Procrastination: A term I am all too familiar with.  Take this article; I am a day past my deadline.  I have had weeks to prepare, but here I am again, a classic example of procrastination, “putting off doing something.”  I am not alone in this syndrome of self-inflicted worry!  Although there are many areas of life that one can “put off,” the one that stands out in my mind as a neon sign is the procrastination of health and fitness. 

The overwhelming tradition of New Year’s Resolutions; January 1 of every year becomes that day that we have put off. This is the day we all get a fresh start. Everyone wants to reach their goals – everyone. So why do we wait until a new year rolls around in hopes that this will be the year that we change our lives for the better?  

Start with the obvious: Why DO people start a fitness program? Health issues dominate the top of the charts. So many times I hear someone say that their doctor told them it was necessary.  For others, it may be an important event like a wedding, a vacation or a holiday party.  For some, it may be that they are tired of not feeling their best, or they just decided it was important for them.

Maybe you don’t fall into those categories. Then what?  There are reasons why people put off starting a fitness program.  One main reason is that it is not a quick one-day task.  Starting a fitness program is starting a healthy lifestyle.  It’s ongoing!  It’s for life!  That is pretty intimidating for most people, especially someone who is just beginning.  So what’s the first step?  Start thinking about it! Ask yourself these questions: Why am I considering it?  What is my life lacking without it? What are my goals?

After you have answered these questions, then comes the hardest one? It’s the question that most people would rather not answer.  The question is “Why haven’t I done this?

We all know the benefits of exercise and that it’s important to every one of us.  Try telling yourself that it can’t wait another day, another month, or another year.   Feeling better and taking care of your body needs to be the reason that you stop procrastinating. If you are really ready to do it for yourself, you will.  Barring all excuses that you don’t know how to exercise or that you need to be fit before you go to a gym, or that you don’t have time, just take the first step and start! Making the decision to start is a promise to yourself.  You can do it.  Try telling yourself this motto: “Decide – Begin – Commit – Succeed.”

I’ve learned to put my workout before many of my other daily tasks so I feel better and can accomplish more things.  I don’t know why I procrastinated writing this article instead of just doing it.  I will start thinking about my next article . . . tomorrow.