We are almost one week into the new year. You may not have realised it yet. Time is sneaky like that. But if you made any resolutions, it is officially time to stop thinking about them and start doing something vaguely resembling action.

My personal promise to myself for 2026 is more movement. Not greatness. Not glory. Certainly not marathons, races, or anything that requires waking up at an hour that still feels illegal. I don't want medals or milestones. I want to feel healthy, reasonably fit, and toned enough to run through an airport when I am inevitably late without sounding like I have just completed an ultra-trail. 400 metres without gasping would be lovely.

This sounds simple. It isn't. Because the real challenge isn't intensity, talent, or motivation. It is consistency. Fitness isn't about giving 100 percent every day. It is about giving any percentage, repeatedly, and showing up even when the enthusiasm has quietly left the room.

There is, fortunately, a solution. Meet Apple Fitness+. Yes, you have seen it sitting politely on your iPhone. But the real magic lives in the updates introduced on January 5, which are designed for people who want to move more without turning their lives into a boot camp.

The short answer: variety. The longer answer: enough variety to keep commitment-phobes like me interested.

Apple Fitness+ now offers 12 workout types, ranging from Strength and HIIT to Yoga, Pilates, Dance, Cycling, Kickboxing, and Meditation. Sessions run from five minutes to 45 minutes, which means there is no excuse, but also no pressure. New workouts are added every week, so boredom doesn't stand a chance.

What makes the platform especially friendly is the invitation to experiment. You can try different activities without committing to a single identity. One week you are very into burpees and feeling powerful. The next week you are horizontal on a yoga mat, making shavasana your entire personality. Both count. Both are movement.

If you are craving structure, there are ready-made Custom Plans that organise workouts into manageable routines. If you are more spontaneous, you can dip in and out, following your mood, your energy level, or your body.

This is where the Apple ecosystem quietly shows off. I will admit it. I like it very much.

Apple Fitness+ works seamlessly with iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods, which means you don't need to juggle five different apps just to understand what your body is doing. With Apple Watch, you see real-time metrics such as heart rate, calories burned, and Activity rings during your workout, plus post-workout insights that actually make sense.

For those who prefer fewer accessories, AirPods Pro 3 or any Bluetooth heart rate monitor can now display real-time metrics on screen, including heart rate and calories burned. This is especially useful if your goal isn't just to look better, but to feel better in your body. Monitoring how you respond to movement matters, particularly if you are training with care rather than punishment.

I am curious, but not very committed. Nothing scares me more than the prospect of repeating the same workout forever, even if it is technically effective. At the same time, I am aware that results require some repetition.

My solution is strategic inconsistency. I rotate activities, allowing myself to progress more slowly but stay engaged. Apple Fitness+ supports this beautifully. One week I lean into Strength and HIIT. Another week I switch to Yoga and Meditation because my body very clearly asks for it.

This flexibility isn't laziness. Sometimes it is necessary, particularly for women, whose bodies don't respond well to rigid, one-size-fits-all routines. With 12 workout types and Custom Plans that adapt to your preferences, Fitness+ makes it easier to listen to your body without abandoning consistency entirely.

This is where my colleague Barbara would normally step in. She is our editor and resident expert in cutting costs.

Instead of committing to a gym membership you barely use, you can turn your living room, hotel room, or local park into your personal fitness studio. Apple Fitness+ costs 36.99 AED per month or 149.99 AED per year. That is roughly the price of one good cup of coffee per month.

At that cost, skipping workouts feels less like financial guilt and more like a gentle nudge to try again tomorrow.

Consistency isn't dramatic. It is quiet, repetitive, and slightly unglamorous. But with the right tools, it becomes manageable. And manageable is exactly how resolutions survive past January.