10 New Year's Resolutions for 2024

I’m going to give up drinking

…drinks that don’t come from Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

Ah, the famous early-January hangover! Hair all over the place, a furry tongue and a head that feels like it’s just had a fight with a door. A desire to do absolutely nothing, except maybe slob around until next year… You’ve been burning the candle at both ends, no point denying it. We saw you wearing a cowboy hat trying to have a pony ride on your cat at 3 a.m. It wasn’t your finest hour. But rest assured, it happens to the best of us. The main thing is knowing how to rise back up. Your mind is made up: no more binges in January. But as you love the South of France, you could nevertheless make one or two exceptions: a nice Bandol, a Côtes-du-Rhône or even a Provencal beer. If you really overdid it (for example if your cat left home and you haven’t seen it since that infamous night), note that Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur produces soft drinks too, including delicious apple juices you can buy straight from producers.

I’m going to exercise more

…at least on TV

Grandma’s giant turkey, uncle’s quality street and dad’s mince pies… The end-of-year calory balance is, to put it mildly, pretty high. That’s all well and good, but now it’s time to get back in the saddle (but not on your cat). The new year is rich in sporting events that promise to get you in tip-top shape against the sublime backdrop of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. Option 1: sign up for the Marseille-Cassis half marathon, a mythical 20-km race winding its way through Calanques National Park. Option 2: have some fancy dress fun on the snowy slopes with the Derby de la Meije (would you really dare dress up as a turkey?). Option 3: the Nice-Cannes marathon. Running alongside the sea, this is one classy race! Option 4: you’re too lazy to do any sport and you think your rolls of fat are cute. We’re not saying we agree, but this year you’ll be able to admire Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur’s sporting bonanza from the comfort of your sofa: the Olympic sailing events in Marseille and the Tour de France, finishing up in Nice this year.

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par Derby de la Meije (@derbydelameije)

I’m going to read more

Except if I don’t feel like it

It’s all very well looking at nonsense on Instagram but this year that’s it, you’re going to start reading again. BOOKS that is. Better still, books about Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. Here are some suggestions: we’ve even compiled books about the Southern Alps and a list of Provence’s best books. If that isn’t spoon-feeding, we don’t know what it… So yes, life always offers plenty of good excuses not to read (“I can’t, I’ve got a yoga class”, “I can’t, I’m too tired”… Unless it’s rubbish on Instagram of course, never too tired for that). In response to so much bad will, we’ve even prepared our top pick of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur comic books. Reading a comic is easy, it has pictures! Still not convinced? At least you’re honest. Opt for a film or series relating to Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur instead: Napoleon, Emily in Paris, Downton Abbey, Plus Belle la Vie or Alex Hugo.

I’m going to stop scrolling on TikTok

Except on the visitsouthoffrance account

Do you know how many hours you spent scrolling on your phone last year? Far too many. On average, French people spend 32 hours a week staring at a phone screen. And all so they can watch videos of rhinoceroses juggling with tomatoes or home decoration tutorials filmed in houses so perfect it’s obvious nobody’s ever lived there. What a waste of time… But those days are over, this year you’re giving up TikTok. Or almost. Because among the avalanche of insipid content there is one account that deserves all your attention: visitsouthoffrance. Sun-kissed Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur scenery ablaze with a thousand colours, happy people and beautiful things… What else?

@visitsouthoffrance La saison des illuminations de Noël est officiellement ouverte ❄️✨ #Sanary#sanarysurmer#sud#illumination#illuminationdenoel#frenchchristmas♬ original sound – 𝑵𝑨𝑻𝑪𝑺𝑳𝑼𝑽𝑹❦

I’m going to stop running

And start cycling

Now careful, because there’s running and running. Running in the forest in sneakers listening to music (cool). But running after everything, every day – the train, the kids and time in general – (not cool). This year it’s a done deal. You’re going to take it slow. Our tip if you want to stop running: start cycling. Because we’ve checked and it’s absolutely impossible to run and pedal at the same time. Unless you’re cycling on a treadmill, but even then, it can’t really be said you’re running. You just look ridiculous. Instead of that, we recommend pedalling on the roads of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. You’ll find a ton of details here on regional events, experiences and itineraries for cyclists.