Clearly we need both a healthy body and a healthy mind if we are to live happy, active and comfortable lives. These periods of training are designed to provide you with a foundation of fitness, which you can then apply to everyday life. Here are just three more ways to apply it:

Be energetic

Look for every opportunity to apply your newfound fitness to life. Save money by walking or cycling to work, or by parking further out of town and walking the rest of the way. Halve the time it takes to do the housework; offer to help people who are less able; take time out to play with the kids; have more energy for your partner, family or friends.

Be social

The social element of sports and exercise is one of the best things about it. And enjoying time being active with like-minded people will keep you motivated and inspired to stay fit. So think about joining a sports team or an exercise class – and take a friend along. Get out there and enjoy yourself.

Be inspired

Why not apply your new fitness to something you weren't able to do before? There's inspiration to be found out there in all shapes and sizes: whether it's comedian Eddie Izzard running 43 marathons in 51 days, Fauja Singh, the 100-year-old man who completed the Toronto marathon last year, or the gutsy Jane Tomlinson, who cycled 3,800 miles across the US with cancer.

If you think you can do it, you probably can.

• Andy Puddicombe is a co-founder of Headspace