Whether it is the state of our health, our fitness or management of time, we all have an area in which we feel needs improving.

And it’s not all about focusing on the negative, but about being honest with yourself and concentrating on what is most important to you.

I believe that it’s about being kind to yourself, and not critical.

We are often our own worst critics.

Take a look at the year gone by and make a mental note about all the things that made you feel good.

Check in on the moments of achievement and focus on the process that led you to these.

This is what you want to expand upon in 2015.

Maybe it was the moment when you graduated from studies, or ran your first ever 5km.

Or perhaps you lost weight and managed to slip on a pair of pants that hadn't fitted you for years.

Ask yourself how you went about achieving this.

Then on the other side, look at the moments or actions that you know need improving.

Do this without guilt – push those feelings aside as they are irrelevant now.

These actions are in the past, and you can’t undo them.

However, you can improve upon them in the future.

If you didn’t make good food choices for your health, ask yourself why.

Were you too busy to shop and cook?

Do you run out of time and energy at the end of each day to organise good meals?

Don’t feel bad, as you are not alone. It is more common than you know.

I come across loads of people who struggle with the same thing.

It takes time to be healthy!

And that’s why so many people fall into the processed food trap.

It’s easy and generally requires little effort. The effort comes later when you need to undo all the ill effects it’s created on your health!

This is your year to find a way to get around that.

Re-adjust your schedule so that you do have time.

Or if this is beyond your control (as it sometimes is with work commitments), enlist help.

And I don’t mean a quick spin through the golden arches.

Lots of local businesses have fresh, pre-prepared meals that you can grab or order in advance.

And if fitness is your avenue of focus, then reflect upon the reasons why you didn’t achieve your fitness goals.

Are you one to say “I’m definitely going to exercise... but I’ll start tomorrow”?

The only problem with that is that tomorrow never comes.

What you need to commit to is today. Today is the day.

Don’t fall into the trap of "getting around to it tomorrow".

Even if you only have 15 minutes in between commitments, use that 15 minutes to its full capacity.

Fifteen minutes will get you further than zero minutes.

I’ve seen busy people book in for PT sessions, have their schedules blow out and arrive 15 minutes late for a 30-minute PT session.

Trust me when I say that you can still challenge your body and improve your fitness from a committed 15 minutes!

And that will make a very real difference to your fitness this year.

Anyway, I leave you with that. Make it a brilliant year – 2015 is here for you!

Amy Holmes is the owner of Shape Health and Fitness. Contact her for further health and fitness advice via email at info@shapefitnessvic.com.au