Start your training long before you enter the arena...

“One who sweats more in training, bleeds less in battle” - Unknown

(possibly Spartan Warrior Creed)

An athlete doesn’t start training as they enter the arena. A warrior doesn’t learn how to fight as they approach the enemy. They spend months, even years, in preparation for the event.

Our lives are a succession of battles. We move from one challenge to the next, constantly. The times in between are times to rest and recover, of course, but also to ready ourselves for the next obstacle.

When life hits us with more adversity, which it inevitably will, are we going to be ready? Will we be physically and mentally trained enough to cope with the demands, and to recover afterwards?

The time to train yourself is not when you can see the danger ahead, it is while things are good. While you are relatively safe, and at peace.

2022 is around the corner, and it will bring with it challenges, battles and adversity. That’s just life, I’m afraid.

So what can you do NOW to get ready? How can you strengthen your body and mind? Become more resilient? Develop your mental and physical fitness?

Now is the time to take action, because when you’re walking into the arena it’s already too late.

In the news this week...

Last week I shared an article about rest, this week it’s specifically about sleep.

Is there a theme emerging? Perhaps.

This time of year is a time of rest and recovery not only traditionally, grounded in time away from the fields due to weather, but also biologically. We can almost consider it a semi-hibernation, taking advantage of the longer nights to hunker down and recover in time for spring.

Whether our modern society likes it or not, we still run on biological rhythms which change throughout the day, and throughout the seasons. We all have preferences when it comes to sleep, but from a biological standpoint we benefit from some similar things.

Take a look at this article, not for the clickbaity headline (there is no evidence that there is a direct causative effect) but for the more general discussion of benefits of sleep routine.

Shout outs...

Shout out to Vicki Ostrowski this week (find her here).

(She got a mention last week as part of a group, but this time it's specifically for her)

Vicki is an incredible coach and mentor, and despite having had a tremendously difficult year with family, health and other adversity, she continues to help others grow their businesses (and themselves) with great effect.

You rock Vicki, huge love for you ??

Recent and upcoming work

As my Q1 calendar hots up, Livewell Academy have booked me to deliver a handful of full-day workshops on fitness, burnout and habit change.

I'm absolutely buzzing to be sharing my philosophy and strategies with their clients, reaching more people and changing more lives!

If you're looking for a keynote, workshop, training or something similar, drop me a message...

Last week's podcast...

Last week’s podcast (which was a little late, only going up on Monday this week) is worth a listen if you fancy a short, sharp reminder about training before you go into battle, as per the opening of this newsletter.

Go have a listen here.

What's coming up?

In 25 days time, on January 2nd, I will be onboarding a group of awesome people onto my January Jumpstart Challenge, which will be running from Monday 3rd - Friday 7th.

Leadership in any career (and outside your career too) requires that you build your capacity to cope with and recover from life’s inevitable stresses… and that capacity is exactly what fitness is.

Some parts of your fitness are outside your control, but your habits and lifestyle make a huge difference.

If you’re thinking of making some positive changes to your habits and lifestyle in 2022, but avoiding the usual New Year's resolution pitfalls, then this is for you.

Click here for more information, and to bag your space before they disappear.

(There are also limited options to continue working with me after the challenge is complete, which is definitely worth a gander...)

In case you were wondering... (an insight into my week)

1. Despite last week's recommendation of some hard rock/alt metal, this week my 'Spotify Wrapped' informed me that my most listened-to genre of 2021 was actually reggae. Do you use Spotify? What did yours tell you?
2. The ongoing building work has been a great prompt to do a bit more decluttering. A few years ago I watched the documentary 'Minimalism', and it totally changed the way I approach my life. I think that some of the forms of minimalism out there are very privileged, the kinds which say things like 'if you can replace it for less than ￡20 then get rid of it' ????♂? But I do love being able to easily find the things which are important to me without digging through mess, and I am also 100% behind the rejection of rampant consumerism.
3. I've also spent a while going back through my Google Photos from about 2014 onwards ?? deleting memes and other random stuff. There are some pretty cringey moments in terms of what I was teaching back then, as I'd been sucked into a mixture of toxic cultures within the fitness industry AND network marketing (not to say there aren't great things in both of those, but I can assure you there's a lot of bad too). But looking back and reflecting on our journey is important, as we can see the progress and join the dots, and learn for the future.

And finally...

A huge thank you to the 1000+ subscribers I've reached since the first edition last week ?? If you haven't already subscribed, make sure you smash that button now ????

I publish this newsletter weekly, and it will be full of useful stuff to help leaders like you stay fit and well, and to help you support your team to do the same.

Please share this newsletter with anyone who wants to improve their fitness, wellbeing, habits, lifestyle, and deal with stress and pressure better than ever before!

Let's shoot for 2000 subs by next week's edition ??

Drop me a comment below ???? to let me know your thoughts on anything I've shared in this newsletter, and let's start a conversation!

I look forward to chatting ??

Big love,