At this point ‘New Year, New Me’ might be as much of a cliché as ‘Live, Love, Laugh’, but that’s not to say that the New Year isn’t a great time to make some positive changes to your lifestyle. Here at Tentsile we always champion getting involved with the great outdoors, so we’ve put together our top four ways you can use the start of 2025 to make some outdoor resolutions.
Try a New Activity You’ve Never Done Before
It’s all too easy to get stuck in a rut; we like what we know and we know what we like. But that doesn’t mean we should stop trying new things, and the new year is a perfect time for a new start! Whether it’s a hobby you’ve always had your eye on trying or you’re yet to Google potential activities to give a go, there’s no time like the present.
Remember there’s no commitment here, you can try something and decide it’s not for you, but equally you never know where a hobby could take you. You could be about to take the first steps into an activity that’s going to blossom into a future passion, or even a future career.
The best thing about outdoor activities is there’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for high adrenaline thrills, relaxed ways to calm your mind, or a creative outlet from the comfort of your backyard.
If you’ve not got anything on your mind to try, have a think whether you’d like to go more physical activity based, or creative activity based, this will really help to narrow down the potential options.
Great physical hobbies include climbing, cycling, running or hiking, while fun creative hobbies to look into would be photography, sketching, or writing while out in nature.
As a bonus, you could always tag a new hobby to an existing one. For example, if you’re already a hiker try taking a camera out with you next time and focus on capturing moments. Alternatively, if you’re an avid camper, why not try a kayak trip to your next camping spot.
Spend At Least 2 Hours a Week In Nature
Even working for a camping company, we’re no strangers to getting caught up in the rush of life and suddenly it’s Sunday night and you’ve spend your whole week indoors, but when it comes to fresh air and the outdoors, every little helps.
We like to say you should aim for a minimum of 2 hours a week in nature, but if you’re struggling for time remember that this doesn’t have to be one two-hour long excursion. Breaking this time down into just 20 minutes per day will take you nicely over the recommended time while leaving you mentally and physically refreshed from the stresses of the working week.
We always recommend our employees take time on their lunch break to head outside for a walk, stretch their legs and disconnect from their laptop, and this would also be a great way you can clock up some time in nature. Even if it’s in a big city there are still birds singing and life happening all around you, and even more so if you can get to a local park or green space. Take your time while walking in nature to focus on your surroundings; what can you see, what can your hear, what can you smell? Being present in the moment while outdoors helps us unwind more, and relax more, allowing you to feel nature’s benefits better.
Book An Awesome Activity For Later In The Year
Having something to look forward to or something to work for on a later date is a huge motivation boost in what can be a long and cold part of the year. You could take this resolution in the fun direction and book an outdoor activity for the whole family like a day with our friends over at Go Ape, or for those who like the challenge you could book on to a physical event like a Tough Mudder or a local fell run to give you something to train for and a date to be prepared for.
This is also a great resolution to tie in with our first recommendation ‘Try a New Activity You’ve Never Done Before’, as sometimes the activity we want to try we keep pushing back no matter how many times we say “I’ll do that next week/month/year”. Getting something booked in makes it real and gives us a set time and date, which can really help if you struggle with starting new tasks and events.
Plus, if you’re anything like us then having a date set in the calendar gets you even more excited for all the extras that come along with your chosen activity, whether that’s planning ‘side quests’, buying new gear, or just talking it over with friends and co-workers!
Volunteer With An Outdoor Project
Looking to give back in the New Year? While giving money to responsible charities is always a great way to help, getting your boots on the ground and your hands dirty can often be a far more rewarding way to get involved. What’s more, with local projects this can often have far more direct impact and will give you a visual confirmation of the hard and good work being done.
We’d struggle to recommend you a specific project to get involved in as there are just so many in every city, but this also allows you to pick something that really speaks to you. Where you live will usually have the largest impact on the projects available to you, from tree planting in more rural locations, to inner city garden initiatives, to beach cleans on the coastal regions.
If you’re not a fan of organised action you could even do something as simple as taking a trash bag with you next time you got to the local park and picking up any litter you see on your walk, every little helps when it comes to keeping our planet green and healthy.
