Joanne O'Leary
5 minute read
Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022
“If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.” — Andrew Carnegie January in Winnipeg can be a rather depressing month. The holidays are over, the days are short and the weather is cold. It can quickly become a month of hibernation. This year, many events have been cancelled or postponed due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19. After two years of pandemic uncertainties, people are weary. This January, my family decided to take on a family challenge. As a group, we vowed to have a dry month — no alcohol for 31 days. We also decided to try to exercise more frequently and monitor our eating habits. I can be a very motivated person when I undertake a challenge. My husband, Jeff, and I decided to walk outside every day. It has been frigid some days, but we have managed. I actually look forward to getting outside and enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. The daily walks brighten my spirit. I also decided to try a 30-day yoga challenge. I follow Yoga with Adriene online. The daily practise is doable and has become part of my morning ritual. I try to do 15 minutes on my indoor bike (which is actually my outdoor bike on a trainer) and 15 minutes on an elliptical NordicTrack machine that I picked up on a giveaway weekend during the summer. After one month of this fitness routine, I have noticed positive changes in my physical wellbeing and my mental health. I am sleeping much better without alcohol. I have more energy and feel stronger. I am healthier because of these small changes in my life style. We celebrated our January achievements on Feb. 5 with our family members. There were prizes, food and drinks (in moderation, of course). As a new month begins, so do some new challenges. We have already signed up for the Jack Frost Challenge in mid-February. This will motivate us to continue exercising during the winter. We will focus more on improving our eating habits during the month, trying to consume more fresh fruit and vegetables. We will also pay attention to portion control. I plan to continue my yoga journey because it brings me peace. We will try to reduce our alcohol consumption as well. I am counting down the days until spring. However, I know that by that time, I will be great physical condition, ready to enjoy all of the spring activities. As Aristotle once said, “Success is easy to achieve once you set your mind on a specific goal.” Joanne O’Leary is a community correspondent for Riverbend. Contact her at jeffandjoanne@hotmail.com
“If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.”
— Andrew Carnegie
January in Winnipeg can be a rather depressing month. The holidays are over, the days are short and the weather is cold. It can quickly become a month of hibernation. This year, many events have been cancelled or postponed due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19. After two years of pandemic uncertainties, people are weary.
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