1. Whatever kind of exercise you prefer, the key to improvement is practicing regularly. It doesn’t necessarily have to be every day – you do need breaks – but it should be happening multiple times a week.
2. If you want to know that your health is improving because of your regular exercise, you also need an accurate way to measure it. Once you’ve set a goal, you need to monitor your progress. That may be how long it takes you to run or swim a certain distance, or the increasing heaviness of the weights you lift, or whether you can reach a yoga pose you couldn’t manage before.
3. To do this, you need to have a plan for your exercise. Set a target, determine the best way to achieve it, and practice accordingly. Breaking things down to a day-by-day basis can make for much more tangible goals rather than some distant long-term aim.
4. Every day brings a chance for improvement. That doesn’t mean doing the same thing every day. It means ensuring a well-rounded schedule of exercise and rest. The exercise should also vary, making sure you include cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training.
5. Daily performance isn’t just about what you do physically. To be at your best, you need to eat right every day, especially when you’re exercising. We’ve all heard you need five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, but you need a balance of every nutrient for the most successful diet.
6. This might sound difficult – and it is – but you don’t have to do it alone. Personal trainers are people who dedicate their lives to determining the most appropriate exercise plan for every single client.
7. Communal training can also be a powerful way to boost performance. Whether they’re providing moral support or a source of competition, having someone else there is a source of motivation.
8. Motivation is good because any kind of long-term fitness plan that requires some daily effort is going to require a lot of mental toughness. Anything that can improve your mindset is welcome.
9. Just don’t overdo it. Pushing too hard is how you end up with injuries, and that will slow your progress more than anything.
10. It’s difficult to get better every day, but with the right planning and support, you can manage it.
