Building Healthy Habits: Lessons from Paddy McGuinness
When comedian and television presenter Paddy McGuinness decided to improve his fitness, he recognized that workouts were only a part of the equation. Equally vital were the smaller habits that ensured his training remained consistent.
While preparing for his feature in Men’s Health after completing the popular 75 Hard challenge, McGuinness implemented a clever strategy to streamline his mornings: he laid out his workout clothes next to his bed the night before.
This idea was inspired by Atomic Habits, a book by behavior expert James Clear. The core principle of the book is straightforward: simplify the initiation of good habits by reducing obstacles right from the start of your day. With his gym gear already ready to go, McGuinness eliminated unnecessary decisions and reduced the temptation to skip his workout.
Adopting this routine helped him kickstart his day consistently. Daily, he would rise at 6 AM, hydrate with approximately 500ml of water mixed with electrolytes, and head straight to his home gym. There, he would hop on a curved treadmill for a 40-minute walk.
The workout itself was intentionally minimalistic—“I like the misery of the silence,” he noted.
Curious about how Paddy McGuinness achieved peak fitness at 52? Read on to discover the 75 Hard challenge he undertook and the workouts he performed to sculpt his physique for the Men’s Health cover.
Sign up for a free 14-day trial of the MH app to access our comprehensive guide on tackling the 75 Hard challenge.
The practice of organizing his workout gear stems from the dedication demanded by the 75 Hard challenge, which features two daily workouts and specific lifestyle rules. Even after completing the challenge, McGuinness continued to utilize this system, recognizing its effectiveness.
This illustrates a fundamental takeaway from Atomic Habits: design your environment in ways that promote success. When obstacles are minimized, sticking to a routine becomes significantly easier. Often, the difference between completion and avoidance of a workout can hinge on something as simple as having your trainers visible and ready to wear when you wake up.
Isaac Williams is Site Editor for both Women’s Health UK and Men’s Health UK, guiding and supporting the content teams to create content across all platforms. Isaac’s love of health and fitness began at Loughborough University, where he graduated with a History and English degree in 2014. His first job was at Men’s Running magazine, where he progressed from Staff Writer to Editor. Among his highlights of those four years include completing a 24-hour track race, just about finishing a multi-day ultramarathon in the Azores, and chugging his way around a ‘beer mile’. Isaac ventured into freelance journalism in 2018, interviewing big names in sport and writing features for notable publications. He joined Hearst UK in December 2024, taking the role of Multiplatform Editor. When he’s not at his desk, Isaac enjoys exercise and spending time with his family. Follow him on Instagram @isaacw1993.
