2022 Self Care New Year's Resolutions for Runners
Whether you’re a new runner or a seasoned vet, you need running goals to maximize your growth and keep you motivated. Whenever the new year’s approaches, many runners set resolutions to hit new personal records, such as cutting down their mile time or running farther. While these resolutions can be great motivators, it’s also important to take care of yourself—physically and mentally—to be as healthy as possible and continue to enjoy running all year long. Review our top self-care new year’s resolutions for 2022 today.
1. Start Meditating Regularly
When you’re running a long race, having the strength and endurance to finish it is only part of the battle. It’s also essential to quiet your mind and develop self-control over your thoughts, especially negative ones, to run consistently and complete difficult runs. Meditation is proven to help manage pain, destress, and enhance mental resilience, so regularly meditating is the ultimate self-care practice for a runner. Like when you first started running, begin slowly and find a meditation plan you can commit to over a few months.
2. Make Consistency a Goal
If you’ve struggled to stick with a running schedule in the past, make a resolution to become more consistent. One of the best ways to become a more consistent runner is to create a running schedule you commit to sticking to over the first three months of the new year. Set a reasonable goal for you to complete in that timeframe and chart your progress in a journal for additional encouragement. Once you see your progress, you won’t want to stop. (Hint: preventing running discomfort and injury can help keep you on track. Make sure you are wearing the right socks to help support your consistency.)
3. Take Care of Your Feet
Taking care of your feet takes just a few minutes out of your day. Meanwhile, foot injuries and issues can set you back on your running progress and goals. Here is a quick look at 3 common issues for your feet and how you can prevent them in 5 minutes or less:
- Wearing moisture-wicking socks can help prevent athlete's foot.
- Stretching your feet can help avoid injury and muscle strain.
- Investing in blister-free socks can help prevent painful, infection-prone blisters.
4. Join a Running Group
Another great self-care practice is to join a running group, as it can increase your motivation and connect you with other runners. If you’re looking for new friends with similar interests, a running group is a great place to start. Alongside the chance to make friends, a running group will help you run with other people who can give you extra encouragement to reach your goals. In 2022, give a running group a try and reap the benefits of other runners motivating you to be your best.
5. Commit to Stretching Every Day
While most runners know they should stretch after a run, many don’t make time to stretch every day, especially when they haven’t gone on a run. A great daily stretching routine can help you stay injury-free and increase your overall flexibility. As a result, it’s essential you make stretching a priority during the new year. You can find tons of stretching routines online designed for runners, and you might even want to pop into a virtual yoga session on your day off to really upgrade your stretching game.
6. Try Trail Running
If you’re always running on a treadmill or around your neighborhood, you might want to switch it up every once in a while by adding trail running into your routine. Since trail running gets you out in nature and gives you a fresh environment, it can be incredibly refreshing. The American Psychological Association has found that spending time in nature can reduce stress, improve concentration, and promote happiness. Due to all the benefits of nature, make a resolution to try trail running for the first time in 2022.
7. Treat Yourself to High-Quality Running Gear
Instead of sticking to your old pair of running shoes or socks that are falling apart, treat yourself to some high-quality running gear in the new year. By investing in a new fitness tracker or some specialty running shoes, you’ll be committing to continue running all year long. Plus, new gear can improve your performance. For example, anti-blister running socks can help prevent blisters and make it so you don’t have to spend a few days on the couch recovering.
Take Your Running to the Next Level with Anti-Blister Socks from Wrightsock
At Wrightsock, we’re proud to help runners achieve their new year’s resolutions by providing them with anti-blister running socks. Our socks’ unique double-layer design reduces friction and absorbs moisture, leading to a much lower chance of blisters. Since our socks provide blister relief and make runners much more comfortable, they’ll help you run more consistently and reach your goals. Besides our standard blister-free socks, we also offer trail running socks designed to help you stay comfortable and protected while you jog in the woods.
Check out our selection of anti-blister socks today. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
