5 Reasons to Start Now

So many ideas, so little time. Yet somehow you can’t bring yourself to get started on any of them. Your mind becomes cluttered with all these endeavors - you think about them constantly, excited about the prospect of bringing them into your life, so you make a list so as not to lose track. You form plans, goals you want to meet, projects you want to accomplish. You have a vague idea of how these ideas materialize. But no matter how many times you tell yourself or write down what you want to do, you just can’t seem to get started. Maybe it’s fear, maybe it’s not knowing where to begin, maybe it’s a lack of time. Whatever the reason, there’s some sort of discontentment that comes from not pursuing your ideas, and you just can’t stop thinking about it.

Does this sound familiar? If so, you’re certainly not alone. With the inundation of social media content, sometimes it might feel like everyone around you is reaching all their dreams and living their best lives while you’re just trailing behind watching time pass you by. I do think we really should stay away from comparing ourselves to others, which is much easier said than done and a conversation for a future post. When we feel stuck, it’s good to take time to rest, heal, and process our feelings - it’s ok to not constantly be jumping into new things and to just exist as we are. At the same time, we often want to get out of these ruts, especially when we have a queue of hopes and dreams we so badly want to achieve.

So here are five reasons (based on personal experience, of course) that the best time to start really might be “today.” With each one, I’ll share something I wanted to do and how this reason helped me.

1. The time and energy you put into thinking about what you want to do could be well-spent actually doing it.

This isn’t to say that planning and brainstorming aren’t important but rather that those minutes spent thinking how awesome it would be to learn to paint or try a new workout class or clean the entire house could be spent practicing painting techniques, signing up for the workout session, or organizing a room. I think this reason in particular can apply to little habits, which can eventually add up to lifestyle changes if intended.

For example, I’ve been trying to drink more water every day. Rather than thinking about how I should probably drink some water in a few minutes, every time the idea pops into my mind, I immediately grab my water bottle and take a few sips. I somehow developed a pattern of drinking juice with lunch and dinner each day, and I would think to myself I should probably drink water instead since I drink so little. I’ve finally sprung into action by trying to replace one of them with water. They might seem trivial, but these are the kind of small steps that lead to bigger changes - especially when you choose changes you can easily inculcate today.

2. You might not know where to start, but once you start somewhere, the rest will fall into place.

This was learning how to DJ for me. I had no clue how to start learning, so I tried watching a couple of videos online and quickly realized it would be far easier for me to learn from someone in person. Luckily for me, one of my friends that I met within the past year also DJs and was kind enough to give me a lesson. While I have so much more to learn, that one lesson was enough to put me on track to use my deck and start creating mini sets. Don’t be afraid to ask people around you for help! Yes, maybe not everyone would be willing to help, but even one person’s advice can guide you to the next step or enrich your knowledge. By starting somewhere, you can identify what tools you need to grow and succeed and what comes to you naturally.

3. You don’t have to “get it right” from the outset. Worrying about the end result only precludes you from creating a beginning.

Okay yes, it’s hard not to think about the what-ifs: What if I can’t do it? What if I quit? What if it isn’t successful? But what about the opposite what-ifs: What if I turn this into something bigger? What if I develop a talent or passion? What if this turns into a huge success? There’s only one way to know, and that’s by doing it. The worst-case scenario isn’t quitting or “failing”; it’s NOT TRYING!!! Don’t deny yourself the opportunity to experience the learning process. If you decide it isn’t what you expected or isn’t going the way you want, then so be it. You started and then you stopped - it doesn’t have to be a big deal. It’s rare to get it right on the first try anyway, so iterate, experiment, and don’t give up at the first sign of struggling.

This might be a niche example, but these past couple of years, I really wanted to make a reading journal. I saw some YouTube videos that inspired me to keep track of books that I want to remember for years to come, and the creative side of me just loved the way the journals looked when filled up. But the perfectionist in me kept thinking, “What if mine doesn’t look as good? What if I can’t keep up with it?” Now, two years have gone by without me creating the journal or even collecting notes on these valuable takeaways from the books I’ve read. I finally made one for 2022, and now that it exists, it’s so much easier to focus on the process rather than a vague end goal. Once you start, I think you’re more likely to spend more time thinking about the day-to-day, which helps take some pressure off the end result.

4. You don’t need to have all the resources to move forward.

Not everyone has the privilege of time, money, flexibility, support, etc., and it’s vital to recognize that. But if you can find even one small way to move forward without having to invest those scarce resources, you definitely deserve to try. For example, maybe you want to start your own business selling handmade items, but you don’t have the capital to invest in a storefront, bulk materials, or a website. Maybe you can start by selling a couple items through your social media accounts or directly to friends and family. Maybe you can’t take fancy product shots with a photographer or DSLR camera, but you can borrow a camera from a friend, rent one, or use your phone. Hand in hand with the previous reason, nothing needs to be perfect. It might be hard to settle for “lower quality” or “less reach” when you envision that dream in the frame of whatever success looks like to you, but you won’t have any quality or reach to improve if you don’t try in the first place.

I was involved in sports through the end of high school, but when I got to college, my only real form of movement was the walk to, from, and between classes. As I noticed myself becoming less active, I made a lot of excuses for not working out - I didn’t have time, I was too tired, I didn’t want to pay for a gym membership, etc. While all valid reasons in general, I knew I could get a little more movement each day if I tried. I didn’t feel too comfortable running outside, so I started with at-home, no-equipment YouTube workouts. It was enough to build a consistent habit, which eventually translated into running around my neighborhood when I went back home for breaks or when I had access to a treadmill and eventually wanting to get dumbbells and using gym equipment. Not to mention that starting out with no equipment has kept me motivated to stay moving everyday knowing that I can just do something wherever I am. When you start out with the bare minimum, you’ll continue to stay resourceful even when you have more of what you need.

5. Any fear or doubts you have about starting will be short-lived.

These feelings might envelop you at first, especially if it’s something that other people might see or know about. After all, it’s scary to be judged, embarrassed, questioned about your ideas and dreams. But once it’s out there in the world, it’s out there. Taking that first step can often be the hardest part. But like ripping off a band-aid, that discomfort actually settles pretty quickly.

Starting Twenties by Design is the example that most easily comes to mind. I was TERRIFIED of putting myself out there and asked myself so many questions doubting myself: Can I do this? Does this align with the perception people have of me? What will people say? I sought so much validation from my friends, and if you have a support person or group to reassure you, it definitely helps to have those voices believing in you from the beginning. But on the flip side, and something I personally am trying to work on, you don’t need anyone’s validation. Just go for it, it’s YOUR dream and no one else’s.

Even though I still feel pretty insecure about my blog and am still trying to figure so much out, I don’t feel ANYTHING like I did that first day - nowhere near as nervous or scared. I’m driven more by the potential for learning, growth, and stepping out of my comfort zone than I am by what others might think, even if I still think about that on a daily basis. Any lingering fear or doubt probably just means you really care about what you’re doing, so trust in that feeling and give yourself the space to thrive.

Do you relate to these reasons? What experiences have you had with starting something new? If you feel comfortable, share in the comments below, email me, or DM me.

P.S. If there’s anything I can do to make these posts or even the website more accessible, please leave your feedback below or email/DM me. Inclusivity is super important to me, so I’d love to make any adjustments to ensure this content can be accessed by all!