We all know that we should exercise, eat healthy, meditate, do the things we love, spend quality time with family and friends, watch less TV, get less stressed, focus on the things that are good for us, yet we seem to be struggling all the time with getting it right.

If we know all these how come we aren’t able to just get up and do what’s right, I don’t think there’s any one correct answer to this but there are multiple contributing reasons: fear, excuses, procrastination, laziness to name a few. However, I believe fear is a root cause.

Fear of change can keep you in a job you hate, a bad relationship and a physically destructive lifestyle. With people who find it hard to exercise, the excuses in the mind are innumerable and even as they are destructing their bodies, they are also creating an unhappy mind. They struggle with the idea of exercise and are afraid of the discomfort or being tired or not being good enough.

Most people have all the information necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle. Sadly, today it is common sense but not common practice. People easily resort to poor diet and no exercise leading to innumerable health conditions and poor self esteem. It is only a visit to the doctor and the fear of death that usually prods exercise resistant people towards a healthier lifestyle. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

I write about it, I speak about it, I consult people all the time and all I really say to them is to give themselves a chance. Start with 10 minutes, commit only three to four days a week but do it now. Learn to love your body. Learn to love eating healthier foods. Learn to keep yourself active. Don’t quit. Small steps are all that is required to make progress. But if you don’t even start, there’s not much that anyone can do to help.

There’s never going to be a perfect time to start. Why not do it now. Ask yourself: Is your life making you happy? Are you making the right choices for a fulfilling and healthy life? Are you filled with a sense of well being and energy? If your answer is no, it’s time to embrace change.

Remember, exercise does not have to be miserable or intimidating. There will be a certain amount of discomfort when you push your body with something new, but you are always in charge of how hard you work. Choose an exercise that you always wanted to try. If you haven’t ever thought about it or find going into a gym scary, just start simply by walking every day. Set aside a time for organised exercise exclusively. It’s not about exerting yourself more in the day and calling it exercise. You really need to commit to it as a separate routine.

This summer, choose to be healthy, choose to be active.

The author is a certified professional fitness instructor, founder and master trainer at Rage Fitness and a fitness columnist who specialises in mixed martial arts.