My NOTCH Bracelet – Marking my lockdown achievements!

AD – NOTCH bracelet and charms gifted for review

Those of you that know me personally will know I am a hugely goal-oriented person. For as long as I can remember, I have found setting targets, goals and objectives hugely motivating, both in my work and personal life. Like many people during lockdown, giving myself a challenge to try and achieve a specific goal has really kept me going and had a hugely positive impact on my mental health. I recently came across the NOTCH bracelet as a way to visually record your achievements and absolutely loved the concept!

What are NOTCH bracelets?

NOTCH bracelets are stylish, go anywhere bracelets with individual ‘notches’ or ring like charms that can be added one at a time to mark your achievements and show them off to the world – celebrating your milestones and being proud of your accomplishments.

Each NOTCH charm is engraved with words to celebrate your personal successes, whatever they may be. In my case I wanted to celebrate my running, but you could also have NOTCHES to celebrate breastfeeding milestones, swimming, cycling, passing your exams, each year of school completed, travel destinations you’ve visited, weight loss targets  – you name it – there’s likely to be a NOTCH for it!

You can choose from thousands of pre-engraved NOTCHES available in brass, stainless steel or coloured aluminium, or if you prefer to use your own words, you can select personalised engraving and simply write your own.

NOTCH bracelets are available in durable sports cord in blue, red, pink, white, yellow, orange, black and their NEW purple shade, or a black premium leather bracelet. They come in a range of sizes to fit everyone from children to large adults’ wrists and each bracelet can fit up to 20 NOTCHES, with small rubber bands to hold them in place.

NOTCH bracelets are an official partner of Virgin Sport and are on a mission to get millions of people moving! 2% of all proceeds from personalised NOTCH bracelet sales go to Mind charity to support mental health, which now more than ever is doing fantastic things to support those who have struggled during lockdown.

My Lockdown Achievements with NOTCH

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I really struggled at the start of lockdown. I suffer from health anxiety at the best of times, therefore a pandemic was not exactly high on my list of things I wanted to experience in my lifetime! After the schools closed at the start of March I didn’t leave the house for an entire month, not even for daily exercise as I was too scared of getting COVID-19 or passing it on to someone that I loved.

I was so disappointed with myself. Having just completed the couch to 5k prior to lockdown, I felt like my running achievements and running journey were going to be cut prematurely short.

Then I found a local virtual running challenge with my running group This Girl Runs, and decided something needed to change – I bit the bullet, and signed up to a 100km running challenge in May.

I pretty much haven’t looked back since! Over the last 3 months I have completed not one, not two but THREE virtual running challenges, ran over 450km, and completed my first ever 10km run without stopping. I am now running at least 5km, 4 or 5 times a week and running has quite literally saved my sanity during lockdown, giving me time away from the children, some time to relax and a chance to escape from the home schooling, working from home and the four walls of my house. I have been able to explore my local area like I have never done before, discovering new running routes and bridal paths that I never even knew existed!

I am very proud of what I have achieved, and not only feel mentally stronger, but fitter and healthier too.

About my NOTCH Bracelet

I was kindly gifted a bracelet from the NOTCH bracelet range and have really enjoyed showcasing some of my lockdown running achievements.

I decided to choose the premium leather cord for a couple of reasons. In particular, I loved the fact that it could be dressed both up and down – being robust enough to wear during my workouts whilst at the same time being a smart and fashionable enough to wear for work or days out (should I ever have any again!)

Unlike some other bracelets I have had with a clasp, the NOTCH bracelet is super easy to get on and off – even one handed, with two strong magnets that simply clip together to form a strong seal at the clasp.

I decided to go for colour coordinated NOTCHES as I wanted to match my iWatch stap, and picked colours of gold, pink and steel.

My Notches

• This Girl Runs (my running club)
• First 10km
• C25k Graduate (couch to 5k)
• 100km Challenge
• Lockdown Goals

The NOTCHES are really easy to slide on to the bracelet, with small rubber bands to hold the notches securely in place and prevent them from sliding around as you run. These were a little trickier to stretch onto the bracelet, but only needs to be done once, and once on, I was really chuffed with the finished effect.

Overall, I love the concept of NOTCH bracelets and love the way they look. I wish I’d had a NOTCH when I first started breastfeeding my daughter or when I was working towards my HR CIPD qualifications, as think the idea of treating yourself to a new NOTCH for every milestone that you reach is a really motivating idea.

You can check out the full range of NOTCH bracelets including fab starter packs (the ideal gift for someone who is celebrating their lockdown achievements) here. Prices start at £19.50 with individual notches starting at £9.50 each.

Want to win a NOTCH to start celebrating your own achievements?