Are you planning to turn over a new leaf in 2018? Would you like to get a bit fitter?

Then read on!

If you’re a regular follower of the blog you’ll know we’re big fans of swimming in our house – from Puddle Ducks baby swimming lessons to working as Huggies Little Swimmers ambassadors, water features in a lot of our activities, especially in the summer.

But swimming isn’t just great for the kids – it’s great for me too. Our local pool opens at 6.30am every morning and once or twice a week you’ll find me there swimming up and down before the working day has started.

I love it – it’s such a great way to start the day and I can squeeze it in before Misery Guts leaves for work and the kids need to be at nursery and school.

So if you’re looking for a new activity to start in the new year here’s 10 reasons to take up swimming in 2018.

10 reasons to take up swimming in 2018

1. It’ll give you some much-needed me-time. A bit like running, swimming is a chance to escape and do something by yourself without the need to talk to anyone, even if it’s just for 15 minutes or half an hour. You deserve it!

2. It’s therapeutic. I find the feeling and sound of water really therapeutic as you glide through it and the water rolls this way and that – there’s nothing else like it!

3. You don’t need any special equipment. Apart from a swimming costume or swimming trunks, obviously. No expensive trainers, no special workout gear, no digital fitness tracker. All you need is yourself and something to cover your modesty.

4. There’s no need to spend ages getting ready. You don’t need make-up and there’s no point in doing your hair – you can simply get up and go.

5. It’s an all-over workout. From your legs to your arms to your bum, swimming gives everything a good stretch and works all your muscles at the same time.

6. It burns calories. Did you know you can burn up to 590 calories an hour swimming? That’s three glasses of wine, or two Twirls, or one large slice of chocolate cake…you get the idea.

7. It’s gentle. If you’ve got a baby on board or you’re starting an exercise routine again after having a baby swimming is a great place to start. You can start slowly and work your way up, both in terms of speed and time.

8. There’s no need to make a financial commitment. You don’t need to sign up for membership and there’s no need to pay for anything up front – just pay as and when you go.

9. It’s a chance to make new friends. I swim at the same time on the same day each week and so do a lot of the other people I swim with, meaning we’ve all got to know each other quite well over the years.

10. You can treat yourself to a steam room or jacuzzi afterwards. Sadly our local pool doesn’t have either, but many do and what better way to round off a swim than a good steam or soak. Or both.

Do you go swimming regularly? Is swimming something you’d like to start? If you’ve got fitness plans for 2018 I’d love to hear what they are!

This post was written in collaboration with Simply Swim.

Linking up with these fabulous blogs!