New Year, New Lockdown, NEW MILES for Suffolk Mind!

Posted 15th Jan 2021 by prowexplorer

Of course, it can be a challenge for many of us, to get up and exercise, especially in the first couple of months of the year, with it being colder, darker, and sometimes a bit wet too and even more so with the lockdown restrictions we are now faced with. We would like to re-frame that for you and suggest that now could be the perfect time for you to get some miles under your belt towards your goal of 100 miles! Sign up to complete your own 100 mile challenge here.

Current government guidelines allow you to leave your home to exercise, once per day, and in your local area, in a public outdoor place. You can do this, by yourself, with the people you live with, with your support bubble (if you are legally permitted to form one), in a childcare bubble where providing childcare or, when on your own, with 1 person from another household.

Public outdoor places include parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, forests, public gardens, the grounds of a heritage site and playgrounds. (This does not include tennis courts, golf courses and swimming pools). When around other people, stay 2 metres apart from anyone not in your household – meaning the people you live with – or your support bubble. Where this is not possible, stay 1 metre apart with extra precautions (like wearing a face covering).

Physical exercise is a great way to help your mental health, research shows that 30 minutes of brisk walking three to four times a week – getting our heart rate above its resting level – is enough to trigger endorphin release which can be equivalent in its effect to anti-depressant medication. So, you are helping to support your own mental health by moving and supporting the mental health of others in your community by raising money for Suffolk Mind – a great achievement all round!

I am taking on the challenge myself and it’s doing great things for my metal health as well as physical benefits of getting moving. MY job is based permanently working from home, don’t get me wrong I love my job it’s honestly my dream job but being stuck as home sucks. Getting out and getting active has been a huge struggle over the 3 lockdowns and it hasn’t been easy but having a purpose of covering 100 miles has really helped. I personally have struggled with PTSD, depression and anxiety in the past and it’s down to organisations like Suffolk Mind that I am here to tell my tales today. So if you have any spare pennies at the moment then it would be hugely appreciated if you could support this great cause via my JustGiving page, you can also track my daily progress there. If you’re strapped for cash like many of us are that’s absolutely fine, sharing my story would also be hugely appreciated.

I’m not taking this challenge on alone, I am completing 100 miles for Suffolk Mind along with 14 other This Girl Can Suffolk Ambassadors, you can check out all of their stories and progress here. It’s a great way to feel part of a group even when we can’t get together during lockdown. Why not take on the challenge with some of your family and friends?