How can we genuinely start working towards reaching our ideal selves when we feel overwhelmed and when we seriously just don’t know where to start?
Most of us have our hobbies tucked away in different parts of our house, waiting for the mythical ‘free time’ that never arrives.
We have our mental check list full of things we want to get done. But in reality, after dragging ourselves out of bed, getting ready for the day, and enduring hours of nonstop tasks and interruptions, we rarely have the energy left for something that feels like more work.
So, that list?
It slowly fades away to a distant part of our brain. Not because we don’t care – but because we didn’t have the time, or mental energy to pack our gym bag, drive there, choose a workout and then drive home again when collapsing onto bed and mindlessly scrolling through social media sounds more enticing.
We all see the ‘recipe’ for success online:
Meditate. Wake up early. Be mindful, Journal. Read a book. Go to gym three times a week and blah blah blah…
And while those habits can be powerful, they can also feel… exhausting and generic.
We’re told that we need to find the perfect routine, follow it exactly and voilà – we’ll instantly be on our way to success.
But the truth is: most of us don’t even know where to begin.
Not because we’re lazy but because we’re overwhelmed and unsure of what actually works for us.
We don’t know what our version of meditation looks like or how we define mindfulness.
So, where can you actually start?
I’ll be honest and say that I find it hard too.
But here are a few things that help me to move forward, gently:
Try before you plan.
Instead of endlessly saving self-help reels, try one thing for one week. Pick one: journaling, walking, a creative hobby – and just try.
Don’t wait for the perfect setup – just start.
We think we need the right tools, the right time, and the right motivation to begin.
But you’ll never feel fully ready.
So try. Be imperfect. Let consistency be your goal, not perfection.
Find your anchor.
You need to remind yourself why you want to become a better version of yourself. You need to understand your why to keep you going when you feel like giving up.
Write down your goal and put it somewhere to remind you who you’re trying to become.
Schedule your future self in.
Block out 20 minutes for something that matters to you.
Not for your boss, your studies, or your to-do list.
For you.
Put it in your calendar like an appointment. And treat it like every other important task for that day.
Be mindful of what you can actually accomplish when you are more intentional.
Start with one thing that feels good.
Sometimes the best version of you already exists in the small things:
Walking your dog
Chatting to your friend or your sister
Taking 3 deep breaths before reacting.
These are the micro-habits that shape your foundation.
Work with your energy, not against it.
If you struggle to wake up early, fight that urge to watch one more episode and get to bed.
If you are more productive earlier in the day, stop planning to do your work at 8pm.
It’s all about aligning your goals with your natural rhythm – you’ll stop fighting yourself and start flowing.
Today, choose one thing – just one – that your ideal self would do.
And then ask yourself: What would it look like to honour that version of me today, even for five minutes?
