“I’ve learned the importance of taking rest days”

“I used to work out around six days a week and, although I knew the value of taking rest days for my body, it was only really this year that I realised that overrunning is pointless,” says writer and editor Miranda Larbi. “I sprained my ankle three times before August because I was running too frequently and not waiting long enough between sessions.

“Now I’m a lot more considered in my running training. I don’t just go out for 40 mins every morning but I’ll do a carefully balanced mix of runs and gym sessions. I think – and have experienced – how much we underestimate what chronic physical stress can do to ourselves.”

“Reframing workouts makes fitness fun”

It was trying something completely out of her comfort zone that taught Stylist’s digital editor-at-large Kayleigh Dray she could enjoy her workouts: “I haphazardly started up socially distanced Kung Fu lessons in my local park during lockdown, and found myself really looking forward to Thursday mornings – even in spite of the fact our trainer made us run around the entire park twice before we started.

“I’ve earned a belt (and two fringes) and I’m utterly bereft now it’s too cold and wet to continue. I’ve sworn to myself once the indoor classes start in January, I will be signing up again! I guess my lesson is that choosing to do something different, that makes you think as well as move your body, is the easiest way to fall in love with fitness,” she says.

5 lessons 2020 taught us about fitness, exercise and working out