Waiting for the "right" time to make positive, lasting changes?

The time is now.

"When things calm down, I'll get back to the gym."

"When the kids are back in school and I'm back in a routine, I'll start training sessions."

"After vacation, I'll have more time to cook."

"Work is really busy this month, but hopefully soon I'll be able to start working out again."

Here's the deal: Life is always busy. There is always another thing. Something else always comes up. Conditions are never ideal. 

Many of us hold on to the hope that they will be, that things will settle down and we'll have the time, money, and energy to focus on ourselves and our health and fitness (or whatever your goal is). 

Unfortunately, it doesn't usually work that way. 

Instead of putting off sleep or workouts or eating well for some far-off fantasy day when everything lines up perfectly, ask yourself what you can do today. 

How can you show up for yourself imperfectly?

What would it look like to do one small, tiny thing that supports your health and fitness?

It could be as simple as taking the dog for a walk instead of just letting it outside or ordering a side salad with the takeout pizza. 

Maybe it's reaching for water instead of soda or doing a 15-minute bodyweight workout between work and dinner instead of scrolling on the couch. 

When things are busy and stressful, that's hard. Sometimes it feels impossible. But when we can make small, positive choices in those moments, it often relieves some of our stress and makes us feel better physically and mentally.

When you don't have time to work out, that's a fantastic time to commit to personal or small group training sessions, because you'll have someone to hold you accountable and help you fit exercise into your busy life. (Sometimes it's more doable than people think!)

When you don't have time to go to the grocery store and cook healthy meals, that's the best time to hire a nutrition coach, because they can help you strategize and plan quick and easy ways to feed yourself and your family. 

The times when it's least convenient are the times you need the most support and guidance, and if you can learn how to make it work when life feels crazy, you'll know you have the skills to do it anytime, no matter what comes up in the future. 

If you're waiting for life to settle down to focus on your health and fitness, you could be waiting for a very, very long time. There is no "perfect" time to start a routine, and the "right" time is right now. 

What's the next best thing you can do, today, to prioritize your health and fitness? What is the smallest step you can take to get you closer to where you ultimately want to be?

Focus on that. Start now. Stop waiting for the perfect time, because this is it.