Fit people are all around us. Not just in our immediate environment, but online as well: chances are someone’s post, featuring their physique and fitness tips, appears on your timelines every now and then. If you looked deep enough, you’d see the hours they spent on achieving their goals, as well as hours spent on reading and looking for more information on nutrition and exercise.

You would also see a human being that craves a whole week spent at home with delivery pizza and movies under the blanket but instead opts for hitting the gym because he or she knows that it will be beneficial for them in the long run. Fit people know that the key is in habits that anyone can develop – as long as they really want to. The top secrets? Sorry to disappoint. There are no shortcuts, but if you want to be fit, here’s how fit people do it.

They Get Enough Sleep

For some, this is the simplest thing to be done on their fitness journey. Others, however, struggle. If that’s you too, maybe you’re tired throughout the days but surprisingly lively when you go to bed, and then toss and turn, dreading the alarm that’s only hours away, only to repeat the pattern the following day and the day after. Maybe you just really have too much on your plate right now so cutting sleep seems like the easiest way to get things done.

Whatever the case, you have to understand that there is no healthy and fit life with the lack of sleep. If you have troubles falling asleep, try avoiding bright screens 1-2 hours before bedtime, and limiting caffeine in the afternoon. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep, because anything less will disrupt your cognitive abilities and decision making. And then who cares how much you have to do anyway?

They Are Mindful About Their Diet

Maybe you weren’t aware that sleep was so important, but you do know that the other two pillars of a fit lifestyle are exercise and diet. Fit people truly care what they put into their bodies. They understand what nutrients they need and which ones a certain food category will provide. They make a meal plan, and that’s certainly a habit to adopt. You can dedicate Sunday morning to deciding on healthy meals for the week and then cook in batches, so you have something ready every day.

They like to snack, but they opt for nutritious yoghurts, nuts and fruit instead of a Snickers bar – though they love the latter as well and will have it for dessert maybe once or twice a week. They don’t diet, rather they just approach it mindfully, knowing they need everything, but not everything in the same amounts. And it’s not that they have more time than the rest of us: sometimes they opt for delivery as well, but instead of a pizza, they will choose healthy and nutritious fresh meals that provide just the things their bodies need.

They Exercise – And They Don’t Have Excuses

Obviously, in order to be fit, you have to work out. That’s what fit people do. But what differentiates them from “mere mortals” is their attitude to their fitness regime. You see, sometimes you just don’t feel like going to the gym. It’s cold outside or you’re tired or a friend from overseas is eager to have a Skype meeting. So what gives, you just skip it. The problem is that it can lead to further skipping, and before you turn around, it’s been a month. Fit people don’t find their ways around reasons.

They get regular exercise, even when they don’t quite feel like it. Often they will schedule their exercise into their week and act responsibly as if it’s a real appointment. They don’t think about the reasons why they could stay at home – rather, they think about reasons to go! Think of it as brushing your teeth. You never consider not brushing, you just do it, because it needs to be done. Fit people have developed a habit of exercising in a similar way.

But They Don’t Obsess Over Mistakes

Sometimes life will get in the way. Birthdays, big celebrations, or just tiredness or bad mood can either stop you from going to the gym or reaching your goals for the day. It’s okay. Smart fit people, no matter how much they care about their fitness, know that there’s more to life than weights. If you had difficulties with your program or didn’t go, don’t beat yourself about it. Tomorrow is another day, and an opportunity to make good choices and win.

They Continue Learning

You might find it hard to believe, but that fit person you see in your gym who always wants to help those who ask for an advice was once a newbie – someone who entered the gym and didn’t have any idea what to do. But they were curious and wanted to learn. If you, too, are a newbie and a bit intimidated by gyms, think of hiring a personal trainer. Good personal trainers will help you with exercise, but also take into account your age, sex, overall physical abilities, health and well-being. When you feel like quitting, a good trainer will be there to make sure you don’t. And when you do achieve your goals and suddenly find you’re a fit person yourself, you’ll see that learning never stops.

If you want to obtain a fit lifestyle, know that it really is a lifestyle. It’s day after day after day of commitment. It might be hard at first, but once you develop these habits, you’ll be proud of yourself. We’re cheering for you!