Jump Start Your New Year

I love New Years and all the optimism and hope that it brings. It causes me to ponder all of the possibilities: Who can I become this year? How can I grow? What can I learn? What can I accomplish? It's simultaneously overwhelming with all its possibilities as well as inspiring.

Jump Start Your New Year

I love New Years and all the optimism and hope that it brings. It causes me to ponder all of the possibilities: Who can I become this year? How can I grow? What can I learn? What can I accomplish? It's simultaneously overwhelming with all its possibilities as well as inspiring. Here are several ways to jumpstart your 2023 and hopefully help you achieve some of your goals, whether it's to become healthier, make new friends, try something new, etc.

Learn a new skill

Downhill ski lessons and clinics at Purgatory Ski Resort: act fast as some of these start/started the first week of January. Link

Cross-country skiing at Durango Nordic Ski Club: Next group clinic on Jan 7th (only $35!). Link

Ice climbing with San Juan Mountain Guides in Ouray: 2 day courses ($499). Link

Intro to Bouldering and Climbing Classes at Gravity Lab. Link

Take an art class at the Durango Arts Center. Link

Learn pottery from one of the best in town! Link

Develop a healthy habit

Join a gym, yoga studio, commit to getting monthly massages, etc. Some places/people to check out:

Durango Rec Center: only $33/month and comes with all the amenities plus a wide variety of classes!

Sweaty Buddha: hot and humid yoga: feels so good when it's cold and dry outside!

Gravity Lab Climbing: membership comes with use of gym plus yoga classes

Apple Fitness: Big fan of the HIIT workouts, and it's only $10/month.

Yoga with Adriene: Cause sometimes doing yoga at home is what feels right.  

Make new friends/Club it up

We're talking clubs with a strong social aspect i.e. Slaydies, Young Professionals of Durango, Professional Women's Network of Durango.

or clubs for a particular interest i.e. Durango Running Club, Chess Club at Guild House Games, Durango Climbers Coalition, Durango Cruiser Ride . . .

Go outside your comfort zone

"Do something that scares you everyday." Or if you're like me: "Do something that scares you once a month." That should be enough, right?

Perform standup at Starlight Lounge.

Learn Aikido, a modern Japanese martial art, at Durango Aikido

Learn Swing Dancing with the West Slope Westies

Take a Pole Fitness class with Mountain Pole at the Durango Rec Center (Fridays, 6-7 pm). See January schedule here.

Take an improv class at the Durango Arts Center

Get Involved and Give Back

One of the best ways to learn about where you live and meet rad folks is to volunteer. Some amazing organizations to check out:

Good Food Collective

Manna Durango

La Plata County Humane Society

Durango Rotary Club

San Juan Mountains Association

And finally. Go forth and do the thing! The one thing you really wanted to do last year, but life got in the way. Make plans NOW to do it. Buy the tickets, sign up for the race, or whatever you need to take that first step to achieving "the thing." Your 2024 self will thank you :) For me, this means: registering for that art class I was eyeing last year but kept thinking of excuses and signing up for a cross-country ski lesson and a downhill ski lesson (cause I can't ski in powder to save my life.)

Published 01/05/22 (Apologies if some links stop working.)