Launching my 30-day challenge, which is three x five-minute rounds per day for 30 days, prompted my prospective clients to ask questions. Perhaps the most common, has been, “is 15 minutes a day really enough exercise?”

My answer depends on many factors, so ultimately you have to think about whether it would work for you.

What is your current exercise program? If your current exercise program involves sitting in front of Netflix eating an entire share bag of Doritos (we’ve all been there) then yes, 15 minutes a day is the absolute perfect start for you. It’s not to say that the rest of your life will be made up for just 15 minutes a day, or even that you are able to keep up with 15 minutes a day with all your other life commitments. However, going from nothing to 15 minutes a day is a HUGE commitment. It’s the beginning of a new habit, and a good one at that. Your quality of sleep will improve, your stress levels will decrease, and your body will look even sexier. Who doesn't want that?!

What are your training goals? If your training goals include running a marathon, then no, 15 minutes a day is not enough! However, if your training goals are to look and feel healthier, happier and slightly less stressed then 15 minutes a day is ideal. A small daily time commitment can make a big difference. Your goals might change, and so might your life circumstances, but as long as you’re doing what you can, your day will be that little bit brighter with some activity.

Your current commitments: If your day is already bursting at the brim full of things you’re supposed to have done, I can see that adding yet ANOTHER thing is not going to be met with enthusiasm. So, let’s just think about how many things in your day you do for YOU. I bet it’s not many! Whether it’s cooking, washing, cleaning, walking the dog, picking the kids up from school, replying to multiple pointless emails, turning up to meetings that really should have been emails, and any other craziness that life throws at you, wouldn’t it be lovely to take 15 minutes out of your day and feel INCREDIBLE about yourself?

You might have heard the quote, “You can’t pour from an empty cup”. It’s something one of my teachers said to me on a school trip in year 4 (I was about 8/9) and she was right! For some reason I had been running around trying to help people, but then I’d had to stop because I’d felt sick and dizzy (probably from dehydration). She said to me, when you are too busy looking after other people, sometimes you forget to look after yourself. Wise words, which I have remembered to this day! Despite the fact I have been quoting her ever since, I still struggle to abide by that rule myself – so I can only spread the word and hope others pass it on.

Your time management:

Why do things really not get done?

“I didn’t have time”

More often than not it’s because we prioritise everyone else’s wants and needs over our own. Sometimes, however, it’s not. Sometimes we are just bad at time management. It is a skill after-all! Time management is simply a matter of priorities – what matters the most to you? Does taking care of yourself feature on that list? If it doesn’t, it should! Just fifteen minutes per day shouldn’t be too much, even if you’re trying to conquer the universe on a daily basis.

Try to plan your time more productively. What part of the day can be changed? Obviously, you can’t mess around with your required hours of work, but if you’re not getting paid for overtime, could that time be better spent on yourself? Returning home after a long day of work can make you feel like you just want to sit in front of the TV for a few hours before bed. However, perhaps doing a fifteen minute workout, followed by a healthy meal and just one hour of TV before bed would be better use of your time, as well as helping you to feel better about the day you've just had!

I know how hard it is to make small changes to your routine. I know first hand what it's like to lose 25kg. Yep, that's twenty-five! I am also living proof it can be done. I'm not saying it will be easy, but I can definitely be here to help you through it. When you feel ready to make the first step, sign up to my 30 day challenge