The Myth of the "Right Time"
"I'll start after this big project at work is over." "I'll get back into it after the holidays." "Things are just too crazy with the kids right now; I'll start when they're a bit older."
Does any of this sound familiar? We tell ourselves these stories all the time. We create a vision of a future, calmer self who will have the time, energy, and perfect circumstances to finally focus on their health.
I’m going to tell you an honest, and perhaps difficult, truth: that time will never come.
There will always be another project at work. There will always be another holiday, another birthday, another stressful week. Waiting for the "perfect time" to start your fitness journey is one of the kindest, most convincing lies we tell ourselves. In reality, it's just a permission slip to do nothing.
The Uncomfortable Math of Getting Older
Here’s another reality we need to face. As we get older, our bodies change. It can take longer to see results, longer to build muscle, and longer to lose fat. The body you might have achieved in three months of hard work in your 20s might now take a year of consistent, focused discipline.
This isn't meant to discourage you. It's meant to light a fire under you.
Every week you wait, you are not just delaying the start; you are pushing the finish line even further away. The sooner you start, the sooner you can begin that journey. The person you want to be a year from now is begging you to start today.
Embrace the Mess: Your Real Life is the Training Ground
The most important shift in mindset you can make is this: the obstacles are the path. The messy, unpredictable, and chaotic parts of your life are not interruptions to your journey; they are the journey.
You need to stop waiting for a clear runway and learn how to take off in the storm.
Get sick? You'll learn how your body recovers and how to ease back into training safely.
Work gets insanely busy? You'll discover the power of a 15-minute workout and how to manage your energy during stressful periods.
Your diet gets broken by a weekend away? You'll learn that one indulgent weekend doesn't have to derail you and you'll get better at getting right back on track.
The kids have you running ragged? You'll find creative ways to squeeze in movement and realize that even a little is infinitely better than nothing.
Falling over, breaking your diet, and getting knocked off your horse are not failures. They are inevitable. More than that, they are essential. Each stumble is a lesson. Each time you get back up, you become more resilient. You learn tips and tricks for navigating your real life, not an imaginary perfect one.
Start Now. Get It Wrong.
The goal is not to start perfectly. The goal is simply to start.
Start as soon as possible. Start this week. Start today.
Do it badly. Be inconsistent. Fall over. Because the person who starts imperfectly today will be miles ahead of the person still waiting for the "right time" a year from now. They will have a year's worth of valuable lessons. They will know how to handle getting sick, how to survive a busy patch at work, and how to enjoy a holiday without spiraling.
Don't wait for a life without obstacles. Start now, and let the obstacles teach you how to become unstoppable.