SEPTEMBER’S A GREAT TIME TO SET GOALS

Calum: So, it’s back-toschool week. Even if it’s years since you were at school, or you don’t have kids, or your children have flown the nest, we all remember that feeling of autumn approaching and how it can bring a fresh start. I think it’s as good a time as any to embrace new ideas and make some changes for yourself – a sort of grown-up back-to-school for health and happiness.

Imagine you’ve got a new pencil case and a blank notebook, and get jotting! Write down some goals – what would you like to achieve? To be slimmer? Fitter? More rested? Seeing your goals on paper is the first step to setting them in motion. To really see results, I suggest you write goals for the week, for three months and where you want to be in a year.

Learn something new! You’re never too old to learn a new trick. I think mindfulness is one of the most useful tools, whether you’re two or 92. It’s about practising awareness of ourselves, our surroundings and other people. It’s about appreciating the moment – too many of us race through our lives without living them. It’s about noticing things and feelings – a sunset, a rainy day, or that you feel anxious talking to your boss. Accept how you feel, then ask yourself: does the anxiety actually help the situation? You can’t stop negative thoughts, but you can acknowledge them and then put them out of your head.

And finally, and I say this a lot (but it is the easiest way to improve your life), get moving!

Every school timetable includes sport, and there’s a good reason – kids learn better if they’re physically fit. The same is true for grown-ups – understand that by building movement or activity into your life, you will feel better.

However you do it – walk an extra stop for the bus, run up and down the stairs for 10 minutes, chase the dog around the park – do build exercise into your timetable.