Fitness is a year-round, lifelong activity. Regardless of what life throws at us, it’s important to find new ways to stretch our bodies and keep fit. After surgery on my Achilles tendon, I learned to swim because my body couldn’t cope with my usual training routine. When I was in the later stages of pregnancy, I just couldn’t run with my bump – so I went on long walks instead.
Keeping fit is a mindset. It’s about taking it for granted that you’re going to do something to move and stretch your body every day. The rest will follow. One autumn, I forgot completely about the clocks going back. By the time I was ready for my run it was pitch black outside. But I was determined to go so, instead of running my usual route, I headed off towards a well-lit housing estate and ran a few loops of that. I’m sure anyone looking out before settling down for the night thought I was bonkers running up and down their streets, but I felt great after the run.
Now and then we’ll find that our routine is out of whack and our bodies are different from before. Maybe you’re recovering from a sports injury. Maybe you’re busy with a young family or working flat out in a new job. If you can’t do what you used to do, just lower the hurdle and make a realistic fitness goal.