Relax!

First up - take it easy! The festive period, and the winter in general, can be a stressful time, so why not organise some relaxation this month?

Activities such as yoga, massages and T’ai Chi can help to release that tension in your shoulders and give you a positive mindset for the new year.

The Health and Wellness Hub provides a number of services including health and wellbeing programmes, personal development training courses, classes and therapies to organisations and community groups in Lanarkshire.

Volunteer

There are few better ways to make yourself feel good than helping someone else.

Volunteering can be a great way to do something different and meet new people, whilst also providing a vital service for the community.

With funding harder to come by than ever and a greater demand for the work of many charities, there are no shortage of exciting and interesting roles available at a variety of organisations.

The International Voluntary Service launched its Volunteer Pledge campaign on 1 January in a bid to curb a national decline in people helping out.There are lots of opportunities and information available on the campaign’s website.

Run a marathon

It may be a a bit of a stereotype, but running is a great way to boost your mood and release some endorphins. If you’ve always planned to run a marathon, this could be your year.

Marathon training plans generally run for between 12 and 20 weeks, so there is still plenty of time to get prepared for marathon season.

The rush of crossing the finish line is sure to make all the hard work worthwhile, and taking part in running events can also be a great way to raise funds for good causes. Lots of charities are offering places for events such as the Edinburgh Marathon (27 May) and the Stirling Scottish Marathon (29 April). Shorter distance and family races are also held across Scotland throughout the year.

Micro-volunteering

If you have read the above with interest but don’t think you have the time for the more traditional type of volunteering opportunities, then micro-volunteering may be right up your street.

Micro-volunteering takes a simple idea – that people are more likely to volunteer their time in short and convenient, bite-sized chunks – and turns it into a new approach to community action. It offers volunteers a series of easy tasks that can be done anytime, anywhere, on your own terms. Organisations are often particularly keen on getting help from those with digital experience, so if you are digital savvy your skills are likely to be in demand.

Housing Options Scotland is just one of the organisations that utilises micro-volunteers.

Join the gym

Getting fit is one of the most common new year’s resolutions, and if you have indulged over the festive season then you may be considering getting your old running shoes out the cupboard.

Joining a gym can be daunting, but Edinburgh social enterprise Projekt 42 aims to take the stress away from getting fit.

The Leith fitness centre offers a gym space which is welcoming to all – and runs a range of classes and activities, from Circuits to Hip Hop Fitness.

The gym offers classes on a pay-as-you-go basis and monthly memberships at a base rate of £22.50 a month, with the ethos of helping members get mentally as well as physically fit.

Learn first aid

If you are looking to learn a new skill but don’t fancy taking on a part-time degree, then a first aid course could be a great option.

Not only will you be able to save a life or put a bandage on properly, but a first aid certificate also looks great on your CV.

St Andrews First Aid and the Red Cross operate certified courses in Scotland, and dates are available from as soon as mid-January.

Spend time with an older person

Everybody feels lonely at times, but charities are warning that isolation is already a serious issue in Scotland. If you feel that you have space in your life for a new friend, perhaps you could spend some time with someone who finds it hard to meet new people. Not only could you get the chance to hear some great stories there’s a cuppa and cake thrown in too.

Contact the Elderly organises monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for small groups of older people aged 75 and over, who live alone, offering a regular and vital friendship link every month. It is always looking for younger people to add to its network of volunteers.

Learn to cook

Did you cremate the turkey again this Christmas?

Cooking classes will give you the chance to unleash your inner Jamie Oliver, while also encouraging you to consider a few more health options this year.

The Larder Cook School is based in West Lothian and reinvests all profits from its cooking courses into training and employability programmes for disadvantaged youngsters.

With classes such as an introduction to bread making and Turkish mezze cook and dine, you’ll be heading for the Masterchef finals in no time.