Invest in yourself

Well 2026 is here, the beginning of another year and for many the foundation of those unrealistic resolutions. The promises we make, the goals we set, the failing to achieve. January is the month of gym subscriptions, a financial commitment to enhance ones life, the month that words for many last a whole thirty days until the realisation of motivation, hard work and sacrifice wains, and by the beginning of February the drive disappears, the excuses reappear, the resistance becomes stronger and before long, and dreams of losing a pound or two have sunk like a torpedoed battleship. This was me, pretty much year on year, but no more.  This self proclaimed, self diagnosed procrastinator of the highest order, this work in progress, continually trying to better my self both mentally and physically is on a roll. 

As 2026 begins, I’ve already been on a drive to stay healthy, become fitter, and get a lot more creative.  The list of blog posts have steadily been ticked of the list in 2025, and the list is growing again moving into ‘26. Physically, I have lost around 24lb or 11 kilos over the past three months. It’s taken willpower and commitment, not a diet, but avoiding processed food, bad snacking habits and junk food. I made a commitment heading into Autumn, to stay fit through winter, and to be ready for spring. Above all, do not do what I usually do; hibernate, eat too much, and wait for the light to return. No, not this time, my attitude to winter has completely changed. My pre-work morning routine is now based upon waking my body up with movement exercises, and soon as the evenings went dark, the lights got charged and night riding began. The weekends are for riding further and surfing, and I now do circuits once a week. The reason for the change?  A simple plan I drew up last year. A plan that has really changed my lifestyle, and in terms of my health seems to be working. 

Being a simple being, I’m all about keeping things simple.  Having a basic process to follow that would help  to invest in my self every day, every month and every year moving forward. The model below is my own and I hope by reading this post, you’ll go away and maybe create your own. It’s certainly not mind bending, earth shattering, never been done before science, I just wrote down some words, their meaning might seem self explanatory but personally they go deeper, but the simplicity of it really does allow me to manage the procrastination. When you write your words, you’ll recognise what they mean to you.

The model is what I call ‘The ARC’. It’s an ‘Anti Resistance Model’ and I just made that bit up as well, but everyday, having this model helps. Being a person that undeniably falls victim to resistance, it  can be stressful, and a frustrating trait for me and my family. Having that nagging devil inside my head that will always find a reason not to do something, and don’t be fooled, resistance can come in many forms when you recognise it. This resistance creates the need to justify everything, and then simply give in before you’ve even started. My favourite, and what seems to be a common term these days, is that feeling of ‘imposter syndrome’. I started to write a book in Lockdown. I still believe it’s a great topic, but that’s on hold, because I began to see the topic on YouTube and hear it on podcasts, so automatically my mind began to insist that I was way out of my league. Then came the self doubt, and negative critiquing jumped in and eventually I decided to shelving the project in book form, for now. The struggle is real here let me tell you. 

So, this is how The Arc has helped. As a rule, my day starts with either Activity or Creativity. 

Activity or activation as I often call it,  comes in a few forms, but every day I have to get active in some way or another.  Each morning I’ll allow myself anywhere from five to ten minutes to wake my body with a combination of tai chi, yoga and body weight exercises. Let me be very clear,  when resistance says ‘give it a miss this morning’, I may listen, but I’ll manage the nagging voice, reason with the voice by simply asking ‘How would not doing a few stretches serve me?’ The answer is always in my favour and I’ll always do something. Secondly, I’m no fitness guru here, I’m a bloke who should have been doing this my whole life but now aim to be doing it for the rest of it.  I can barely tough my toes, I have the flexible capabilities of a granite wall, and thirty press-ups is pretty good for me. But here’s the thing, I’m getting better, I’m getting stronger, my core is engaged now and I’m feeling the benefits when I ride my bikes and surf. My pop ups when surfing are quick, and I feel stronger paddling. When I ride my mountain bike, I feel solid when I need to be and planted in my bike. When I’m climbing on my gravel bike, using strava to track my progress,  I’m smashing personal records.  I also go to circuits once a week and this routine has been so beneficial. Every day I activate myself in some way, and the chemicals released make me feel bloody fantastic. 

Just a little side note here, maybe a reminder to get started, and a dose of perspective for myself when needed. Two days before my father passed at 94, he was lying in bed, cancer was finally taking him, but his legs were moving up and down under the duvet. I asked what he was doing and his reply ‘my exercises’. Literally to the day he passed he was doing his daily exercises. The hardest part for my Dad through illness and injury was losing his physical ability to go for a walks or do some work in the garden. Daily activation was embedded in his soul. From his days on a training ship when others were at school, a routine around Physical fitness were embedded, then the RAF Air Sea Rescue during World War Two, where he swam most days, or played water polo when in port. During his 31 years in the Police, be was a ‘bobby on the beat’,  and finally as a Harbour Master at Brighton Marina. He walked his Jack Russells up a hill know as Anchor valley, every day. A hill most would not even bother with. My dear old dad did his exercises every morning for as long as I have a memory of him doing so.  Sit ups, press ups, a walk everyday, and hand on heart I never once in my life saw him run anywhere, never. 

By activating myself I like to include connection in here. This is important to me because I can be happy flying solo most of the time. Connecting with other people, whether its for circuits, riding my bike or believe or not on social media, is becoming really important to me too. Not making excuses to back out of meeting for a coffee, a ride, a surf or a pint in the pub. I can be terrible at this and that might be another trait that I seem to have. I’m not seeking any kind of label, I’m pretty sure I’ve been like it my whole life. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying your own company, nothing wrong with a little solitude, but I also know it’s really essential to share the energy of a fun day out on the bikes, or chat in the ocean with other surfers. I’ve never organised to go surfing with anyone, I’m not sure why really, I just know what I like, what I fell comfortable surfing, and that’s my time. But once in the water I’m stoked to chat and mingle with friends and community. I might not be able to connect in person every day, but to communicate every day might be a better word here. Once a month I meet with three friends and we just talk utter nonsense, whether its be surfing, life, the good old days, whatever we talk about is not important, the value is in the connection. On New Years Eve I rode at Old Hill Bike Park with my old BMX racing buddy Andy Coryn. We were both heading to the bike park on the same day, we hooked up, rode the trails and caught up after what has been too long. This reconnection was such a great feeling and the next time we’re hoping to get more of our racing gang together, which is essentially the Dads and Old Boys who raced BMX that should know better. 

The Creation part is so valuable to me. Every morning I’ll write a few words or put some ideas in my journal, and I mean everyday. I could find myself at 6.45am, five minutes before I leave for work, with scissors and glue, cutting and sticking something into my journal, or jotting ideas for a blog, or images I’d like to capture. I write words to accompany the images, or write what might seem like meaningless words and call it poetry, but its my poetry and for my eyes only, this isn’t for anyone else unless I choose to put them out there.  

Here’s the point; Those words, that image, the pen to paper means I succeeded in an investment to myself. I have written words whilst I wait for my morning coffee to brew, I’ve written whilst sitting on the throne, or before I exit my car and walk into the workshop at work. If it pops into my mind I’ll write it down as I’m sure there’s a reason. But the words I write, the ideas spawned on any morning, I will ponder these all day, and within moments of getting home and walking through the door, I’m writing a blog post or completing that collage I started ten hours previous.  Creativity is essential for our minds to stay active. 

My journals are filled with ideas that might not happen, but also filled with ideas that have. My blog is what I choose to share, to make public, but they’re words I’m happy with, and a reminder to me that I’m completing tasks, not putting it off, not resisting, nor listening to the doubt, or feeling like an imposter, because I’m creating for myself, and like this post, if it helps anyone recognise the similarities, then that’s great. 

You’ve noticed by now that The Arc is in no order because they all link together.  Recovery is what we all need, both physically and mentally. Having a physical job is tiring but my brain still functions, so I recover and switch off by writing and creating, but I also surf and ride bikes, physical and mentally allowing myself to be in the present, to be mindful, and listen to my body. The act of riding a wave has a new meaning for me now as I’ve gotten older. I’m no longer competing or hustling for waves, Surfing is now about connection to the environment, to the people around me and to myself as a person. Riding my bikes whether on or off-road is about fun, and well-being. A two hour surf can wipe me out, a forty mile bike ride here in West Cornwall might as well be a stage of the Tour de France, its all climbing, it’s either up or down and very little rest on a flat road. I’m getting fitter, but sometimes I get home, knowing I’ve pushed a bit too hard, recovery means I need to stretch, relax and work on becoming more flexible.  I’m aware that I also need to build muscle because as we get older we’re told we waste away, and I don’t want to waste away. Eating well, and not snacking on processed food is a major change in my life. Drinking more water means my urine does not look radioactive anymore, meaning I’m not longer dehydrated all the time. 

The result of following The ARC means that where every element combines, it leads to Happiness. By following this simple model I’m managing the resistance, the procrastination, the awkwardness I often feel, and that brings the happiness, and that is very real. The feeling of success is not financial, or material, it’s in personal achievement, accountability and a sense of responsibility to be personally better. When I get up in the morning, my first cup of coffee is so enjoyable its part of my process. When I  create, stretch or swing my arms around activating my mind, my muscles and blood flow, I walk out the door happy and ready. 

Wading out into the cold water on New Years Day with best friends and about two hundred other people of all shapes, sizes, and age, all sharing the energy of a cold dip, was a really happy moment, and a great memory to put in the mental tool box. If I need a happy memory one day, a reminder that I didn’t resist, I didn’t make an excuse, I have that stored. When I felt the pain and emerged myself in that freezing water, it was because I know it’s so good for me, it’s there when I ever need a positive moment to reflect upon, a moment I beat resistance. 

I’ve shared this model because I hope you can create your own. Having a model on the wall in front of the computer is a daily reminder. I can only tell you that creating a simple model that suits you is fantastic exercise in achieving the realistic. Instead of saying I’m going to lose weight, ask yourself how, or what would be the most enjoyable way to be healthier? There doesn’t have to be a time limit, just enjoy the process and know that the reason for the model is for you and your needs. Do what you can realistically do and build upon every session. Add an extra mile to the ride, push yourself that little bit harder up the hills, run a little further, do a couple more press ups, eat a little less, cook some better food,  buy a journal and create a piece of art each day, do a scribble and add a word, take a photo, maybe start a blog. But the most important thing about having a simple model like this, is you’re investing in yourself.