Why This Might Be the Best Time of Year to Finally Get in Shape

If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to start feeling fitter, leaner, healthier, or simply more energised… this might genuinely be it.

Not January.
Not “after summer.”
Not “once work calms down.”

Right now.

Because in the UK, we’re entering one of the easiest times of year to build healthy habits without it feeling like a grind.

The mornings are brighter.
The evenings are longer.
The weather is (mostly) playing nice.
And suddenly, getting outside doesn’t feel like punishment anymore.

At EDC CrossFit, we often talk about making fitness fit into your life, not taking over your life. And this time of year gives you a huge advantage when it comes to that.

The Power of Small Extra Movement

Most people think getting in shape means:

• Spending hours in the gym
• Doing extreme diets
• Training 6 days a week
• Suffering through endless cardio

In reality?

For many people, especially those wanting to improve body composition, energy levels, and general health, the biggest missing piece is simply more movement throughout the day.

This is where something called NEAT comes in.

What Is NEAT?

NEAT stands for:

Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis

Sounds complicated, but it’s actually very simple.

It basically means:

all the calories you burn outside of formal exercise.

Things like:

• Walking the dog
• Taking the stairs
• Gardening
• Playing with the kids
• Walking to the shops
• Evening strolls
• Parking slightly further away
• Getting up from your desk more often

All these little bits add up massively over time.

And during spring and summer, it becomes far easier to naturally increase your NEAT without even really thinking about it.

The “20 Minute Earlier” Rule

One of the biggest mindset shifts you can make right now is this:

You do not need to completely overhaul your life overnight.

You probably just need:

• 20 minutes earlier in the morning
• A short walk after dinner
• A quick jog while it’s still light outside
• A little less sitting
• A little more moving

That’s it.

When the weather is cold, dark, and miserable, convincing yourself to go outside at 6am is tough.

But right now?

The birds are out.
The sun is up earlier.
The evenings feel longer.
And suddenly a quick walk actually feels enjoyable.

That makes consistency far easier.

Fitness Doesn’t Need to Be “All or Nothing”

One thing we see all the time is people believing they need the “perfect plan” before they start.

But the people who get the best long-term results usually aren’t the people doing everything perfectly.

They’re the people doing small things consistently.

A few examples:

• Walking every evening
• Getting to bed slightly earlier
• Doing 2–3 gym sessions each week
• Taking movement breaks during work
• Choosing to stay active at weekends instead of sitting all day

None of these are flashy.

But combined over months?
They completely change how you feel and look.

Summer Bodies Are Built Before Summer

The reality is:
most people leave it too late.

They suddenly panic in June and try to:

• Slash calories
• Do daily HIIT workouts
• Cut carbs
• Train excessively

And usually end up burnt out by July.

Right now is the sweet spot.

You’ve got enough time to:

• Build habits properly
• Improve fitness gradually
• Increase daily movement
• Lose body fat sustainably
• Feel more confident heading into summer

Without needing extreme measures.

A Simple Challenge This Week

Before worrying about complicated nutrition plans or expensive fitness gadgets, try this first:

Daily Movement Challenge

• Add one extra 20–30 minute walk each day
• Get outside first thing in the morning if possible
• Or go for a short walk after dinner
• Aim for slightly more steps than usual
• Stack this alongside 2–4 gym sessions per week

Simple. Sustainable. Effective.

Final Thoughts

The longer evenings and brighter mornings give you an opportunity that many people waste every year.

You don’t need perfection.
You don’t need motivation every day.
You just need to start moving a little more consistently while life makes it easier to do so.

Because often the biggest transformation doesn’t come from one massive effort…

It comes from hundreds of small decisions repeated daily.

And this time of year is perfect for that.

— Coach Tom, CrossFit Wessex