotlight

JANUARY EDITION: BOOKS TALLY - 3

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Bridgerton

Eve of Man

***

And here we are... the results.

After starting my miles at 14m 10s on a freezing cold January 1st evening, I have managed to smash about 2m 45s off of my original time. And even if I still haven't been able to run the whole way, I'm running longer stretches and each time I beat my previous PB, a had a whopping smile on my face! Little things :D

Unfortunately though, quite a few of the later ones in the month have been marred by the horrific appearance of shin splints, which has made me rethink my idea of going up by half a mile every month. I pushed through and kept going, but I'll be the first to put my hand up and say it wasn't really a smart move.

But with a new pair of trainers bought on January 30th - a proper pair of running trainers - I'm hoping I'll be running fit again by March, where my miles will pick back up again.

Mostly I'm proud of myself for finishing it - for doing 31/31. Even if it is just a mile, I've never really had the determination to go through with something like this. But I've done it. Even when it was absolutely freezing, sideways rain and wet, I went out and earned my tea when I got in!

To see the difference... I've put the photos above here again. And pictures taken today. To be honest, I feel the most difference in my legs, which you can't actually see very clearly here, but I think I do still see a difference all the same! (If only for the fact my jeans are fitting better...!!!! :D)

And as for the memories... despite being locked down and only seeing my sister and my dad (apart from a few Zoom calls with Mum and others) I've managed to have a great first 31 days of the year.

Some great food, a NEGATIVE Covid test, snow, a new Marvel TV show (which is EPIC!), Dad's 65th birthday, loads of films (standard), some great new songs, and ending the month with Brighton's first home win this season AND against Spurs, I'd say January has been pretty good.

31 days down. 334 to go! Roll on February...