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Let’s talk about resolutions

New Year's resolutions

Yes I know it’s only August but I was asked recently to think about my New Year’s resolutions. Where I’m up to, if I’ve achieved any and to look ahead to resolutions for 2018. Now if you’re anything like me, you’ll totally relate to how I go about setting resolutions for the year ahead… in that I don’t make them.

Ok, well I don’t make them *out loud*.

If I were to write them down then I’ll be held accountable and I’ll actually have to achieve them, right? And if I don’t, well, then I’ve failed. And nobody wants to be a failure.

But even if I don’t actively set myself any resolutions, my subconscious resolutions every year are always the same:

  • keep travelling
  • eat delicious food
  • try to lose some weight caused by said delicious food
  • slow down, enjoy the moment more and stop stressing

Now the first two are easy to stick to (funny that). It’s the third and fourth ones that are near impossible.

Living in London and being a freelancer is stressful. Even when you’re actually on holiday it’s hard to switch off. Because there is no 9 to 5, I can easily still be working until 8pm at night. Next year I’m definitely going to invest more time in me and try and practice mindfulness.

I love food and my husband loves food. He is also Italian and we spend our summer holidays in Italy so of course that entails eating all the pasta! And when pasta looks and tastes this good… it’s hard to resist.

Spaghetti vongole pasta from Vulcano in Italy

Not to mention Aperol Spritzs, aperitivo and prosecco. All those empty (but oh so delicious) calories. I seem to come back from every holiday heavier. Happier yes but also heavier.

So, come the new year and I’m itching to start it off on the right foot. We usually choose a city break that involves a lot of walking. Whenever we spend new year in New York we easily walk about 20,000 steps a day, which is about 15 kilometers. I love it because, not only do you get to explore a city on foot, you’re burning off the calories from the pancake stack you ate for breakfast. It’s a win win.

So when Inntravel asked me to collaborate with them for their Resolutions Update campaign, it seemed like the perfect fit. January is a wonderful month to motivate yourself for the year ahead so that’s why they offer winter walking holidays in the Canary Islands, Lanzarote and La Graciosa in Spain. And can you believe that the average temperature in Lanzarote in January is 21 degrees Celsius?! That is the perfect antidote to the cold British winter.

Lanzarote Yaiza walking holiday

Inntravel describe themselves as the ‘slow holidays’ company and they’ve been offering slow holidays in Europe since the late 1980s. The best part, for me, is that their walking holidays are for individuals, not groups so no awkward conversation or having to slow down or keep up with fellow walkers – and you can choose your own routes. They will organise your hotels, give you detailed maps and route notes while your luggage is transported ahead. Sounds like a pretty perfect way to start the new year – warm weather, pretty scenery and the opportunity to walk off all the Christmas mince pies!

So, come 2018 I know those first two resolutions are definitely ticked off but I’m determined to be better at slowing down, enjoying the moment and being more mindful. I’m also hell bent on shifting those extra pounds gained from holidays during the year!

How are your 2017 resolutions going? Have you set any yet for 2018? I’d love to know!

This post was in collaboration with Inntravel. 

What are your New Year resolutions?
STIL

Kirsty Marrins

Reader, writer, occasional runner, travel lover.

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6 COMMENTS

  • Kaylie

    I injured my knee badly at Christmas so 2017 has been about rehabbing my knee which I am sticking to but the process isn’t as fast as I would have liked. As for weight loss while travelling. It is tough. My Husband and I started doing 5:2 fasting in July 2016, it was a bit of a challenge initially but we have found we can incorporate it into travelling by fasting on travel days (who likes airline food anyway) or when we have a packed itinerary not based around eating.

    • Kirsty Marrins
      AUTHOR

      So sorry to hear about your knee! Hope you are recovering well, Kaylie. Oooh that is a good tip for travelling. I’ve done the 5:2 before and it did work so doing it on travel days is a great idea!

  • DANIEL MARSH

    Keep on sharing. You are a great writer!

  • Jen

    It’s always good to have goals and realizations for changes. We must keep evolving! 🙂

  • Laryssa Gobets

    even if we don’t reach the goal at least trying is better than not trying.

    • Kirsty Marrins
      AUTHOR

      Yes! Absolutely agree with you, Laryssa

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