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It's February, which means it's spring, right? RIGHT?!!

As I write this message to you, the sun is streaming in through my office window and I feel hopeful that warmer weather is on its way...

But the weather, like many things, is outside my control.

What is within my control?

My actions.

Look, I know your current state of health and wellness is not all down to you.

You have been affected by external stuff... chance, environment, other people's decisions and actions... and this has had an impact on your wellbeing.

But the thing is, you can't control that stuff so there isn't much use in dwelling on it (other than to learn from it)

So what can you do?

Here are three things you can do right now to start making a positive difference to your wellbeing:

1. MOVE

Get up from wherever you are, and have a stroll, or stretch, or do some press ups, or dance around - whatever is accessible to (and enjoyable for) you.

It really doesn't matter what it is, just move your body for five...

We humans are an odd bunch...

No matter how many times we are reminded that perfection is an unobtainable ideal, we still find ourselves in pursuit.

The result?

Frustration when it doesn't go our way.

Things happen which derail our plans, which pisses us off and we end up throwing in the towel.

In any endeavour, be it fitness and wellbeing, career, relationships, or anything else, the concept of perfection is a barrier between us and consistent progress.

If we focus in on making slight improvements instead... (wait, that would be a great name for a newsletter) ...we are far more likely to see ground being gained.

Think of it this way, which option is better:

1. A perfect on-paper plan, with a goal of perfection, which you can stick to for a maximum of about 4.5 days

2. An imperfect plan which only makes small changes, but you can maintain indefinitely

Which of those will lead to better results in the end?

Pretty obvious now, right?

An added bonus of the second...

You have probably heard the phrase 'survival of the fittest', right?

Good old Charlie Darwin and his incredible work 'On The Origin of Species'.

But this use of 'fitness' often gets misconstrued as meaning strongest, or toughest.

It is not necessarily the strongest or toughest species which survives... and nor is that true for individuals.

In fact, in 1963 Leon C Megginson, a management and marketing professor at Louisiana State University, paraphrased it like this:

"According to Darwin’s Origin of Species, it is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself."

Please note, that is not a quote from Darwin himself, as is often misquoted.

But the fact remains... a species which is to survive in a harsh and changing environment has to be adaptable to...

Good morning!

Hey check me out, I’ve done two weeks in a row, GO ME 

Last week I wrote you a little message about setting the right kind of goals.

Goals which actually MEAN something to you.

This week I think it’s highly worthwhile to explain my concept of a ‘habit audit’

You see, it’s all well and good knowing what you want, and knowing where you are now in relation to those goals.

But without assessing your behaviours you can’t possibly know what changes to start making.

Most people jump in with activities they see other people doing, with no regard to whether it’s too much of a leap for them as an individual.

Does this ring any bells?

New Year’s Resolutions, anyone?

Instead of making blind changes, here’s what I recommend.

List all your daily behaviours under one or the other of the following headings:

1. Habits which serve me.
2. Habits which hold me...