Tag: New Year resolutions

Celebrities share their 2024 goals in support of Mary’s Meals

Jean Johansson, Eilish McColgan, Gary Maclean and Scarlette and Stuart Douglas encourage others to take on new challenges while fundraising for charity

Running, baking and craft-making are just some of the activities that celebrities are taking up at the start of 2024 as we all embark upon our New Year’s resolutions. 

Jean Johansson, Eilish McColgan, Gary Maclean and Scarlette and Stuart Douglas are all supporters of international school feeding charity, Mary’s Meals. 

Mary’s Meals feeds more than 2.4 million children every school day in 18 of the world’s poorest countries including Haiti, Malawi and Syria. The promise of a nutritious meal encourages children into the classroom, so that instead of working or looking for food, they can gain an education and hope for a brighter future. 

There are a number of different ways to fundraise for the charity and top TV and sporting stars are asking others to share in their goals for the year ahead to help feed more hungry children in 2024. 

Scottish long-distance running champion Eilish McColgan, who is training for this year’s summer Olympics, is encouraging people to sign up for Move For Meals to help them stick to their New Year’s fitness plans. 

She says: “The Move For Meals challenge is a really simple way to turn your moves into meals and make a life-changing difference to hungry children across the world. From walking to running, swimming and playing football, you can take part in Move For Meals in any way you choose.” 

Meanwhile, if you’re looking to brush up on your baking skills this year, celebrity chef Gary Maclean is urging families to pull on their aprons and fundraise through Raise Some Dough. 

The MasterChef: The Professionals winner says: “A bake sale is a great way to perfect your favourite cake, while raising funds to enable this incredible charity to reach the next child waiting for Mary’s Meals.

“Baking is also an excellent activity to keep the kids entertained and by Raising Some Dough, you can help instil that charitable spirit in your little ones too!” 

The start of a new year often sees people take up new hobbies, including arts and crafts. A Place In The Sun presenter Jean Johansson believes sewing, knitting or crocheting can be a wonderful way to unwind, while fundraising for those in need through Make For Meals. 

Jean says: “Maybe you’re already a nifty knitter or a master maker, or perhaps 2024 will be your first foray into the world of crafting.

“Either way, you can turn your creativity into life-changing meals for children. By simply selling your crafts to family and friends, or setting up a making marathon fundraiser, you can raise vital funds for Mary’s Meals.” 

And if you’re perhaps lacking motivation to maintain those New Year’s resolutions, why not team up with a sibling or family member to tackle them together? 

Brother and sister-presenting duo Scarlette and Stuart Douglas have joined forces to Double The Love this January. Until the end of January, donations made to Mary’s Meals will be doubled by a group of generous supporters, up to £1.1 million. 

Scarlette says: “Stuart and I are competitive siblings and we’re always challenging each other to achieve our goals. 

“At the start of this year, we’ll both be Doubling The Love and donating to Mary’s Meals. The fact that Mary’s Meals can feed a child for a whole school year for just £19.15 is an amazing feat.

“And with Double The Love, £19.15 will feed two children for a school year, so there’s never been a better time to donate!” 

To find out how you can support Mary’s Meals while achieving your 2024 goals, visit marysmeals.org.uk. 

More than 60% of people living in Edinburgh are more concerned about climate change in 2024

Sustainable living ranks among top New Years resolutions

  • New survey from Zero Waste Scotland shows people living in the Edinburgh area are taking action to live more sustainably this year – as 61% say they’re more concerned about climate change than in 2023
  • Scotland is bucking the International Quitter’s Day trend (Friday 12th January) with more than half saying they plan to keep up their sustainable changes past 2024
  • Half of Edinbugh residents are prepared to buy fewer ‘new’ products in 2024 – which Zero Waste Scotland has deemed “the ultimate action” to tackle climate change

People living in Edinburgh and the Lothians are prioritising the fight against climate change in 2024, as 61% say they’re more concerned about climate change now, compared to this time last year.

While resolutions tend to include goals such as eating more healthily, losing weight, or cutting out sweets and alcohol, new research, commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland, shows nearly a quarter (24%) of people in the area, who made a New Year’s resolution for 2024, have vowed to live more sustainably.

Reducing food waste was the top eco action people said they would take this year, with 72% saying they would target this as part of their sustainable lifestyle efforts. Recycling more or better was another top pick for the planet, with 67% of respondents indicating they would take this on.

Encouragingly, half (50%) of people in Edinburgh and the Lothians surveyed said they would consider buying fewer new products this year – a move with huge potential to cut our contribution to climate change.

The data was released on International Quitter’s Day(Friday 12 January 2024)– the day on which people around the world are most likely to give up on their New Year’s resolutions.

Despite this global trend, more than half (56%) of people surveyed said they intend to keep up their sustainable pledges for longer than 12 months – a sign that Edinburgh-based Scots are ready to do their part in the fight against climate change.

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, explained: “While some circular lifestyle choices have become second nature to many, it’s fantastic to see an increasing appetite from Scotland to live more sustainably. And what better time to create new habits than in the New Year.

“Curbing our consumption is the ultimate action we can all take, as it reduces demand for the finite raw materials needed to make new products. Doing so can help us cut the climate impacts of our purchasing decisions down to size, avoid the worst effects of climate change, and live within the limits of our natural environment.

“There are plenty of resources available to help people in Scotland live more sustainably in the long-run and landmarks like the Scottish Government’s upcoming Circular Economy Bill and Routemap will only galvanise our efforts.

“Let’s all make small changes that have huge impact in 2024 and beyond.”

Other green lifestyle choices highlighted by survey respondents included:

  • Reducing use of single-use cups (39%)
  • Repairing or altering clothing instead of buying new (40%)
  • Exploring sharing and leasing (e.g. for clothing, toys, tools etc.) over buying new (21%)
  • Giving alternative gifts – like time, skills, or experiences (15%)
  • Taking more direct action against climate change, e.g. writing to my MSP, attending protests, etc. (18%)

To help empower people to embrace sustainability, Zero Waste Scotland has created an interactive online Circularity Quiz which challenges users to think about their consumption habits and how they might impact Scotland’s carbon footprint.

Throughout the quiz there are hints and tips to help people make positive changes and highlight the incredible work being done across communities, local authorities, business, and government to strengthen Scotland’s circular economy.

The quiz is available on the Zero Waste Scotland website.

Bridgestone makes New Year resolution suggestion for Scottish motorists

Bridgestone has come up with a timely New Year Resolution suggestion for Scottish motorists, after more than half failed to recognise an ‘extremely serious’ risk associated with illegal tyre usage.

The tyre manufacturer is urging drivers across the country to check their tyres regularly throughout 2024, after 58% of Scottish motorists didn’t regard driving on illegal tyres as being potentially life threatening, with only 12% describing them as the most important safety feature on their cars, according to latest research1.

A survey amongst 1,000 drivers across Scotland revealed that despite tyres being the only contact points between a vehicle and the road – and responsible for 159 deaths or serious injuries from defective tyres related accidents2 – 81% admitted to never checking their tyresfor signs of wear or damage.

The Bridgestone results tie in with a recording of 4,596 total casualties from tyre-related incidents on roads in the past years2  and there being in the region of 10 million illegal tyres on Britan’s roads each year2 With all this in mind, Bridgestone’s North Region Vice President Andrea Manenti has come up with a New Year Resolution suggestion.

He said: “Regular tyre checks, preferably once a fortnight, is a great resolution, as it can be the difference between life and death.

“Periodically check traction, or available grip, when driving in challenging conditions. Apply the brakes with moderate pressure to determine the available grip and modify your driving, if needed, to respond to ever-changing road conditions.

“The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm. Insert a 20p coin in the tread; if you can see the border, it’s time to change the tyres. Thereafter, maximise available grip by separating driving manoeuvres when negotiating a curve.

“Brake to an appropriate speed while travelling in a straight line prior to a curve. This allows you to use all the available grip for negotiating the curve. Accelerate gradually when you are able to straighten the steering wheel at the exit of the turn.

Bridgestone’s New Year’s Resolution suggestion represents part of its mission to continue to provide social and customer value as a sustainable solutions company.

It also embodies Bridgestone’s E8 Commitment – a set of eight commitments (Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ease, Empowerment) which provide a compass to guide their strategic priorities, decision making and actions throughout every area of the business and operations.

Bridgestone’s road safety tips provides Ease, by bringing comfort and peace of mind to mobility life and Extension, by committing to nonstop mobility and innovation that keeps people and the world moving ahead.

For more information and advice about tyre safety from Bridgestone, visit:

https://promotion.bridgestone.co.uk/bridgestone-tyre-care-guide/. 

Letters: Volunteering with RNID

Dear Sir/Madam, 

Have you made your new year resolutions yet? Need one more? Why don’t you sign up as an RNID volunteer? 

RNID, the charity supporting people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus are looking for volunteers to support our vital work across Scotland. 

Last year, our volunteers gave more than 9,000 hours of their time to support people in their communities with practical information and essential hearing aid care. But with one in five adults in the UK being deaf or having hearing loss or tinnitus there is much more to do to make sure everyone in the UK gets support 

Volunteering for RNID could involve providing information to local organisations and community groups, helping people get the most out of their hearing aids, or giving a friendly welcome to everyone who passes through the door at one of our support sessions.  

Many of our volunteers have hearing loss themselves or in their family, and volunteering with us is a great way to meet new people, gain new skills and experience, try something new and help people in your community.  

What are you waiting for? For more information, visit rnid.org.uk/join or contact us on 0808 808 0123.  

Yours sincerely, 

Jackie White, Director at RNID 

Edinburgh residents who smoke urged to make quitting their goal in 2024

 People who smoke in Edinburgh are being urged to set the goal of leaving tobacco behind in 2024. 

Charity ASH Scotland is campaigning to improve the physical and mental health of people who smoke by encouraging them to use free expert stop smoking support provided by the NHS. 

Quitting is one of the biggest proactive steps people in Edinburgh who smoke can take to quickly improve health and mental wellbeing, reduce the risk of longer term illness and also save money. 

If a person who smokes decides to make a New Year’s resolution and starts to quit, not only will they find their health will improve by the end of January, in one month an average smoker could also save in the region of £250. 

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, said: “Tobacco is highly addictive and, although it can take a number of attempts to quit, some people find giving up cigarettes or tobacco easier than they had thought. 

“Don’t be discouraged if you’ve tried before, you’ll have learned something valuable about what did and didn’t work for you it is the best thing you can do for your health, finances and for those around you. 

“You don’t have to quit on your own in the New Year. We’re encouraging people in Edinburgh to seek person-centred support from local stop smoking services or the national stop-smoking service Quit Your Way Scotland. Getting support will give you the confidence to move forward with your quit journey and the tools you need to make the best possible start to 2024.” 

Contact Quit Your Way Scotland by visiting www.QuitYourWay.Scot or by calling the free helpline on 0800 848484. 

ASH Scotland is tackling tobacco head-on by campaigning to reduce the harms caused by smoking.

For more information, follow the health charity’s social media channels on Instagram and Facebook. 

Scottish soldiers share top tips to stick to New Year resolutions

Soldiers from The Royal Regiment of Scotland have revealed their army hacks to help civilians stick to their 2024 goals

Nearly a third of the Brits will be setting New Year’s resolutions just now, with ambitions around health and wellbeing, from reducing stress to exercising more, being among the most popular.

But despite these good intentions, one in five resolution setters will call it quits by the end of January, with many citing feelings of pressure and lack of perseverance as their main setback.

With characteristics of resilience and dedication built into them from the start of their army careers, soldiers from The Royal Regiment of Scotland have shared their top tips help the British public stick to the commitments they’ve made to themselves this year.

  1. The key to success? Visualise it.

“Don’t let negative thoughts embed themselves. A positive and can-do mindset is the bedrock of success. Take the time to visualise your goals – it will make the path to success much clearer. Flexibility is key too. If one day doesn’t go as planned, get up and start over afresh the next.” –   Cpl Fraser Hall, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland

  1. 10 minutes is all you need to set yourself up for success tomorrow

“I always make sure to set aside 10 minutes after every working day to sit and digest my tasks and goals for the next day. That small space of time is crucial to help me mentally prepare for the next day.”  – WO2 Sean McKnight, Regimental Sergeant Major, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland

  1. Keep cool and carry on

“An ice bath is a great way to de-stress and think clearly. Whilst taking the initial plunge may be a bit daunting, it forces you to focus on being present in the moment and concentrate solely on your breathing, helping you to feel calmer. But, if it’s really not for you things like the headspace app are great for mental health and wellbeing, and getting you into the right space of mind for the day ahead.” WO1 Ryan Robertson, Regimental Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion The Ranger Regiment.

  1. Embracing the outdoors? Be prepared

“To help you spend more time outside, rain or shine, it’s a good idea to ‘waterproof your waterproofs’. What this means is layering up and wearing the correct fabrics to make sure you don’t end up soaked through!

 Your mid layer fleece or jacket shouldn’t be cotton either, as this will retain moisture and not protect you from any wind or rain – a polyester-base is best as it will keep you protected against the elements. We always keep a dry kit in our bags, too. Using it is an absolute last resort, but can be a life saver when out in tough weather, so it’s definitely something to consider if you plan to be outdoors for longer periods of time, or on tough terrain.” Capt Scott McFadden, Regimental Adjutant, The Royal Regiment of Scotland

  1. Work movement into everyday

“Try to work movement into activities that would usually be stationary. Can your meeting be done while taking a walk round the block? Then what’s stopping you? Life at the regiment requires you to balance a lot of different training, activities and information, so one thing I always do is make any sit down meeting a moving meeting. When you get up and start moving, your ideas flow a lot more and a change of environment can help when needing a fresh perspective.” – WO1 Bradley Warwick, Regimental Sergeant Major, 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland

Most popular workout tracks for January gym return revealed 

  • A new analysis of monthly Spotify playlists reveals the most popular songs for a January workout, as Brits head back to the gym
  • ACRAZE’s Do It To It proved best for getting hyped back up after Christmas, as well as Eminem’s Till I Collapse and The Chainsmokers’ Closer
  • Google searches for new gym memberships have increased by 111% since the end of December – perhaps due to New Year’s resolutions

A new analysis of user’s monthly Spotify playlists has revealed which tracks are best for getting hyped for the gym again in January – with ACRAZE’S Do It To It on top. 

The research, conducted by fitness experts Fitness Volt, analysed over 9,353 tracks from Spotify’s most popular January gym and January workout playlists to determine which songs feature most – creating the ultimate back-to-gym playlist for the new year. 

ACRAZE’s Do It To It – featuring girl group Cherish – is the best-suited track, appearing in seven of the playlists analysed. With a tempo of 125 BPM, the song is ideal for cardio.

Next up was Eminem’s Till I Collapse, also appearing on seven playlists, which would work well for a high-intensity workout thanks to its higher BPM of 171. The third-most popular track was The Chainsmoker’s Closer, which appeared in six workout playlists. 

It makes sense that high-tempo songs appear frequently in January playlists, given many people are now getting back to their usual workout routines and will be trying to hype themselves up again after the festive break.

Some artists also appear more frequently in gym playlists than others; Lizzo is amongst the most popular, with featured tracks including Fitness, Water Me, Grrls and Truth Hurts.

Other artists that appear numerous times across the analysed playlists were Kanye West, Big Sean, Flo Rida, Rihanna and Tiesto. 

Top 20 tracks for January workouts

  1. Do It To It, ACRAZE
  2. Till i Collapse, Eminem
  3. Closer, The Chainsmokers
  4. The Motto, Tiesto
  5. Elated, January’s Blessing
  6. Where Are You Now, Lost Frequencies
  7. INDUSTRY BABY, Lil Nas X
  8. POWER, Kanye West
  9. Shivers, Ed Sheeran,
  10. The Box, Roddy Rich 
  11. Can’t Hold Us, Macklemore
  12. Stronger, Kanye West
  13. Numb/Encore, Jay-Z
  14. Acapulo, Jason Derulo
  15. Abcdefu, GAYLE
  16. Levitating, Dua Lipa
  17. We Own It, 2 Chainz
  18. Boom Boom Pow, Zafrir
  19. HERO A, Yuki Hayashi
  20. Feels Like Summer, Weezer

There’ll also be an influx of new gym-goers who have dedicated themselves to pursue working out as their New Year’s resolution, and who’ll be listening to more motivating music. 

It seems that Brits are already keen to get themselves back to working out, with Google Trends data showing that searches for ‘gym memberships’ are 111% higher now than they were at the end of December. 

A spokesperson at Fitness Volt commented on the findings, saying: “Many gym-goers will find it hard to motivate themselves to get back to working out after some time away from the gym – and one of the best ways to amp ourselves up is to listen to high-tempo music.

“For those who are looking to create dedicated gym playlists, it’s recommended to include some slower tracks that will work for warming up and cooling down after your workout. You may also want to consider noise-cancelling headphones to enhance the experience.”

The psychology behind making New Year’s resolutions stick

Making those all-important New Year’s resolutions is easy – but sticking to them can be a different story

Whether it’s embarking on a new career goal, changing a behaviour, or setting out to achieve an exciting new challenge, resolving to make changes at the start of the New Year is simple, but there can be lots of reasons why our good intentions don’t last beyond January.

Chartered psychologists from the British Psychological Society share four top tips to help people to achieve their goals in 2023:

Tip 1: Don’t make resolutions

“Know your goals and what you need to do to achieve them instead,” says chartered psychologist Dr Audrey Tang. “When there’s a ‘rule’, we often don’t stick to it, or we try to bend it. This can feel like cheating and that’s when we start giving up. It’s healthier to see what we want to achieve as an evolution or growth, rather than rejecting what’s gone before.

“We need to ask, is this behaviour leading me to my outcome, or is it reinforcing what I already do and want to change”, recommends Dr Tang. “By asking ourselves this question and then making a conscious choice about the behaviour we want to change, we create new pathways in our brain to help form new habits.”

Tip 2: Understand why the change is important to you

“Sticking to your New Year’s resolutions requires you to be really clear about why this change in behaviour is important to you,” says chartered psychologist Dr Tamara Russell. “To keep on track, we need to be really clear about our intentions and do small things every day to firm these up.”

Dr Russell recommends simple actions, like putting up signs and notes in frequently visited parts of the house or office to help remind us and support our brain as we try to do something different. As a leading expert in mindfulness, Dr Russell also recommends using mindfulness training.

“Getting more familiar with our mental movements by using mindfulness training can support the behaviour changes we want. Start with a simple short practice that focuses on the attentional training aspect of mindfulness. Doing this repeatedly helps us to strengthen the brain’s neural networks that are also involved in keeping you on track with your New Year’s resolutions.”

Tip 3: Stack your goals

Make it easier for your brain to adapt to healthy change by focusing on goals at the same time and incorporating them into your desired behaviour. “If the resolutions are to get fitter, eat healthily and have more family time, stack your goals by cooking healthy meals together, or going out on a family walk,” says Dr Audrey Tang.

“Everyone benefits, not only from the act itself, but the quality time you have together.”

Tip 4: Focus on what you want, but appreciate what you’ve got

“It’s great to know what you are aiming for, but take a moment to recognise what you have, because at one point those things were as much your goals as your new resolutions,” advises Dr Tang.

“Not only does gratitude help create healthy connections in the brain, which in turn make it easier to notice the positives in life, but by taking a moment to reflect, we may also notice we have a blueprint of how we’ve achieved things in the past.”

Healthy Heart Tip: Forming good habits

As we enter this third week of the new year, many of us will be considering how we can maintain the heart-healthy habits we started at the beginning of 2022.

Staying motivated can be particularly challenging, especially during the winter months, however research indicates that if we are able to maintain a habit for around 66 days, it can turn from a short-term to a long-term habit.

To help you reach your goals over the coming months, here are some tips for increasing success:

Set a Goal

One of the most important things we can do for our motivation is set a goal. It helps us to focus on the future and gives us something to aim for. Remember to make your goals Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound (SMART).

Challenge Your Thinking

Next time you find yourself shying away from a positive habit such as exercising or cooking a healthy meal, consider if the thoughts you are having about the task are logical or helpful.

For example, instead of saying “I don’t have time to cook”, you may say to yourself “I don’t have as much time as I would like, but I can still make something quick and healthy”.

Set Cues

Setting reminders or cues for ourselves can increase our chances of success.

Try taking out your sports kit the night before a run or setting an alarm to move once per hour.

Track your Progress

Tracking progress can be a great way to see the improvements we make, which can increase our motivation to continue.

You can use apps such as MyFitnessPal, or even a simple spreadsheet to track weight loss, running times or the number of vegetables you eat per day!

Pair Up

Forming a habit with a friend or family member can be a great way to increase accountability and share success!

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/

No Alcohol, No Problem: Warner’s 0% spirits mean we can still have a happy new year

New Year’s resolutions have you ready to trade in your gin membership for a gym membership? No need with Warner’s 0% Botanic Garden Spirits!

‘New Year, new you’ doesn’t have to leave you feeling blue if you’ve made a resolution to go dry this January and beyond. Whether looking to cut out alcohol completely or reduce consumption, the good news is you can still have a proper tasty drink AND go to the gym; because let’s face it, you’re better than a pint of squash.

Introducing Warner’s 0% Botanic Garden Spirits, a super-premium, farm-born spirit, that is packed full of flavour without any of the alcohol. Handcrafted will all-natural botanicals and using spring water drawn from their Falls Farm distillery, it’s the perfect blend of innovation, hard graft, and real, natural ingredients that Warner’s drinkers know and love.

Warner’s 0% Botanic Garden Spirits is available in two flavours – Juniper Double Dry and Pink Berry. The Juniper Double Dry is crafted using real, natural, farm-grown ingredients: lemon thyme, lemon verbena and water drawn from the spring at Warner’s farm. The spirit has a spicy base, herbal hit, citrus edge and peppery finish, giving it the recognisable kick of a top-shelf tipple.

It took playing around with 53 different natural ingredients before settling on the 0% Pink Berry recipe. The spirit is leading the way as a delicious non-alcoholic alternative to a fruity or pink gin: fragrant & tangy, combining raspberries and blackcurrant sage with a kick from chilli, ginger and Szechuan pepper. Both flavours are 0% ABV and suitable for vegans – or those also conquering Veganuary.

Warner’s founder Tom Warner said: “Going dry in January is a great test of resolve and willpower but let’s be honest, after the last couple of years, it feels like even more of a challenge this January.

“Our 0% Botanic Garden Spirits mean you shouldn’t have to compromise simply because you’re having a non-alcoholic beverage. If you’re going to have a drink, make it a proper drink and drink like a bloomin’ grown up.”

Warner’s 0% Botanic Garden Spirits range can be purchased in 5cl from £3 or 50cl from £18 in major supermarkets including M&S, Ocado, selected Co-Ops and online at www.warnersdistillery.com.