New Year Adventures in Norfolk - Live Your Best Life

What better time to find a new hobby, challenge or adventure than in January and in Norfolk there are many opportunities to get fitter, happier and busier.

Making a New Year’s resolution to change something in your life is easy, sticking to it is the hard part. Resolutions don’t necessarily have to be things to stop doing or to get rid of, they can be about embracing a different mindset and finding something that makes you feel truly happy.

Here are some ideas of how you can add some excitement to your life, forget mundane and make 2020 the best year ever!

Volunteer for a charity you are passionate about

In Norfolk there are many opportunities to volunteer your time, skills and talents and aside from the obvious feel-good factor you get from helping a worthy cause, volunteering is a great way to gain practical experience and improve your CV. From volunteering at animal rescue centres and wildlife trusts to helping in local hospitals, schools and community groups, the opportunities to volunteer in Norfolk are vast. For more information about volunteering in Norfolk, contact your chosen charity or organisation direct or you may find the following website of interest:

https://www.voluntarynorfolk.org.uk/

Find a new hobby in Norfolk

Norfolk has many craft groups, classes, workshops, events, activities and organisations to join across the region, we couldn’t begin to list them all. From quilting, stamp collecting, creative writing and sculpting to amateur dramatics, genealogy, birdwatching and home brewing, the list is all-encompassing. A good place to look for ideas is in your local newsletter, and you may also find the following website of interest:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--norwich/norfolk/

Travel somewhere you have never been

With excellent road links and regular bus and train services across the region, and an airport less than 5 miles from the centre of Norwich, why not visit somewhere you have never been before? Whether it’s a part of Norfolk that you haven’t ever explored, another UK town or city or further afield, travelling can be exciting, educational and can greatly enhance your life. From days out to weekends away and summer holidays; here are some companies that can make your dreams a reality:

https://www.simonds.co.uk/home

https://www.ictravel.co.uk/

https://www.eastonsholidays.co.uk/home

https://www.norwichairport.co.uk/

Join a gym

“This year I’m going to get fitter” is probably something most of us have said at some point in our lives but saying it and doing it are two different things! Joining a gym has many benefits and research shows that regular exercise and an increase in strength and cardio fitness levels can help reduce the risk of diseases and health concerns including heart disease, high cholesterol, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and stress related illnesses.

Norfolk has many independent gyms and health clubs, national gym chains and pay as you go gyms for those who are looking to improve their mental and physical fitness.

Do something that scares the sh*t out of you

Facing our fears, pushing our boundaries and taking ourselves out of our comfort zone can be rewarding, exhilarating and makes us feel alive. And every day that we wake up alive and healthy is a great day.  Why not try something new and exciting in 2020?

Lotus Driving Academy

Experience the thrill and speed of a Lotus sports car at their headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk.

https://www.lotusdrivingacademy.com/product/scare-yourself-sensible/

Broadland Balloon Flights

view the beautiful Norfolk landscape like never before with a balloon flight.

https://www.broadlandballoons.co.uk/locations/suffolk-norfolk/

Norfolk Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club

experience the thrill of paragliding and hang gliding in Little Fransham, Norfolk. For more information about the club, please go to their website:

http://flynorfolk.org/

Go Ape

Thetford - Discover a newly renovated treetop adventure with new platforms, obstacles, crossings and zip wires at Go Ape in Thetford, Norfolk.

https://goape.co.uk/inside-go-ape/blog/tree-top-adventure-thetford

Find a new career

Does the alarm clock in the morning signal the beginning of a passionless grind? Of course, everyday stress is unavoidable at work but being in a job that you loathe can be detrimental to both your mental and physical health. If your job is causing you to feel very unhappy, then perhaps it’s time to look for something new. There are several ways to search out a new career in Norfolk, from online resources and websites to local newspaper adverts and high street recruitment agencies. Here is a selection:

https://www.jobs24.co.uk/jobs/england/jobs-norfolk

https://www.reed.co.uk/jobs/jobs-in-norfolk

https://www.justnorfolkjobs.co.uk

https://www.personnelpeople.co.uk

https://www.contract-personnel.com

Here are some other ways to change your life for the better and live your best life in 2020 and beyond:

• Spend time with people who make you happy
• Perform a random act of kindness for someone
• Try not to bring work home with you
• Eat healthy whenever possible
• Start or add to a savings account
• Forgive someone
• Allow yourself to sleep in sometimes
• Don’t dwell on things you can’t change
• Allow yourself a day of gluttony from time to time
• Give people the benefit of the doubt
• Do something big or small that you will be really proud of
• Take a day off, just because you want to
• Don’t take life too seriously
• Adopt a rescue animal
• Make time just for yourself
• Eat a new food you have never tried
• Set up a direct debit and give to a charity regularly
• Create a bucket list and start crossing them off
• Explore places in your village, town or city that you have never visited
• Make more of an effort to stay in touch with special friends and family