Tag Archives: New Year Resolution

episode 106 cover
Dec 19 2024

Episode 106 – health update and a New year resolution

In this episode I recount how the start of December has floored my completely due to ill health and resulting in a trip to Accident and Emergency. I would like to offer a huge heartfelt thanks to all the staff there who looked after me. Thank you.

I talk about the damage storm Darragh has caused to the clubs archery woodland, with several trees down.

fallen tree across archery target

I would also like to give a shout out to my friend Rich at Archery Geek Outdoors, We are all wishing him for a speedy recovery. If you get chance have a listen to episode 67 with guest Maddie Hammond. ⁠

Lastly and somewhat seasonally I invite you all to consider an archery themed New Year resolution for 2025. I am not normally a big fan of New year resolutions. I have the view if you want to change something in your life then why wait to the New Year. this year though I would like to propose one for all to consider and think about for 2025.
As the new year approach can we as an archery community should think about how we can open up to other classes and styles. Lets be even more friendly, reduce the animosity sometimes seen, reduce the them verse us mentality some have, reduce the gap v instinctive, compound v trad.
Many of us don’t care and are happy to be out shooting whether others are using a longbow, recurve, crossbow, compound or whatever.
We are all archers.
So lets try and make 2025 more about the fun of archery, no matter what we shoot.

Thanks for all the support that has been offered to me over the past 12 months and may I take this opportunity to wish you all safe travels over the festive period, along with a very Happy Christmas and all the very best for the New year.

image of Christmas tree
Happy Christmas and good luck for next year

If you have any questions or queries you can drop me an email on ⁠offthearrowshelf@yahoo.co.uk ⁠or via the contact me on this website.

There is my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@offthearrowshelf if you enjoy the content please hit the Like button and consider subscribing to the channel.

Most of all remember to enjoy your shooting and as always thanks for listening, watching and supporting.

Rob Shooting
Jan 10 2019

New Year so resolve to help and keep learning

We are a little over a week into 2019 already and I wonder how many of you made one or more New Year resolutions, whether to get more exercise, eat healthier or just shoot more. Have managed to stick with them so far?

A few people have asked about New Year resolutions and if I have any. Well no I don’t have. My thinking is if it is important enough to you to change, then why wait for the the New Year?

Having said this if you do like New Year resolutions then I would like to offer one though for you to consider.

Your archery journey doesn’t end after your beginners course is completed or when you think you have worked out how to shoot. This is in reality the start of your archery journey. Much like when you pass your driving test and get behind the wheel on your own for the first time, that is when you really start to drive. That is when you learn to cope with the situations.

So many new archers forget this, the fact you are still learning and developing your skills. I’ve been lucky enough to have been shooting for about 10 years now and I am still learning new things, experimenting with new techniques, reading new coaching theories, testing equipment.

So I suggest you keep learning, keeping watching the YouTube videos, listening to archery podcasts, reading archery books & articles, speaking to other archers & of course there are your coaches who will be more than willing to help.
Why not get more involved with your club, offer your help, maybe they need help with with setting up the club range or targets on the course. Clearing woodland for a 3D shot or maybe you have computer skills and could update the clubs website.
Never stop learning or helping others, let those be your targets for 2019.

Happy New year everyone.

Thanks for reading.
Jan 9 2014

New year resolutions? Don’t keep them for new year..

Sunrise on a new year

Sunrise on a new year

I know this is the time of year that many people start thinking about the future months and make various new year resolutions from, losing weight and eating healthily to quitting smoking etc. In archery terms its more likely to be related to I will practise more, I’ll try and increase my average or personal best etc.

Personally I’m not a big one for new year resolutions.

Why? Well I guess I think if these changes are so important why wait until the new year?

Though I can understand that many people use the start of the new year as the reason for a change which is fair enough. But what I would say is don’t let an early failure or set back stop you. We are all full of good intentions after Christmas, wanting to achieve stuff etc but as time goes on our good intentions don’t always materialise into ongoing good actions.

This can be down to a lack of motivation, working life impact on spare time or health issues.

Take me for an example. Since Christmas I had planned to get to the gym and do more archery practise, this has failed thanks to having a chesty cough / cold for over 2 weeks. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to make the change, just that its delayed.

Guess what I am saying is, if you don’t get to the gym or have a relapse into unhealthy eating, don’t let it stop you from having another go. It doesn’t have to be New year resolution to make a change. You can make a change two weeks in or two months. Remember few things that are worthwhile work first time. Think back to when you were a child, chances are you fell over a few times before you managed to learn to walk.

One last thing I’d say…

Lots of people make new year resolutions that focus on themselves. Why not think about a resolution to help others or your club?

BAFAC workday04

Volunteer to help out at your club

All archery clubs need the support of their members, not just in turning up to shoot the course but in maintenance of the facility, clearing paths, repairing targets etc. Why not make one of your resolutions to be give up a afternoon a month to help maintain your clubs grounds or help out at a have a go session.

Anyway Happy New year all and good luck with all your endeavors this year and the future.

Thanks for reading.