1. Undergo a full health check up. Everybody should get a full health check up with their doctor every few years depending on their level of health. If you have never had one, you should definitely address that situation.

2. Have a thorough preventative musculoskeletal health check. This form of health check is recommended to assess any areas of concern or pick up issues that may be present. The main thing is if nothing is done about consistent pain, bad posture or injury, the areas of concern will become more and more of a problem as time goes by, and of course it will lead you to not being able to work or play as long as you want!

3. Perform early intervention and prevention. We all know it is advisable to have a vehicle serviced on a regular basis as this will firstly pick up any potential problems very early - or secondly, by doing the recommended maintenance procedures - avoid them altogether. We all know that this will avoid some very expensive repairs needing to be done, and in some situations if neglected long enough - it is too late to fix. The human body is not replaceable or as easily repaired as a car and hence early intervention and prevention is vital! As with a car, if we can find out early what is wrong, it is far easier and cheaper to sort the problem out which can in the long term make a very big difference to how you eventually recover from an injury.

4. Start some form of exercise - immediately! There’s always a way to make time for something you really want to do, so it’s really getting your mental mind set and your mental attitude to exercise to change so you can get yourself to do these things. No matter what your level of fitness or health, everybody will be able to do something that is appropriate that will help improve their fitness.

5. Be proactive about your health. Do not wait until problems become serious! Don’t let health issues stop you from doing things that you really want to do. As soon as you feel that you have an issue of any sort, address it, don’t just take pills and hope it’s going to go away!

6. Have a regular maintenance appointment with a physiotherapist. Regular maintenance is a way of keeping on top of all your issues, which will also have the added effect of keeping you accountable. This might be once or twice a month, or once every three months. Your exercise regime can then be reviewed to see where you are at and have any areas of concern treated. Regular visits will also provide ongoing encouragement and keep you focused.

7. Write down your goals. Goal setting is also a very important part of getting people back into taking control of their health. The very act of writing down a goal can put a person on the right track to paying more attention to their fitness and therefore become healthier.

8. Make your television time your exercise time! Something as simple as getting an exercise mat and doing exercises on the floor in front of the TV is another useful tip if anybody watches television. There is no need to involve expensive equipment, and by making your television time your exercise time, it isn’t actually going to take up any extra time out of your week. The average person watches at least three hours a week of television, so that would provide plenty of opportunity in which to exercise.

9. Get some unscheduled exercise into your life. This could involve climbing the stairs rather than taking the lift, or parking your car as far as you can from the entrance of the shopping centre so you have to walk a little bit further.

10. Have a healthy attitude to food. Don’t try to follow every fad diet that comes along and be constantly worried about everything you are eating. If you change your mindset to your food and you address those issues either on your own or with the help of your physio, dietitian or psychologist, that can make a very big difference to your health and vitality. A combined approach is usually best for success and if you alter your mindset, it will be easier to maintain a healthy weight, especially as you become older.

11. Spend some money on things that matter! For example, invest in a good mattress, a good pillow and a good pair of shoes. If you are an office worker, make sure that the chair you are sitting in is a good chair. Also make sure the car you are travelling in is a comfortable ride. So look after yourself when you are at work, when you are at home, and when you are in bed. The right advice for the right product can avoid endless collections of bad pillows, or expensive shoes that can’t be worn, or other wasteful purchases!

12. Keep a positive mental mindset. It is very important to be involved in the community, be interested in people, and to make the most of every day.

13. Have a state of complete and mental well-being. It is not good if you are exercising but not addressing all the things in your life that will help to make you happy. So spend time with family and friends, and do the things you enjoy. Don’t wait and think that when you are older, you will find the time to do those things. How often have you heard about people who have always wanted to take up a hobby or buy a boat or travel or do whatever it may be and then have a major health crisis and never achieve the things they’ve always wanted to do in the way they wanted to do them?

14. Mix with like-minded people. People who have similar attitudes and mind-sets will serve to inspire you and help you achieve the goals you have set.

15. Find something that you are passionate about and do it! And more importantly, be a good role model for your kids, family and friends. Also, it is very important to learn new things and do things of interest. Be interested in what’s going on around you, turn the television and computer off for a bit, and get outdoors!

How to feel younger than your age is a constant quest, but one worth pursuing, especially when it comes to maximising your health and vitality! So take care of your health, and be proactive with having a healthy and active lifestyle.