Monday: The most complained about day in history. Yet so many people say, “I will start working out [or eating right or get organized and motivated at work] on Monday.” The day you dread is also the day you feel you are going to be super stoked to start a big goal?! But hey, TGIM right? That’s almost like telling someone to calm down when they’re already calm.
“Never in the history of calming down has anyone ever calmed down by being told to calm down.”
Look, there is nothing wrong with always trying to have a super positive outlook. Positive vibes are great, but sometimes simply accepting that you aren’t happy with your physical and/or mental health, or your job, or any other aspect of your life, is just as beneficial. Waiting a day or a week to make a life change is not going to make you any more motivated to make it happen.
Accept it but here’s the key: MAKE A PLAN TO CHANGE IT.
There are 86,400 seconds in every day. That’s 86,400 opportunities EVERY day that could be your moment. The moment you made the decision to take action instead of just talking about it. Whether you want to start working out, eat healthy, get a new job or climb the ladder at your current one; any hour, any minute, any second could be that moment. Why wait until tomorrow or next week? What is wrong with right now?
I’m sure some of you are thinking, Thanks for the encouragement bro, but I’m at work or with my kids, can’t just drop everything and hit the gym. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m not a delusional idiot. I get it, but in that moment when you leave work or drop the kids off and are about to start making excuses as to why you can’t go to the gym, that is the moment I’m talking about.
Consistency is the key to almost everything. You want to lose weight or just simply eat better? Consistently make healthy food choices. You want to get strong or improve your fitness? Consistently hit the gym. You want a raise at work? Consistently exceed expectations. Easier said than done, I know. Here are some tips:
1. Don’t let a bad meal turn into a bad day, or a bad day turn into a bad week. So you had a weak moment and smashed a quadruple-sized breakfast meal with 37 sugars in your coffee. Your day does not have to be ruined, turn things around at lunch. And for the love of all things, when starting a nutrition plan, your first thought/question should not be about cheat meals. EARN IT by being consistent first!
2. You Google a new fitness routine and you’re jacked to start. The program is set up for Monday, Wednesday, Friday but today is Wednesday. Sweet, I’ll start on Monday! WRONG. It’s just simply day one, day two, day three, with a rest day in between. So today or tomorrow is day one, skip a day and do day two, skip a day and do day three.
3. I do all the work and someone else gets credit, I get passed up for promotions because my boss hates me, insert all other complaints here. Don’t ever let anyone control your success. One thing my dad always told me growing up in sports was, “Make it impossible for them to take you off the field.” Meaning, if you consistently crush it, they can’t ignore you. If there are ridiculous politics, then move on elsewhere but even the most horrible boss wants to make money. Control your effort, your mindset and your results, and you will get where you want to be.
At the end of the day, something either matters to you or it doesn’t, there is no in-between. As the saying goes: “If it is important to you, you will find a way, if not you will find an excuse.” — Someone smart
We all push things off sometimes. We think, If I could just get past this, or pay that off, or wait until my schedule changes… I hate to break it to you, but you will never have all your ducks in a row and no one ever has all their crap together. Life is always going to happen. You will make mistakes and have setbacks, but don’t let them be reasons you stopped, just get back on it the next meal or next workout or next work day. It is easier to figure out a way to keep going than to get started in the first place. The clock is ticking, so pick your second, your moment and make the change.