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My New Spring Running Music Playlist

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Hello!  Happy Sunday everyone, is it Sunday?

Hope you are all OK and looking after yourselves.  Gosh my second blog post in a week after an 18 month dry spell.  Actually it’s been nice getting to know my blog again and it’s a perfect excuse to take myself off and away from the other 4 (plus dog) inhabitants of this overcrowded house. As running seems to be my primary ‘go to’ exercise of choice, today I decided it was about time I put a new running music playlist together.

Back to Running

Like many people during this challenging time, I’ve taken up running (again) and joined the hordes of new or ‘lapsed’ runners that seem to be pounding the streets everywhere you look.  Yes there are days where I will stay indoors but I do need, at times, to get out for some fresh air, some exercise and to escape from the family.  I hasten to add that I am really valuing the time I’m having with the family but sometimes I do need my space, they need me out of their and I need to attempt to fight off possibility of all the extra weight gained as a consequence of constantly comfort eating!  3 teenagers, a husband working from home, a dog, temperamental WiFi connection are regular trigger points that get me reaching for junk.

Setting a Fitness Challenge

So back to running.  For me, like the Gym, running for me is a way to relieve stress, re-frame worries or stuff I’m anxious about or a time to switch off; concentrating solely on getting one foot in from of the other and getting a step closer to finishing.  Whilst Gyms remain closed I can still go out for a run.  So when we went into lockdown and were told we could go outdoors to exercise daily for one hour max I decided to challenge myself to run 3 times a week and that’s what I’ve been doing for the last 3 weeks.  Truth is I never look forward to going out for a run but once I’m out I think its only a small amount of time in the great scheme of things so best just get on with it.  Plus it’s free and time starts the minute I venture outside my front door. I tend to go out late so that there are less people around and it’s still light enough to run in my local park (which is something I am hugely grateful for at them moment).  I had one mad thought recently to train the dog to run with me but let’s just say that’s firmly been moth-balled for the time-being.

Prior to my break from this blog, I did rather love putting a music playlist together whether for running or the Gym and these were always really popular.  So I’ve decided to put together a new one.  It killed an afternoon, took my mine off eating the kids Easter Eggs and gave me a good excuse to spring clean my own music playlists (well I’ve spring-cleaned everything else out). Plus I signed up for the Apple Music 3 months free trial (and why not) so had more tunes to choose from.

Time for a New Running Playlist

Running Playlists are a great way to motivate you to push harder, run a little faster or a means of taking your mind off that steep hill you need to get past.

I would normally have a running list of about 15 songs but for me 10 is enough to get me through a 5 km run.

So here’s my new Spring Running Music Playlist:

 

All available to download.

  • Blinding Lights – The Weeknd
  • On Top of the World – Imagine Dragons
  • Instant History – Biffy Clyro
  • Bury It – CHVRCHES (ft. Hayley Williams)
  • Stupid Love – Lady Gaga
  • Irresistible – Fall Out Boy
  • All Goes Wrong – Chase & Status (ft. Tom Grennan)
  • Sucker Punch – Sigrid
  • Higher Love – Kygo & Whitney Houston
  • The Monster – Eminem (ft. Rhianna)

Hope you enjoy it!

For more running music playlists take a look at My Playlists page

Helen x

Hello Blog! It’s been a while

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I haven’t written anything on this blog since September 2018.  Why?  Nothing exciting  has happened just work, kids, life in general.  So like everyone else, I’m now sitting here in Covid-19 Lock-down (week 3) with a lot of time on my hands.  I’m lucky to still have a job work but it’s Easter hols at the moment.  House is spotless, the garden is almost weedless, the dog has never been walked so much, I’ve embarked on the occasional run, practised the art of social-distancing and taken part in numerous Zoom video calls including a Bootcamp.  Just like everyone else I suppose, keeping busy and staying at home.

Being a list-writer, I’ve always set out what I need to achieve each day but up till now it’s all been a little mundane the usual life-admin consisting of shopping, work-stuff, jobs to do in the house.  The other day I read a brilliant quote that appeared on Instagram ‘This is a Pandemic not a productivity test’ (@thegoodquote, @BryannAndrea) and it really resonated with me.  Whilst its been amazing and inspiring seeing all the things that other people have done I have felt at times a little overwhelming.  However, when we all come out of this and go back to normal life (whatever that will look like) I do want to be able to look back and say that in some way I made the most of this time.  So I have made a list of what I would like to accomplish, nothing major or life affirming (yet).  On the list was to revisit my blog and maybe write some content.  So here’s me dipping my toe back in the water of blog-dom yet again.  For me this is will be my therapy, my online diary, something I can look back on when I’m back at work looking forward to the weekend or getting stressed to hell something unimportant like forgetting to book a supermarket delivery slot!

I’ve forgotten how to do all the flashy stuff that you do to get more reach in terms of readers but to be honest I’m not that bothered about that.  Can’t remember how to add a fancy font or a professional looking title.  It’s nice just to write, reflect and maybe give me more focus in terms of making the most of all this spare time.  We could be in lock down for a few weeks, months, who knows.  It’s a difficult time for everyone at the moment so maybe this will play some part in helping me cope with it all.

Helen x

(Gosh just noticed the ancient About Me Picture ……. that will need to get changed at some point)!

 

My May Goals for 2018

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May Goals

My May Goals

I haven’t published a blog since last October!  Can you believe it? I suppose work, family and life just took over as these things tend to have a habit of doing and I got out of the habit of posting articles. The towel nearly got thrown in a few weeks ago and the plug pulled but I thought back to when I started my blog, what I loved about it and concluded that all I did was fall out of the habit like we all can do with a lot of things.  So here goes, I’m starting things off with my May Goals ……..

  • Commit to posting some content onto this site on a more regular basis
  • Crack on with sorting the house out; this includes fun stuff like redecorating my bedroom and the rather expensive and boring stuff like rebuilding a porch and re-leading a bay.
  • Update my CV; we should all do this regardless of whether we are happy in our jobs or not!
  • Run at least two times a week with youngest son
  • Revamp my Gym workout for May; got stuck in a rut recently doing the same old thing so putting a stop to that right now!
  • Get baking again!
  • Make time for my lovely friends including those that I don’t see very often – you know who you are!
  • Look to change the look of my blog; maybe it’s time to makeover my website.
#blogshare My May Goals #motivation Click To Tweet

There all done!  It’s made me realise that I have let a lot of things in my personal life slide so this has been the perfect chance to reflect on things and pull my finger out when it comes to getting things done and making time to enjoy the things that I love doing!  Actually I’ve missed this.  Sitting down and taking the time to write this, being creative in my own way; so maybe I’ll not be throwing in the towel just yet!

 

Helen x

 

 

Why try a 30 day fitness challenge?

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fitness challenge

Why try a 30 day fitness challenge?

Have you ever tried doing a fitness challenge for 30 days?  This year I decided to make a new list of goals to achieve each month; one of these was to set a monthly fitness challenge.  I’ve become a little obsessed with monthly challenges recently, why?

  • 30 days is not a great deal of time to invest in a project if it doesn’t work out
  • Doing something for 30 days  can help to cement a good habit
  • A new challenge each month can keep up your motivation and results can be seen in a short space of time
  • It can help you develop a more open mind set to embrace change
  • You can get a lot done it 30 days; think of doing one each month then that’s a lot of goals you’ve achieved!

So apply this to fitness and you’ve got a great fitness plan for the whole year!

Try a new fitness challenge each month, smaller goals are easier to achieve and you will see results quicker! Click To Tweet

Stuck for inspiration?  Then check out my 5 favourite fitness challenges that I have taken from Pinterest.

30 Day Abs and Squats Challenge – this is actually my fitness challenge for February

30 Day Core Strength Challenge

30 Day Sleek Arms Challenge

30 Day Full Killer Body Workout

30 Day Burpee Challenge

Finally you needn’t just have to limit it to a monthly fitness challenge; it can be absolutely anything!

 

 

 

 

 

My February Goals

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monthly goals

My February Goals

Ok we’ve got through January, it’s noticeably lighter and spring is on it’s way!  January surprisingly didn’t drag as much for me as normal.  Ok so I still had no money, other friends were feeling the pinch so no socialising to get rid of the January blues.  Setting my own January Goals helped me to focus on things and be more pro-active about getting things done instead of mopping around the house.  I consciously made a plan and effort to achieve each of the goals that I set, 10 in total.  Some were easy, some were harder and took a while to complete.  It’s given me the motivation to carry on setting monthly goals and see what I’ve managed to achieved at the end of the year.

New month, new monthly goals. Getting things done one small step at a time #blogshare Click To Tweet

So here are my new monthly goals:

  1. New Fitness Challenge for the month – Abs and Squats Challenge
  2. Repost one of my very first workouts (ideal for a beginner), I’ve got loads so why not share?
  3. Freezer Meal Prep Session – check out these ideas that you can through into your Slow Cooker from livingrichwithcoupons.com and more ideas from smartschoolhouse.com
  4. Put together a meal plan for my children’s suppers and use it! I’m using a printable meal planner from shesaved.com found on Pinterest.
  5. Re-think my fitness goals and put a new plan of action in place
  6. Organise a cinema trip with my daughter and a couple of her mates to see ‘Sing!’
  7. De-clutter the Living Room (phase 2 of my whole house de-clutter)
  8. Go Sugar free for February, read this infographic if it all looks a little daunting!
  9. Revamp some of the images on my Busyfitmama blog
  10. Create a Photo Gallery for my Kitchen

Looking back to the goals I set for January (read my blog post My January Goals) I’ve noticed that they generally focus on fitness, health, blogging, family and my messy house!  I suppose it’s what I’m all about but here’s to hoping the messy house will be a goal I achieve sooner rather than later!

Do you set goals each month?  What are your February Goals?

Hello 2017! Workout Music Playlist

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Workout Music

Hello 2017!  Workout Music Playlist

Happy New Year!  It’s 2017 and a fresh start for me fitness wise after the usual over indulgence of Christmas.  Do I feel at all guilty?  Nope!  Well just a little but isn’t that what Christmas is all about.  So now it’s time to get back to the Gym and getting rid of those few extra pounds I’ve managed to pile on. So I’ve put together a new workout music playlist to help me get back into the swing of things.  I’ve also put together a New Year Running Music Playlist, which is slightly more upbeat but just as good for the Gym.

New workout music playlist to motivate and inspire you to get your trainers on and get to the #Gym! Click To Tweet

All my workout music is available to purchase on iTunes and other online music stores such as Amazon

.Music Playlist

 

Hello 2017! Workout Music Playlist

The Mack (ft. Mark Morrison and Fetty Wap) – Nevada

Turn Down For What – DJ Snake & Lil Jon

So Good – Louisa Johnson

Hall of Fame (ft. will.i.am) – The Script

Starving (ft. Zedd) – Hailee Steinfeld & Grey

Earthquake (ft. Tinie Tempah) – Labrinth

Touch – Little Mix

All Night – The Vamps & Matoma

That’s My Girl – Fifth Harmony

Shed A Light (ft. Cheat Codes) – Robin Schulz & David Guetta

Am I Wrong – Nico & Vinz

No Sleep – Twin Atlantic

Hotline Bling – Drake

Love Myself – Hailee Steinfeld

Fancy (ft. Chari XCX) – Iggy Azalea

 

What workout music gets you motivated to exercise?

 

 

 

 

 

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