Stop Prepping, Already!

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail”. There is a lot of good sense in that, and you know I love a good plan! However, it is possible to get so focused on planning that you actually never start doing. I call it being stuck in prep mode, but it can also be considered procrastination or even perfectionism. Here’s what I mean.

No Plan Is Perfect

Have you ever met someone who calls themselves a perfectionist, but never gets out of the planning phase? That’s because making a plan keeps you safe, much safer than taking that first step. When you’re planning, you can’t fail! It also feels productive to make a plan, but it’s actually not helping you take any steps forward. A lot more people get stuck here than you might think. 

What Prep Mode Looks Like

Let’s say you have the goal of eating more home cooked meals or starting strength training. New goal, new plan, right? Maybe you spend time searching the internet for tips, making lists, finding the perfect workout app, testing out different gyms, or hitting the library for inspirational cookbooks. These are great things, by the way, but they aren’t helping you move the needle in real time. 

What To Do Instead

I’m still going to encourage you to work on your fitness or food plan, but rather than waiting for conditions to be perfect, I want you to start taking small actions towards your goal now. Yes, today! 

• Spending 5 minutes stretching or walking will do more for your health than spending an hour searching for the perfect mobility app.
• Throwing together a ten minute breakfast will help more than scrolling pinterest for meal inspiration. One of my favorites these days is scrambled eggs with a healthy serving of arugula on the other half of the plate drizzled with olive oil and apple cider vinegar.
• Doing a workout today in the leggings you already own will have you moving your body while you wait for your new gear to arrive.

Quite simply… Just START. Pick one thing and do it! You can always adjust later. But right now, your only job is to break the cycle of overthinking (or procrastination). After all, no one ever says that they wish they’d waited to get started.