It turns out, stamina is subtly different from endurance. “Stamina refers to your ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort,” says fitness expert and trainer Penny Weston. “Endurance is about how long your muscles can perform a certain action, but stamina is about challenging yourself to improve and how long you can perform at maximum capacity.”

We tend to think about stamina in relation to strenuous or lengthy physical pursuits, such as marathons, climbing challenges or triathlons, but in reality, we all need a healthy dose of stamina to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. According to The Cambridge Dictionary, stamina is “the physical and/or mental strength to do something that might be difficult and will take a long time”.

It’s not just about fitness

Stamina is also heavily influenced by mindset, as Penny Mallory, former champion rally driver and author of 365 Ways To Develop Mental Toughness: A Day-By-Day Guide To Living A Happier And More Successful Life, explains. “Stamina is an attribute that is extremely important for mental toughness and usually real stamina is a combination of both mental and physical strength,” she says.

Feel like you’re sacrificing stamina for strength? Here’s how to work out so you can have both