So here we are, in the last quarter of 2018. How many of us have ticked off all of our fitness resolutions and health goals for the year?

Modern life, with all its challenges and interruptions, can be extremely stressful and our ability to cope with this is largely dependant on our ‘readiness’ – physical, emotional and mental health. Life can often get in the way of our best intentions; one of the hardest things in the world is following through and acting on things that we should/ought/want to do. After all, ‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions’.

Keep it simple and do what makes you happy

Your decision to book into fitness classes or invest time in your own training program is positive proof that you want to be successful in your life. Too often, we get caught up in the detail and complexity of things, so we forget to keep it simple and just do that which makes us happy, successful, fulfilled and healthy, rather than what we think will please other people.

Some say it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill (not perfect it!) and 21 days to build a habit. So regardless of how old you are, you may still have time to start working on those juggling skills! Every one of us can commit to spending the next 21 days making good choices for our mental and physical health, and you may be surprised by how easy it is to form healthy habits.

Meeting your fitness goals

A trend I have seen in many gym goers is that their enthusiasm for ‘fitness’ is often not reflected by the same level of knowledge about how to train. This is one of the advantages of taking on a personal trainer – they teach you correct techniques, give you good tips and, whether you’re an amateur or an athlete, they can help you improve in the areas relevant to you.

Whether you are new to training or are a seasoned campaigner, here are a few rules of engagement that will assist you to meet your fitness goals.

1. Do things according to your own fitness levels. You are unique and at a different level of fitness to those around you, so push yourself but don’t compare yourself to or try to keep up with those who are more advanced.

2. Always seek to improve. The challenge you’ve set yourself may be to become fitter, stronger, leaner, faster or healthier over time. To achieve any one of these goals, you need to continuously push yourself and aim to be the best that you can be.

3. A healthy lifestyle is a choice. Your decisions on nutrition, hydration, exercise, stress management, etc. will determine the quality of your life, as well as your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

4. Be patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day! While you may start to see or feel results fairly quickly, consistency is key to making lasting, long-term gains and achieving your goals.

5. Enjoy it. Having fun and not taking yourself too seriously is important; like anything in life, you will have good days and bad, the important thing is that you commit to it, have fun and keep moving!

6. Hydrate. Make sure you carry an adequate supply of water and take every opportunity to get some fluid in.

7. Pre-training rations. Ensure your stomach has something inside it to fuel your training. Granola, energy bars and fruit are good for energy and are easily digested, so can give you that boost you need to have a great session.

8. Relax. Don’t be afraid to take some time out to chill out. Rest is just as important for physical and mental well-being as being active, and you’ll probably find you have more energy to smash your chosen exercise after a day off.