There are many reasons that we, as humans, stall and procrastinate. And those reasons can, and very much do, apply to any aspect of our lives. And that can happen, despite us knowing that completing a task will be beneficial for us. So why do we do it?

We will procrastinate for a variety of complex interplay of reasons and factors, some of which may be entirely subconscious. And these often stem from a combination of emotional, cognitive, and behavioural factors, including a fear of failure, a lack of motivation, feeling overwhelmed by a task, and even perfectionism. Procrastination can also be linked to low self-esteem, anxiety, and a preference for immediate gratification over long-term goals. 

Whatever the reasoning, conscious or not, it can lead to prolonged waiting, planning, delaying tactics, and more, which in the end stop you from achieving what you’d like to achieve.

“I’ll wait until the New Year to start doing… [add in your chosen activity].”

“Before I start, I just need to find out a bit more about…”

“Just one more weekend binge and then I’ll start to…”

“The time isn’t right at the moment.”

“I might fail.”

“People might laugh at me.”

The list of these is endless, and I am sure has applied to all of us at some point (me included). However, we might need to take some heed of the old adages, and strike while the iron is hot or make hay while the sun shines, as there is no time like the present because time waits for no-one, so you might as well seize the day. In short, if you have a thought about doing something then get up and do it before that thought floats away to find someone else more likely to act upon it.

We know that movement helps us live longer, and that resistance training helps us live better, but how many of us think, “I’ll do that tomorrow.”? How many tomorrows do you have before you don’t? And while I don’t like using negative, scare tactics, that is certainly a sobering thought. I’ve quoted country singer, Cody Johnson before and his song “Until You Can’t”, and these lyrics apply to this newsletter: 

If you got a chance, take it, take it while you got a chance

If you got a dream, chase it, ’cause a dream won’t chase you back

Don’t wait on tomorrow ’cause tomorrow may not show

So if you have a dream of living a long and healthy life, full of vitality, start doing some exercise and strength training. If you’d like some help starting (or re-starting), or advice on how best to get moving, lifting and being healthier, please get in touch. I want to hear from you.

P.S. The ‘Summer Bash’ is having the finishing touches applied to it and will soon be released. This is a programme designed by accredited nutritionist, Gemma Westfold, and me to help you navigate the summer holidays with excellent nutrition advice and fitness tips, as well as workouts that you can do anywhere.