At the end of last year, you likely read ‘Our new year resolutions for 2025’ in which the Jane Smith Financial Planning team shared their plans for the year ahead and offered some top tips for making resolutions stick.
In that article, Nicola spoke about the importance of accountability and, in that spirit, shared her plans to complete 12 walking marathons in 2025!
With spring almost here, now feels like the perfect time to check in with how she’s getting on and take a look at the progress of some of the other resolutions made by the Jane Smith team.
Nicola’s walking a marathon a month for 2025
This month, be sure to read about why tracking your steps and your pension is the easy part when it comes to overall physical and financial wellbeing. You’ll find a guide to all the work (beyond simple tracking) that goes on behind the scenes to keep you on the path to your financial goals.
If you’re monitoring your physical fitness by tracking 10,000 steps a day, spare a thought for Nicola.
A marathon is closer to 52,000 steps and the training, balanced diet, and discipline that goes into achieving 12 marathons in consecutive months is an enormous commitment.
In January, Nicola walked her first marathon, taking part in the Action Challenge Winter Walk through London. The organised event took in the sights of Westminster, the City of London and Chelsea, beginning and ending at the Oval cricket ground.
Nicola covered a whopping 43km (27 miles) over eight hours of walking.
Throughout the year, there are many organised events to attend but Nicola will be going it alone too.
In February, she completed her marathon by walking laps of the local Pitsford Reservoir, aided a lap at a time by friends and family. She completed three and a half laps and more than 55,000 steps to tick off her second marathon.
Nicola’s off to a flying start – with no blisters so far! – and other events planned for the year include an April walk in Windsor and Henley and a trip to the beautiful Cotswolds in June.
Nicola is raising money for the MND Association. Details of how you can support Nicola and this amazing charity will follow shortly. There’ll also be news about another epic challenge for charity, with Nicola’s husband set to row the Atlantic in 2026!
Watch this space for more information.
For now, a huge congratulations to Nicola on her incredible success so far!
Take a leaf out of Leanne and Jo’s book and try something new this spring
You might remember that Leanne’s new year resolution was to try new things in 2025, while Jo was looking to carve out some time just for her.
With that in mind, and with spring just around the corner, here’s a look at five new experiences you might consider trying this month, and some of the unexpected physical and emotional benefits they might bring.
1. Forest bathing
To the uninitiated, the term “forest bathing” might conjure images far removed from the actual Japanese practice. Popular since the 1980s, the nature therapy known as “shinrin yoku” doesn’t require you to dip your toes into woodland streams or boggy marshes. Instead, it’s about switching off, breathing calmly, and allowing the sounds, sights, and smells of the forest to wash over you.
It’s a mindful practice that can aid relaxation and improve your emotional wellbeing, while getting exercise in nature is good for your physical health too.
Next time you walk among trees, slow down, turn off your devices and concentrate on your breathing, opening yourself up to the natural rhythms of the forest.
2. Axe throwing
At the other end, the mindful spectrum is another activity that combines physical exercise and the chance to let off some steam. Axe throwing is demanding exercise but also incredibly good for stress relief.
A relatively new phenomenon, axe-throwing venues are cropping up all over the country so why not step out of your comfort zone in 2025 and try something new?
3. Art classes
If you’ve always fancied yourself as a budding artist or you just want to give a new hobby a try, you might consider a local art class.
You’ll find a social benefit from meeting up with like-minded individuals as well as the opportunity to gain experience and a new skill under expert supervision. With so many courses to choose from nationwide, you’re sure to find the right medium and skill level to allow you to relax and let your creativity flow.
4. Karaoke
Another Japanese import, this time from the 1970s, karaoke bars are becoming increasingly popular in the UK. If you usually only sing in the shower or the car, you needn’t worry. Modern karaoke bars don’t require you to get on stage in front of a room full of rowdy people. Instead, you and a group of friends can hire a private booth for an evening of catching up and belting out some of your favourite numbers.
If you haven’t tried it before, maybe 2025 should be the year you take the plunge.
5. Rage rooms
Finally, if axe throwing has helped to relieve some of your stress but you want to take the process one step further, consider a rage room.
Until recently, opportunities to smash things to pieces with a baseball bat in a controlled environment were limited, but not in 2025!
From date nights to divorce parties, there are plenty of UK-based rage rooms in which you let your hair down and your anger out, in all relative safety and with those closest to you.
Get in touch and let us know how you get on!
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