Alright, let’s get straight to the point: I’m currently locked in an intense argument. With myself.

You know the one. The classic “Next year, I’ll be a whole new person” spiel. I picture myself waking up at 6 a.m., powering through a hyper-productive day, sipping a green smoothie like a health guru while checking off my to-do list. It’s a beautiful vision. Truly inspiring. And also, completely delusional.

Why Wait for Next Year?

Here’s the real kicker: why am I waiting for next year? Why not now?

The truth is, I’ve been “starting tomorrow” for, oh, let’s say... years. My fridge has seen its fair share of wilted kale. I feel pretty guilty about how much untouched “superfood” I’ve wasted over the years. Like the bottle of apple cider vinegar in my cupboard - it’s been there so long, it’s probably fermenting a second time. I wonder if that makes it twice as good for you?

I’ve even tried placing the kale front and centre in the fridge, hoping the daily reminder would guilt me into action. But nope, no luck there. Yet somehow, I never have any trouble finding and devouring the chocolate buried in the back. Funny how that works, right?

A Battle of Wills: Me vs. Me

Let me paint you a picture of my inner dialogue:

Motivated Me: "Just start now. Set your alarm earlier. Shift one or two tasks to the morning. You’ve got this!”

Excuse Me: “But I’m tired. But it’s the weekend. But my brain needs a little more rest…”

If procrastination were an Olympic sport, I’d have several gold medals by now.

Where’s My Mini David Goggins?

Honestly, I need a mini David Goggins perched on my shoulder, yelling motivational things at me like, “You’re better than this!” or “Stop being soft!” Maybe then I’d actually wake up at 5 a.m., put on my running shoes, and conquer the day before my morning coffee.

But hey, all I’ve got is a small voice in my head saying, “Eh, maybe tomorrow.”

Baby Steps: Because Perfection is Overrated

Despite my love for procrastination, I’ve made some baby steps. Over the past few months, I’ve improved my relationship with alcohol. It’s not perfect, but it’s so much better. 

Here’s a tip for anyone on the same journey: it takes time to feel the benefits. At first, I didn’t notice much. I kept thinking, “What’s the big deal? I don’t feel any different.” But the key is to stick with it. Little by little, I started to notice mental clarity creeping in and my body slowly resetting itself.

And the real epiphany? That moment when you have a drink after a stretch of sobriety - it’s like your body saying, “Oh, we don’t do this anymore.”

Now? I genuinely prefer a cup of tea and a biscuit in the evenings. (Although, let’s be honest - I may have swapped wine for sugar.)

The Gym Diaries

Another area where I’ve made some progress is exercise. In 2023, while waiting for my company to get FCA approval, I dove headfirst into fitness. It's a surprising shift for someone who once despised P.E.

Fun fact: in school, I took a shortcut during a cross-country race and accidentally got a record time. This led to me being entered into a county-level competition, which I barely survived. Karma. Lesson learned.

But here's the thing: once I started exercising, it got easier with time - and believe it or not, I actually started enjoying it. And while I’ve fallen off the wagon a bit recently, I’m easing back in. It’s all about consistency, about simply showing up - even if it’s just for 20 minutes.

The Kale Smoothie That Will Never Be

Which brings me back to the smoothie. The poor, abandoned kale smoothie.

Maybe tomorrow is the day I finally make it. Or maybe it’s more of a “someday” goal. For now, I’ll set the bar lower: tomorrow, I’ll wake up 15 minutes earlier. That feels doable. That’s progress.

Cheers to Small Wins

At the end of the day, it’s all about the small wins. Sure, I’d love to be that 6 a.m. smoothie-sipping productivity queen, and hey - maybe one day I will be. But let’s be honest: if I don’t start with small, manageable changes, nothing’s going to stick.

Here’s to tomorrow. Or maybe next week. Or, let’s be real - the New Year. Because that’s when we all decide to become our best selves, right?

And hey, if you’re in the same boat, let’s commit to starting small together. Who knows? Maybe tomorrow we’ll both be making that smoothie - or at least waking up 15 minutes earlier. Progress is progress, right?