More and more these days, it seems like everyone has an excuse for why they aren’t where they want to be, doing the things they want to do, have the body they desire– or at least for why they aren’t on the way there. For someone who juggles what seems like a million things, I look at these people and shake my head. Somehow, I can manage to do all of these things so why can’t they? They need to stop making excuses and start taking action.
I’m not Superwoman. Instead of making excuses, I make the necessary sacrifices in order to achieve my goals. Yes, it’s difficult, and at times exhausting but you can do it too. You don’t have to go balls to the wall and just go after everything all at once. Just stop making excuses and start small.
Excuse #1: I Don’t Have Time
I always get super excited for people when they bounce ideas off of me. More often than not, though, I’ll follow up and ask, “How’s that going?” Or when someone I know talks to me about wanting to get into a fitness routine. “Have you started yet?”
Whether it be their health, their dream business or some other action that requires effort, I tend to get the same response. “Well… I just don’t have the time, but I want to.” Then, they look at me like I’m supposed to sympathize or something. Um, no. Not happening.
If you want something– Stop making excuses and go get it. I think you have more time than you realize.
Stop Making Excuses: Keep track of what you do for an entire week. From what time you wake up, eat your meals, your commute, your work hours, cooking, TV time, browsing the Internet—all of it. Keep a log and make sure every hour is accounted for.
How many hours did you clock for going out? How many hours of TV did you watch? Do you sleep in on the weekends? Did you catch yourself zoning out on social media?
All of these things add up and take away from the progress you could be making towards your goals. While watching TV, going out, and browsing the Internet may be fun at the time, they are merely instant gratification fixes and won’t help you get ahead. Clock your new hours at the gym, or on your computer doing research or writing a business plan, or attending networking events. Indulge in the other stuff at times when you need to take a break. Don’t make your passion a hobby. Instead, treat your passion like it’s your real job until it really is.
Excuse #2: It’s Too Expensive
Ah yes, another excuse I’m sick of hearing and it mainly revolves around people and their health and fitness. “It’s too expensive to eat healthy” is something I hear a lot. Combined with the “I don’t have time to work out” excuse and there’s the primary reason people are so unhappy with their bodies.
Maybe you have the goal of buying a house or a new car. Maybe there’s a trip you’ve been dying to take or you want to put yourself through more school so you can get a better job. Maybe you need better art supplies. Whatever the case may be, all these “maybes” will stay maybes until you stop killing the possibilities with the “too expensive” excuse.
Stop Making Excuses: Just like with time, I want you to keep track of your money for a month. All of it. If you mostly use your card then print out a bank statement and get on it right away.
Take a sharpie and cross everything off the list that’s a bill, gas or a responsible payment. What else are you spending your money on? How much on booze? How much on shopping? How often are you making frivolous purchases?
Now add up all those things that aren’t necessary (I know you feel like those shoes were girl, but not if they aren’t hauling your ass to the gym or you don’t absolutely need them for work.)
Look at that dollar amount long and hard. This is money that is going down the drain while the things you really want join them. Rework your budget so you can do that thing that’s “too expensive” and be strict about it. Set aside a small budget for splurges & If something deemed unnecessary is outside of your new budget—deduct it from the following month. That way you aren’t really depriving yourself, you’re just being more responsible for getting it.
Excuse #3: I’m Too Tired
This is the excuse I hear the most when it comes to sex with a significant other. Yes, being tired sucks, but sex is an important part of a relationship. I also hear, “When I get home from work, I’m too tired to hit the gym.”
“I’m too tired to come home from work and do more work.”
Being tired sucks, but if you want to get to where you want to be, you have to suck it up. We’re all tired, but that doesn’t stop the most successful of people from still getting shit done.
Stop Making Excuses:
- Get more sleep. Go to bed earlier and wake up earlier.
- Eat healthier– You’ll have more energy.
- Limit alcohol consumption. It slows you down.
Excuse #4: It’s Too Hard
One of the things I tell myself fairly often is, “If it were easy, everyone would do it.” Yes, trying to get that hot body you want, making your business a success and achieving just about any goal worth the effort is hard. There are going to be days where you feel like you’re physically crawling uphill through mud and your progress feels nonexistent. Or it feels like Murphy’s Law has a personal vendetta against you.
The point is when you get to where you want to be you’re going to look back and be like, “Holy shit that was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but soooo worth it.” Sure it takes more effort to go around something rather than walk straight through, but you simply have to do it if you want to get to where you need to go.
The reality is you might fail. Your first attempt might blow up in your face, but the important part is to keep going. You’ll hit many ups and downs before you get to where you want to be, but at least you’ll get there.
Stop Making Excuses: Get yourself a support system. And not your mom or your bestie who hates her job. Find other people who are like-minded, a mentor that has more success than you and have what you want. Pick their brain, absorb their knowledge and experience like a tampon.
Excuses only exist if you give them the power to, so stop making them and start living your dreams.
Have you made any of these excuses? How do you stop making excuses and start taking action?
Image Credit: Shutterstock
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