Charlie New is the Red Runner for CSU in Bathurst and he’s passionate about making exercise an integral part of daily life. Here he shares how and why he’s always on a mission to be #BetterInRed.
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For a long time now, regular exercise has been a big part of my life. I remember going for a run before and after school while my Dad rode his bike. It was always easy to be motivated, knowing he was exercising too and could beat me. It made for a good challenge trying to keep up with him on a bike!
As I’m older now and have settled into a new routine, exercise has become an essential part of maintaining a balanced lifestyle and my health.
It’s important to remember that we need to move to keep both the body and mind fit and healthy.
For me, getting the activity I need is about integrating exercise into the daily grind. By choosing to ride a bicycle to work and uni, I get a good 30 minutes to an hour of activity everyday while also getting to where I need to be. I choose to ride as it’s much faster than walking and only takes a few more minutes than driving, plus I can cover large distances without expending too much energy.
Some other ways I integrate activity into my lifestyle to be #BetterInRed include things like yoga, walking during my lunch and social activities.
Yoga is all about finding balance. I participate most mornings at 6am which helps me to start the day in a really nice way. Stretching out helps me to understand when and where the body needs some attention. I find that if I’m just riding or just walking my body gets out of balance, and only builds strength in certain areas, so yoga brings back some equilibrium.
Yoga also has a strong focus on mental health and spirituality, for me the spiritual side is not as important as the physical but I know it’s something that a lot of people appreciate – the time to be quiet and aware of your body and the breath.
Another thing I’ve found helpful to ensure I remain active is going for walks during lunch breaks and in between meetings. It’s a great ‘half time’ in the day and a really nice way to clear the mind and stretch out after time spent at your computer or a desk. If you can grab some friends and go for a walk together, it’s even better as it’s easier to get out there and you’ll have a bit more fun.
I’ve always been a lover of outdoor activities too. It’s an awesome way to spend a weekend with your friends exploring a canyon or climbing cliffs. Much more exciting than sitting in front of a screen when we do that all week anyway.
Living in NSW offers some great opportunities for exploring and discovering. One of my favourite places to spend a day in the warmer months is the Dam Cliffs at Clarence (near Lithgow). It was once a canyon that was dammed at one end and flooded. It has a huge cliff face which you can free climb up and if you bail out half way, you’ll just splash into water at the bottom. It also has some of the biggest rope swings in the area. It’s at the foot of the Blue Mountains so also has some incredible bush walks and canyoning tracks nearby.
My tips for #BetterInRed:
- Make exercise part of your everyday life
- Mix up your activities for balance
- Get out and get active!
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#BetterInRed is all about getting the most out of university life by looking after your health and wellbeing. It is an exercise challenge that will run for eight weeks from Monday 6 March.
So, lace up, get out and challenge yourself to complete 30 minutes of exercise three times per week. Share your exercise using #BetterInRed and you could win some great prizes!
Find out more at social.csu
