New Year's Resolutions Revisited

Happy New Year!

There’s always a hint of déjà vu about New Year’s (cheering champagne at midnight, wishing I’d been in bed at ten thirty…) but this time it seems particularly impressive. A year ago we were just embarking on the most ambitious vaccination programme the country has ever seen (and we were fabulous). One year on, almost to the day, we are doing the same again but even more so…

This overwhelming sense of repetition has made me think we should revisit last year’s resolutions and see how I got on… 

1. Save the UK from covid (not by myself obviously…) Ok, fair cop, objectively this hasn’t worked (thanks Omicron, you’ve really put a dampener on the holiday season...)  But look at what we have achieved this year: covid vaccination has saved over 100 THOUSAND lives, prevented 240 THOUSAND hospitalisations and 24 MILLION covid infections in the UK. Two thirds were given in general practice, and we’re about to give a shed load more. Give yourselves a big pat on the back. 
2. Go Green Ok, fair cop, objectively… Double déjà vu. Pretty sure this meant something in The Matrix… Anyway, for those of you taking the red pill COP26 may have felt like a kick in the teeth. However, I’ve been heartened by how active medics in GP-land have been at making changes themselves. Collectively our efforts will make a big difference.
3. Give up alcohol Ok, fair cop… But seriously, unless you’ve been hibernating the whole year or just got back from an unsupported off-grid trip hiking in the Himalayas, just you and the yak, you’ll know why this was frankly ridiculous. Fermented yak milk anyone?
4. Eat better Finally! An achievement! Out with Dominos, in with chickpeas and quinoa. Lucky the practice is well ventilated due to covid. When the windows get shut and the masks come off my colleagues may be in for a nasty surprise…
5. See family and friends more Epic fail. I had planned to visit people more and give up Zoom socials. As it was I just gave up Zoom socials… No-one wants to do another virtual quiz by themselves. Presumably, that’s why Boris was surrounded by people for his last year. 

One out of five. This is why I don’t do resolutions. Anyway,  it’s ten thirty so I’m off to bed. Enjoy the party, I’ll see you in the vaccine clinic tomorrow. 

BW

Neal

PS. If going green is on your resolutions list for 2022 but don’t know where to start then watch our The Green GP course for free, on demand via www.nbmedical.com. Also check out Greenerpractice.co.uk and see if there’s a local group you can get involved in.