It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos of life in what feels like never-ending to-do lists and the constant wish for more time. It is easy to set aside tasks that don’t feel time-sensitive or tasks that don’t feel as though they are a top priority. Or at least these were the things I told myself when justifying thoughts like I just don’t have time to go to the gym today, or, as a college student, I just don’t have the time to eat healthy.
These weren’t justifications. They were excuses. Of course, no matter which way you look at it, the day only has 24 hours. It still has those same 24 hours on incredibly dull days as it does on the days filled to the brim with ‘to-do’s. We don’t have unlimited time, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t find time to prioritize our health and wellness.
Several times during the day I find myself thinking that I wish I were healthier. My thoughts will range from wishing I had gone to the gym that day or wishing I had time to fix a healthier lunch, instead of lazily reaching for the quick, easy, unhealthy option. Even though these thoughts pop into my head several times, I find myself just wishing for a healthier lifestyle, but not working for one. I am actively wishing for a healthier, thinner body and a healthier diet, but that’s where my fitness journey has begun and ended. I’ve only thought about it.
I’ve been making excuses that are feeble at best. Instead of clicking ‘continue watching’ another Netflix episode or surfing social media sites, or even reading, I could easily spend an hour at the gym. It’s also important to note that progress doesn’t equal perfection. I have let myself get discouraged in the past because I’ve missed a few days at the gym, and then before I know it, I haven’t gone in weeks. What matters more than those two days that you didn’t go to the gym were the five that you did. Actively working for a healthier lifestyle is the only way that you will get there.
So if you’re reading this and realizing you, too, have succumbed to wishing for it instead of working for it, I urge you to reconsider. No matter how many times in the day you wish for a different body, or more time to work out or a healthier diet, it won’t change anything. Wishing for things won’t make them come true. I am motivated to change my life for the better and turn my thoughts into actions, because in order to change your life, you have to be willing to work for it.
