Stuck on where to start?

It’s no surprise that the small things you do each day add up to something bigger over time. I’m a strong believer in the idea of “small but mighty” (also because I’m 5’2”). But even with that, it’s normal to see quotes about starting small and still feel lost on where to begin. How can I start if I have no direction? 

The goal we want to achieve always seems to be lingering over our heads, making us question if we’ll ever actually get there. So how do you push that aside and focus on where you are right now?

When I think about my journey, I often compare it to other aspects in life. I find value in reflecting on other things I’ve worked through as a reminder that growth and achievement are possible with time. But there’s that word… time. 

It takes time to pass that exam. It takes time to build that business. And of course it takes time to implement new health habits into your life. Time can feel so limited in our minds, especially coming from someone who struggles with patience (I’m working on it). 

In the end, if you want something, you make time for it. You already do it in your life. You don’t think twice about waiting in a long line to buy a new shirt or going 5 minutes out of your work route to pick up a coffee. 

So to put it in simple terms, you can make time for other habits as well if you want to.

This mindset has opened up my eyes to the way I approach new things. At first, I would feel hesitant to begin different and new tasks in life because I categorized myself as "not that kind of person" while wishing I could be. 

• Not a “morning person” 

• Not a “reader”

• Not a “meditation” person

  
  

These labels convinced me that they were a part of my identity because they often did not come easily to me. So I would not even budge with setting an earlier alarm or picking up that book in the corner of my room. However, the truth is if I wanted to, I could be that person…by starting.

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I know I’m not the only one who dreads starting that first draft of an essay. 

They are so unorganized and never sound the way I want them to. I always want to skip to the final version where I feel a sense of satisfaction. But I know I have to accept that the whole purpose of a draft is imperfection. If I only focused on the final draft, I would feel too overwhelmed to even start and have no urge to push through the editing process. So here I am now trying my best to embrace the imperfection of a “first draft” and starting, no matter how messy it seems to be at the moment. 

Now to be honest, I am no expert on how to teach people on implementing habits (James Clear would be the guy for that), but I do want to share some of my experience on how I started to intentionally implement small steps in my life through my health journey. 

Hey, we are all going through this journey together so why not have a place to put my thoughts, ideas and insights somewhere. I want to keep it digestible and light because that's just more fun. 

Ok let’s get to it…

1. PLAN, plan, plan

Planning out a week's workouts ahead of time or setting aside time to make my lunches for the week plays an important role in keeping me accountable. Visualizing it on paper or on my phone helps me carve out time in my schedule and makes it easier to follow instead of relying on getting it done towards the end of the day. 

2. STICK to basics

This isn't the first time we’ve heard this one.. but let me expand: the online health space can become very noisy trying to sell you the latest gut healthy supplement or that one exercise that will transform your body. Although there are well-researched supplements and of course exercises that can promote health benefits…it can feel chaotic in this space. I have been caught up in racking up my amazon cart after scrolling for just 10 minutes just because I was convinced this is something I must buy. This doesn’t mean that I’m not open to trying that new workout class or new recipe (trust me I love new recipes) but I’ve recognized that I don’t have to follow every guideline that is posted on social media to be “healthy” because it worked for that one person. I’ve built a balance of being open to different healthful practices while also relying on the basics to support my health. 

3. FIND what keeps you consistent

Finding the type of movement or meals I like was crucial to my consistency. I figured out quickly that it is true you will be the most consistent with what you enjoy most while also reducing the chance of burnout with your routine. Consistency became less intimidating for me when it is something I look forward to working at, knowing there will also be more difficult days than others.  

4. WORK your way up by starting small

Back to the value of small… when I was navigating my way around the gym, naturally, I would catch myself playing the comparison game (not fun). I wanted to be at the strength of other people. After acknowledging the stage I was at with my own experience, I decided that I was going to continue to show up and begin to track my workouts. I used lighter weights and gradually started to challenge myself. As I started stepping into the gym more frequently, I found myself trying new machines instinctively and feeling more comfortable with gym equipment. 

Starting off can be discouraging at times but when I released the pressure of wanting to be 10 steps ahead, I could focus on breaking down my goals into smaller tasks and found that it got me further than I anticipated… 

5. TRUST the momentum 

Completing one small task can encourage you to keep moving toward your goal. You know that feeling of finally checking off that thing you've been avoiding, like laundry, and suddenly you get the urge to clean out your closet, and next thing you know, you are walking out of your room with a bag of clothes to get rid of. That is momentum. 

This type of momentum also applied to me when I signed up for my first 15K race. I was fixated on the end result— running 9.3 miles (my first long-distance race). But instead of creating fear to reach that goal, I shifted my thinking. I chose to solely look at the week ahead and what I wanted to accomplish for that time. During days when I questioned if I could run the miles I had planned, I simplified it by telling myself to just go outside for a 30-minute run. When I put myself in a position where I could make progress, I found myself wanting to run a mile or two longer. As I started to implement a “starting small” approach it gave me the chance to build momentum toward my goal and make my journey less daunting and more enjoyable. 

So here it is people… my first ever blog (or little reflection) on this page. I want to leave you with a reminder that everyone is on their own journey, so let go of the expectation of where you “should” be and understand this is your own story. Even if only one sentence resonated with you, I hope it opens a door for you to Startyourstep.