Waiting to get healthy is quite common. With January approaching in a few days, getting healthy is likely a goal for many of you. But why wait until January to start something so important? Why not get healthy now?
Getting healthy is a daunting task. I like to describe it as climbing Mount Everest. It’s not easy. It’s fun and exciting at first, then it hurts and you have no idea how or why you wanted to do it in the first place. Between starting a new exercise regime, eating healthy foods that taste foreign to you and cooking new, unrecognizable meals it’s overwhelming to say the least. It’s no wonder many people put off making healthy lifestyle changes as long as possible. I’m going to give you 5 reasons why you should stop waiting to get healthy and why you need to start now.
Preventative maintenance
By putting off changes, you’re putting off the inevitable. It isn’t until poor health catches up with you dictating you have to get healthy or else that people actually do it. But then you’re at the mercy of a doctor’s orders, potential lifelong medications with nobody-knows-what side effects and a massive lifestyle overhaul. That’s a lot to deal with.
Your body is like a car. It needs gas, oil and regular tune ups to keep it humming along. If you stop putting oil in the car, it stops working and you’ve done damage to your car that could have been prevented. Our bodies are no different. They need good nutrition and regular fitness to stay tuned and healthy. Ask yourself this. If my body clunks out, what am I left with? Not much, it’s a car without a motor so you won’t be going far.
Your health is #1
Your body and your health is number one. When you write a to-do list, you put the highest priorities at the top, right? Your health and fitness deserves to be at the top. This will determine your quality of life later on. Quality of life affects your emotional, mental and physical well being. That should be number one, not number two, three or four and definitely not something to be placed on the back burner.
Even when life is busy, there is always time for a 30 minute workout 5 days a week. It’s about making you a priority and setting a no excuses routine. And everyone has to eat so that’s simply a matter of choosing to eat the right foods.
Deadlines do not work
How many times have you told yourself I’m going to start my diet Monday? After the holidays? After vacation? When you do this, you’re subconsciously making excuses as to why you cannot make changes. Changes you know you need to make.
Did you know only 8% of people succeed at their New Year’s resolutions and 75% of people fail within the first week? What does that tell you? It tells you deadlines do not work. Setting a milestone for yourself is an excuse to overindulge and to avoid changing habits. Stop setting yourself up with parameters as to why you can’t start because it’s an excuse and start finding ways to make it happen.
Waiting does not make you healthy
Anytime I’m struggling with starting something I ask myself “why haven’t I started?” Try asking yourself this question with regards to your health. This is the hardest question for most people to answer when it comes to anything they’re avoiding.
I’ve discovered that putting my health at the top of my to-do list before any other daily activity makes me a better person. I feel better and I accomplish more in my day. That’s not to say I always want to workout but after talking myself into it doing it, I feel like a million bucks. Never have I ever regretted making a workout a priority.
We all know the benefits of eating right and exercising and how important it is, yet we procrastinate (or make excuses). I procrastinated writing this post but had I not made it a priority, it would never have gotten done. If you’re really ready to do it for yourself, you will.
There is no better time than now
Forget the excuses — that you don’t know how to exercise, you need to get fit before you go to a gym or you’re too busy. Try telling yourself it can’t wait another day, another month or another year. Feeling better and taking care of your body should be the reason you stop procrastinating.
There is no better time to start your health journey than now. Not Monday, not after the holidays, not after vacation, not after January 1st. Start now so you can focus on others things in January like saving money and planning vacations. Start now because putting it off may be doing you more harm than good. Start now because your health is number one.
Ready to start now? Start your health journey today and get more of my step-by-step tips in my new eBook, Ditch The Diet. Read the review here! Make your health a priority and start now!
What are you putting off right now and WHY?
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I feel like whether it’s getting healthy or something else entirely, everyone is putting something off! And it’s usually the thing that will make the biggest positive changes – big things are scary!
Good point! I put off a lot of things because they seems so big and overwhelming.
PREACH IT MY SISTER!! PREACH IT LOUD!!
Haha thanks friend!
Oh yes! and healthy comes in all different forms. LIke GUT health or healthy WEIGHT. These things are so crucial. I needed this reminder. xxoo
So very true!
YES! I’m waiting until after the Dopey Challenge to start a new diet, but only because I don’t want to mess with my nutrition before a big race. I suppose that could be an excuse, but I’m nervous changing things up right before running 48.6 miles will be detrimental.
I agree. Making a change before a race can lead to adverse effects. That’s not an excuse, that’s a reason!
Health is SO important! And I know it can be hard for people – but even taking the first step in the right direction with one small change is better than waiting. Well said, Megan! 🙂
So true, Ashley. One change can definitely can lead to a ripple effect.
This post is so key! Sharing this on FB, because i think it is so important that people recognize the downfalls of putting their health on the back burner and waiting for ‘the right time.’
I saw you shared it on FB. Thank you so much Beverley!
Megan I’m sharing this over on FB later this week for my readers, it’s such a great reminder!! I love that once you make health and fitness a priority, eventually it becomes a habit that you don’t even have to think about!
Thanks for the share Sam!
LOVE the tip about preventative maintenance. So much of working out is to avoid injury and preserve what we have, all while making progress too 🙂 Nice post!
Thanks Jess! Yes, so many health issues can be prevented by simply exercising and eating well.
I always say…. What are you waiting for? The sooner you start, the sooner you will see results!!
Absolutely G!
Amazing post, as always, Megan. I think so many of us could use a jump start on our goals, especially healthy living goals after the hoidays. I know I bumped up the start of my full blown healthy eating habits after I started feeling crummy mid-month after over indulging on cookies and other holiday goodies. The best time to start living the life you want is now!
Good for you Beth! I’m thankful the cookies are gone because they’re just too easy to sneak when they’re around.
I always like to say that theres no better time to workout, or in this case start getting healthy, than right now! Why wait when you can act?? Thanks for the read and hope that you have a great new year 🙂
Thanks so much John! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Happy new year!
I totally agree with you. There’s no better time than now to start living a healthy lifestyle!
A couple of years ago, I was an overweight 20-something corporate slave who only ordered in. I would always resolve to live a healthier lifestyle at the beginning of the year only to end up putting more weight by June. At the time, I kept thinking that I was still young, there’s time to focus on health when I’m 30. But then one day I had to make an emergency visit to the ER because I thought I was having a heart attack.. it only turned to be heartburn but still, I was never more afraid for my life! I made a commitment to change my lifestyle the following day and have been living healthy ever since.
Congratulations Travis! It takes a lot of time, dedication and believing in yourself to change your life.
In recent days, most of us are at sub-health status while we don’t realize that until we are not comfortable at all. So, it’s important to keep us healthy either by doing exercises or eating healthy food. Thanks for your reminding and I hope people can notice that!