Recently, I was chatting with a 14-year-old, let's call her Sam, about school. She was telling me how well she was doing in her classes but the day after Halloween she had to skip school because she hadn't studied for an exam. #truestory

I know. I made the same face.

According to Jon Acuff, author of Finish, this is the perfectionist mindset. We'd rather not try at all than take the chance at failing, if even a little bit. And although we might roll our eyes at Sam's comment, this is what so many of us do in various parts of our lives.

We ate crappy last night so we might as well eat crappy this morning. We can't get to the gym so why should we even workout. We don't have the time to keep a journal so why should we should we bother saying what we are grateful for. Sound familiar?

I am so guilty of this and am actually having fun trying to do things imperfectly - compared to the standards I typically set for myself.

Here are a few examples of ways I have started taking action and am actually finally doing something I've always wanted to do (if imperfectly!).

Building a Business - I know a lot about coaching people but little about business. I've waited 6 years to finish a blog post because it wasn't "perfect" enough. I'm so grateful for Jill Coleman who has encouraged me to take action. Look at me go!
Meditation - Ever since I read the book, 10% Happier, I have wanted to try meditation. But 30 minutes of meditation every day is very daunting when I have other things I'd like to get done. Enter the 1 minute meditation. I downloaded the 10% Happier app and started with the 1 minute meditations after my shower (before I get side-tracked with anything else). Amazing!! I found that after 1 minute I just wanted few more minutes. So I tried 5 minutes. Now I'm up to 10-15 minutes depending on my mood. The things is, I've been holding off on this for years because the time wasn't right. One minute was all it took to realize I needed some mediation in my life.
Gratitude Journal - Okay, I don't actually keep a physical journal - and that's the point. I have tried about 20 times and have never followed through. So, saying what I'm grateful for each night before I go to bed is the perfect solution for me.
Working Out at Home - if you follow me on social media you may have seen my post about working out at home. It's not my favorite place to train but honestly it's more challenging for me to get to the gym (outside of working) and feel motivated to workout. I'm not deadlifting like I used to or using the Airdyne bike that I loved so much, but I'm working out twice a week and for me that's better than nothing.

If you have something that you have been waiting to pull the trigger on, I hope some of this resonates with you and encourages you to start, even if the time doesn't feel "right." Here are some tips to start taking imperfect action today:

Try one minute of movement everyday. Do a stretch, march in place, something!
Meditate for one minute before you hop in the shower! You know you'll be on your phone anyway...
Add spinach to your smoothies (seriously, you can't taste it! Ask my husband...)
Roast up a bunch of veggies for the week so they are ready whenever you need some! I like cubed sweet potatoes, asparagus, and sliced peppers. Toss in EVOO or coconut oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper or any other seasonings and then put them in a 375-400 degree oven. 25-40 min later they should be done! Perfect to add to eggs in the AM, as a snack in the afternoon or with your dinner!
Take an extra walk. If your mailbox is further away like mine, walk around your block once before getting the mail. Boom! You just added an extra 5-10 minutes - that's better than zero minutes!
Walk around the mall. Most of us will inevitably run to the mall this season. Walk one lap before or after your shopping trip.
No time for veggies? I've been there. Grab a green juice. Even Starbucks has them for those days you're on the run or doing holiday shopping.

If you have a great tip to add, please share! Remember, it's not about perfection, especially during the busiest time of the year. Done is better than perfect!

xo Christine

Done is Better than Perfect

teaching Moms how to make health and fitness a sustainable, life-long pursuit