Are you noticing your balance more than you used to? Do you sometimes hesitate when you’re walking or worry about tripping and falling? Do you feel nervous or unsteady coming down the stairs?

Even if
you are not someone who makes New Year’s resolutions, this is a time of year
when we tend to take stock, make plans and look ahead to the New Year.

In doing
so, whether intentionally or not, we set our priorities by how we schedule our
activities and plan our time.

Is Balance an Issue?

The new
year is a great time to take a second to notice our balance. Try asking yourself
the following questions:

• Is my balance as good as it used to
  be?
• Am I having more problems than I used
  to?
• Are my balance issues affecting my day-to-day
  activities more than I think?

Often,
when things change gradually, we get used to them without realising what is
happening. But if you take a minute to consider whether you notice your balance
more than you used to, you might be surprised how much things have changed.

Perhaps
you weren’t so worried about uneven pavements or coming down the stairs without
a handrail. Maybe you just don’t feel as confident or steady on your feet as
you did a few years ago.

So, if you
have realised that balance problems have crept up on you, then keep reading. I
am going to make the case for why you should put balance at the top of your
priority list for the new year.

What Do You Need Good Balance for?

Put
simply, good balance is essential to everything else you want to do.

Think
about your plans for the new year. Are you taking any trips? Going to see
family or friends? Have you booked any holidays or city breaks? Maybe even a
cruise?

What about
day-to-day activities? These may include going for walks with friends, volunteering,
tending to your garden, looking after grandchildren, going across town to shop
or go to an exhibition.

You need
to have good balance to do all these things.

For
example, if you are feeling unsteady on your feet, you may not want to take the
train across town to meet a friend (the stairs at the train station might be
tricky).

If you are
worried about falling, you might not enjoy those walks with your friends so
much.

If you are
anxious on bumpy ground (e.g., cobblestones and uneven pavements), that trip to
Paris or Dubrovnik might become much less enjoyable. You could spend the
weekend looking at your feet, not at all the beautiful sights around you.

If you
don’t feel confident when you are out and about, you might find it harder to
look after your grandchildren or take them out for the afternoon.

And, of
course, if you were to fall and break a wrist or a hip, then many of your plans
will be on hold for some time.

Maintaining
your balance is essential for you to do, and enjoy, so many of those other
things you are planning for the next year (and beyond).

I want you
to have great balance, to feel confident on your feet and to feel confident
every day going out into the world and doing all the things that you want and
need to do.

And I want
you to avoid trips, falls and broken bones.

Where to Start When Improving Your Balance?

The best
thing you can do is to start doing regular balance training exercises in small
bouts.

Doing a
class once a week can be great. Having an instructor to guide you is very
helpful, and people often push themselves a bit more in a class setting.

However,
if you want to improve your balance, you need to be doing something most days
of the week. It doesn’t need to be a lot. Just a few minutes a day (at home) is
all it takes. You don’t even need any equipment.

Here’s a
simple balance exercise that you can start with right now:

Tandem Stand (Balance Exercise)

For more exercises, check out our free, four-week Balance
Boost video series.

Don’t Lose Sight of Balance

Remember
that balance is more than the duration for which you can stand on one leg.
Balance equals confidence.

Better balance means you feel more confident going to
new places, walking on uneven ground, talking to your companions and enjoying
the scenery around you.

More confident walking down flights of stairs or being
out and about with grandchildren.

More confident travelling, going abroad and visiting foreign
cities, perhaps going to historic houses or gardens.

And that’s why, if you are having trouble with your
balance, you need to make it a priority this new year.

What is your #1 resolution for 2021? Do you think balance should be your top priority? What can you begin doing today to improve your balance? Please share with our community!