Plan for a Fitter Healthier You in 2026

Did you make a resolution for 2026? Was it in any way related to your health and fitness? No surprises if it does.

Your physical and mental health should be your number one priority – higher than your family and relationships. It’s like the instructions for oxygen masks in an aeroplane emergency. You need to put your own oxygen mask on first before you can help or be there for someone else.

But when you think of your resolution or goal, how does it make you feel? Overwhelmed? Sceptical? 

Ask yourself WHY you made that resolution. Don’t just give a quick off-the-cuff answer. Take the time to take pen to paper and write down as many reasons as you can think of why that resolution is important to you. Write down every positive consequence of you following through. Now reflect on what you’ve written. How much effort are you prepared to put in to get the results that you are looking for? 

So what is your resolution or your highest health and fitness priority? 

• Eat more healthily
• Drink more water
• Join a gym or exercise class or follow an online programme or DVD
• Go for a walk every day
• Get more sleep
• Visit your doctor for a check up
• Take those multi-vitamins sitting in your cupboard
• Make an appointment with a health or fitness professional about that sore back, neck, shoulder, hip, knee or whatever
• Make an appointment with your doctor or local skin specialist to get those worrisome moles checked out

There are so many things you could do – but to make anything happen you need an action plan. Note everything you can do to set yourself up so that you know it will be achieved.

• Set your health and fitness appointments right NOW!
• Get together with a friend and plan a daily walk – decide on the time and routes you will use and ensure you have everything you need to do it – the right shoes and clothes, a water bottle, sunglasses, a hat or whatever, or maybe some Nordic walking poles to help make it easier and more comfortable.
• Buy some new recipe books or clean out your pantry and try some new ingredients.
• Buy a water filter or soda stream so your water is more palatable or buy a nice new stainless steel drink bottle.
• Discuss with your spouse, partner or family that you live with about your plans to go to bed earlier and how they can help you with that – maybe an earlier dinner or tv off by a certain time.
• Research online or ask around to find out about local exercise classes and book in for a trial.
• Write your resolution on a Post-it note and stick it on your fridge or in your bathroom where you will easily see it every day. Add to it the benefits or rewards you will get, to help keep you motivated.

Every day is a new start and an opportunity to move closer to being the fitter and healthier person you want to be, so just focus on taking it one day at a time. Make a start today!

By Marya Hopman – Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist, founder of OptimalMe Fitness www.optimalme.nz and co-founder of exercise developers SuperCue Seniors www.supercue.nz