Now is the Best Time

“If not now, when?”  -Eckhart Tolle

There are a million things in life that we put off.  Some are obvious choices – boring chores, returning a call to someone you don’t really want to talk to (admit it, you’ve been there!) – but others are things we actually want to do, but we justify delaying them for some reason or another.  We may want to start exercising, eat healthier food, take up a hobby, spend more time with a family member, or read more.  But we often find a way to put off these changes – maybe your work schedule is so busy that you don’t have time to get started on something so colossal, or you’re traveling frequently and it’s hard to establish a routine to accommodate a new habit.  There’s always something.

And don’t fret – we all do it in some way.  Because deep down, many of us are a little afraid that we won’t do a good enough job at whatever change we’re trying to make.  If we try to eat healthier, we want to overhaul it so quickly and perfectly that it seems daunting – and so we put off really “diving in” until the conditions are perfect in the rest of our lives.

But we don’t have to do that.  We don’t have to worry about whether our efforts will be “good enough” – the fact that we’re sincerely trying to make changes is a huge accomplishment.  In reality, it will take many tries and failures to establish a habit – that’s just the way it goes for most people.  And it’s OK, because with each “failure,” you learn something extremely valuable about how you can improve your approach the next time.

More importantly, the conditions in our lives will never be “perfect” enough to allow for big changes.  There will always be some kind of obligation that gets in the way.  And that’s OK – because we don’t have to execute our plans perfectly for them to have a positive effect.  We can start small and celebrate the small victories.

So if your goal is to eat healthier food, then maybe start by drinking an extra glass of water each day.  That’s it – an extra 8 ounces of water, without changing anything else.  It may not seem like much, but it is indeed a small change in the direction of your goal – as drinking more water not only keeps you hydrated but also helps you avoid unnecessary snacking.  If you can manage a little more water for a few weeks, maybe try to enhance your efforts in other ways.  For example, if you have a killer sweet tooth and you routinely reach for a cookie when you’re stressed, maybe create a rule that you can still have that cookie – but first,  you have to drink a glass of water.  If you still want that cookie after the water, then you have to eat an apple first.  And if you still want that cookie after the apple, then eat the cookie!  The idea here is to learn to “crowd out” the habit you’re trying to get rid of (stress eating with less-than-healthy foods), with the habit you’re trying to establish (eating healthier foods).  Over time, you may find that you’re just as satisfied with the apple, without the extra cookie.  And if you still want the cookie over time, at least you’re still fueling your body with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and hydration from healthier options.  It’s a process, and you’re moving in the right direction.

Change doesn’t happen overnight.  No immediate overhauls here.  The most lasting lifestyle changes take years of work and patience – and it’s all worth it.  No matter how fit and healthy we are, we all struggle in some way to maintain the health of our bodies, minds, and spirits.  That’s why it’s so important to keep an attitude of moderation with any lifestyle change – because if we fear failure or beat ourselves up every time we don’t succeed, we’re just hurting our chances of long-term success.

Plus, if you don’t start at all, you definitely won’t get anywhere.  So start small, and start now!  Celebrate every single tiny step in the right direction.

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