Procrastination

It's an old joke: What's the most popular day for people to start their new diet?

Tomorrow.

Procrastination is something we all deal with. We put off doing things we need to do when we really don't want to do them. They hang over our head, constantly nagging us. Sometimes we manage to forget about them, only to have them barge into our thoughts uninvited. It's only when we no longer have a choice that we give in and do something about them. It can be a dreaded job at work, a conversation you don't want to have, or yes, a diet. What do all the things we procrastinate about have in common?

The common thread is that in every case, the perceived cost of performing the task is greater than the perceived cost of not performing it. That is, not doing it is better and easier than doing it. This weighing moves us away from action and towards inaction. That balance doesn't stay the same, however; as time goes by it shifts. Eventually, the cost of not performing the task outweighs the cost of performing it. For example, you put off completing that report at work because it will be long and complicated, and anyway it's not due for another two weeks. As time passes, the consequence of not doing it (i.e. jeopardizing your job) starts to outweigh the pain of tackling it. Soon, with the deadline looming, you have no choice but to stop putting it off.

Now look at that in terms of nutrition and exercise. Is starting a fitness plan something that you absolutely must do today? Probably not. If you're like most people, your health is "good enough" that you can get by every day with no major problems. Plus, exercise is hard. Fitness is a time commitment. Combining a lack of urgency with the work of starting and sticking to a fitness plan leads to procrastination. This is why "tomorrow" is such a popular day.

But here's the problem with that approach. Just like that report at work, eventually the balance will start to shift. Your weight will increase with each passing year. Your flexibility will decrease. Your body will naturally lose muscle as you age. A poor diet will ultimately lead to disease. At some point, the cost of not taking care of yourself will far outweigh the cost of doing it. How many times have you heard of lifelong smokers who gave up the habit the day AFTER they were diagnosed with lung cancer? Or the number of people who took up healthy eating and exercise right AFTER a heart attack?

For them, the balance had shifted. The question is, why wait until then?

If you start exercising today, you'll get healthier today. If you choose to eat nutritious foods today, you'll get healthier today. And you will start reaping the benefits of those choices immediately.

We're all getting older. We'll all face health problems of some kind over the course of our lives. But wouldn't you rather take action now to give yourself the biggest advantage possible later? If it helps, think of healthy choices made today as an investment in the future you. If you put off investing for retirement, you won't have enough money to live on when you need it. If you put off investing in your own health, a strong body and mind won't be there when you need them, either.

Don't put off getting healthy any longer. Don't wait until next year, or after the summer, or next week. Don't wait until tomorrow. Do it now, when it's not yet a "necessity". Because it is.

If you need help getting started, please contact me at info@fitnessinthebalance.com