A New Year, A New Way to Move: Finding Joy in Exercise Beyond the Gym
We can sometimes fall into the habit of building up January to be a go-getting month. A new year stretches ahead, inviting us to imagine slightly better versions of ourselves. We set goals, make lists, swear oaths to our future selves. It can lead to placing unnecessary pressure on ourselves.
Quite often, these resolutions tend to circle back to health. Goals like: joining a gym, attending a Pilates class, and maybe even attempting Dry January with varying levels of sincerity.
But what if you’re not gym-obsessed? What if the thought of treadmills and mirrors leaves you sweating with dread? And yet, you still want to move your body, feel alive, and enjoy it!
Exercise doesn’t have to be punishing. It can be pleasurable, social, and even joyful. So, here are a few ideas for those who want to move and kickstart 2026 a little differently.
Horse Riding
Horse riding is a full-body workout and it can be disguised as leisure! There are many benefits to riding: it builds core strength, balance, and stamina, all while quietly burning calories without ever feeling like a chore. Beyond the physical benefits, there’s something deeply grounding about connecting with animals and being outdoors. And as your confidence grows, you can join group hacks through countryside lanes and build up a social circle.
Some riding clubs offer member events as well, and take it from me, you can’t beat the community element. While the countryside is rich with stables and yards, Londoners aren’t left out either. There are several riding schools in and around the city offering lessons for all levels. It’s one of my favourite pastimes!
Clay Shooting
While shooting drives require a license and formal permissions, clay shooting offers an accessible and sociable alternative. It’s a brilliant excuse to get outside, breathe fresh air, and focus the mind. There’s something absorbing about the rhythm and precision of it, and it tends to attract a surprisingly friendly crowd. Many shooting grounds and lodges welcome beginners warmly, making it feel far less intimidating than it might sound. Think less exclusivity, more camaraderie, thermos flasks, and muddy boots.
Walking & Hiking
Sometimes the simplest answer is the best one. Walking is free, flexible, and endlessly adaptable. Even brief exposure to sunshine during the darker months has proven to help support vitamin D levels, lift mood, regulate sleep, and combat seasonal fatigue. While the English countryside is rich with walking trails, you don’t need to escape the city to benefit. UK cities like London, are filled with parks and green spaces that make walking easy and accessible. When I’m working from home, I often spend my lunch hour doing a few laps of my local park, soaking up the daylight, clearing my head, and ticking off my 10,000 steps before the afternoon begins.
Wild Swimming/Regular Swimming
For those who prefer water to weights, swimming is a quietly powerful form of exercise. It works the whole body, improves cardiovascular health, and clears the mind in a way few activities can. For me, wild swimming in lochs was one of my favourite activities when living in Scotland. It adds an extra spark of adventure, and you can swim in a lake, river, or sea dip. If the cool water temperature is not your thing, then indoor pools offer year-round consistency and supportive warmth. There’s a calm satisfaction in gliding through water, and a feeling of reset that lingers long after you’ve towelled off.
Dance Classes
Expressive, social, and often filled with laughter, dance classes tend to be far more welcoming and fun than you probably expected. It offers a rare blend of movement, creativity, and freedom. From ballet-inspired barre to contemporary, salsa, or even swing, dancing builds strength, coordination, and flexibility while lifting the mood. It’s also a fabulous form of creative expression, a chance to lose yourself in the music. It’s an opportunity to switch off the inner critic, and simply move. It’s liberating letting the body lead, without counting reps or watching the clock.
A new year doesn’t demand self-denial or relentless optimisation. It simply offers an opening, a fresh chapter. If January is about setting intentions, perhaps this is the year to choose movement that feels good, that fits your life, and that you actually look forward to. After all, the best habits are the ones you enjoy enough to keep.
