The best way to get through January!
Jan 24, 2026We hear this all the time..... "January is miserable. January is dark. I wish we could move straight to Spring" . Add to this the pressure of new years resolutions and it can be a very overwhelming month.
Look at January differently
This year (and every year since we launched our membership) we have approached January with a completely different focus than one of expectation and pressure. In fact, within our members community, we set the bar of our January goals low.
We aim to ease into January without any big notions, and instead ask our members to join us for a 'Mile a Day' challenge. It doesnt have to be running or you don't need to be wearing sports clothes - it is literally one mile of fresh air a day. Yes that's it.
But WOW is it powerful. Most of the miles people do solo but sometimes we even get together at classes and walks for the chats as well as the steps!
Our Mile a Day Challenge :
Success Stories
Our members have been posting and sharing in our community each day photos and comments and here is just a selection of some of what happened this month :
From full moons to northern lights (yes, in dublin), from high tides to flooded parks, we have noticed a lot more in our enviroment than from inside the window. We have had snow photos from members in central europe and sighting of Valentines decorations on houses (yes thats a thing) in New York! It has been such fun to share this challenge with others while staying accountable ourselves!
We dont' need to overhaul our whole life in January, we were not even asking tour members to run or get out of breath. We simply suggested commiting to getting outside once every day for about 15 minutes (which is about the time it takes to walk a mile). And boy did it delight, dont believe us... here is the proof. Scroll down for a few pics ... and the facts!
Even on the rainy days its good for the soul !
Success Stories
Here are some of the things our members had to say about this challenge
Great way to commit every day and so doable - Shirley
Hope I am not tempting fate by saying I am loving the challenge.. completely doable , even on the days that start off , well a little bit, Mwah-like - Tracey
Same route, same time today but amazing what you notice differently each time. MJ
1 mile walk today, just measured a 1 mile walk for the bad weather days, busy work days, low energy days, no motivation days, no excuses now 😜 - T
Sensational morning. If winter could be like this every day I'd be a happy woman! - Susan
Should have gone this morning !!! Doh! But dragged myself out when got home at 7pm and actually was lovely. Even if it felt about midnight! Moon lighting the paths and realise how lucky I am to live where we have streetlights . Mary
I'd say getting dressed and layered took longer than did the mile itself - Leah
Done 🥶 definitely one of those days I would not have left the house if it was not for this challenge! Tara
Another walk into work this morning and still arrived on time 😉 - Laura
Why does it work?
We all know the hardest bit of getting moving is getting out the door but when the only expectation is to walk a mile it seems a lot less daunting than having to follow a specific training run when you don't feel full of beans.
It really is very simple, but thats what we need in January and we will continue this every January as it works so well. Once we get to the end of the month we look back and feel proud of ourselves for getting outside and. we remember days from early in the month that might have just blended into others if we had not moved outside. It shows us how little and often is the the way to build motivation, routine and indeed discipline.
Committing to one mile does the following :
1. Gets us our the door easier as doable.
2. Makes us go on bad weather days just to keep the streak
3. Shows us how much is outside when we just look
4. Allows us to see all January has to offer
5. Gives us time away from tech and aircon
6. Offers us perspective beyond our 4 walls.
7. Rewards us with a great sense of satisfaction.
8. Sends us home with all the benefits of time in fresh air.
We like to consider Mile-a-Day as the start to our new year and set out some plans for the spring. This feels so much easier when January is behind us and we can see the light of spring coming. Once January finishes now we move into our Focussed February mode and have lots more plans for the year ahead. Well done to all who decided to take on their mile a day this January.
Roll on the spring now - we have even spotted the first of the daffodils - 22nd Jan - in Clontarf!!!
Don't miss a step
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