Make Decisions Today That Your Future Self Will Thank You For

A simple way to think about exercise, health, and the year ahead

January has a way of holding up a mirror.

After the excess of December, many people find themselves thinking, “I really need to get back on track.” More energy. Better sleep. Feeling stronger. Feeling more like themselves again.

But the biggest mistake people make at this point isn’t a lack of motivation — it’s believing that everything needs to change at once.

Instead of thinking about where you should be, a far more powerful question is this:

Where am I now — and where do I want to be by December?

Because the version of you in December isn’t created by one big decision. They’re built by the small, repeatable choices you start making today.

January: Starting From Where You Are

Right now, you might feel unfit, inconsistent, or frustrated that exercise keeps slipping down the priority list. Life is busy. Work, family, stress, and tiredness all get in the way.

That’s normal.

What matters is not how hard you go in January, but whether what you start is something you can realistically sustain.

This is the time to:

• Reintroduce movement without punishment

• Focus on habits, not heroics

• Accept that “something” is infinitely better than nothing

Two or three short workouts a week. Daily walks. Lifting weights you can control with good form. Going to bed a little earlier. Eating slightly better most of the time.

Nothing flashy. Just consistent.

The Compounding Effect of Consistency

Fast forward a few months.

By spring, the person who kept things simple in January is moving more freely. They’re stronger. Their energy is more stable. Exercise feels like part of life rather than something they’re constantly trying to “get back into”.

By summer, they trust themselves again. They know that even when life gets hectic, they can still show up — even if it’s just for 20 minutes.

And by December?

That person doesn’t panic about weight gain, fitness levels, or starting again in January. They’ve already built a routine that works around real life.

Not because they were perfect — but because they were consistent.

Exercise as an Investment in Your Future Self

Every session you complete, every walk you go on, every strength workout you don’t talk yourself out of is a quiet deposit into your future wellbeing.

Your December self will thank you for:

• Stronger joints and muscles

• Better posture and less daily stiffness

• More confidence in your body

• Better stress management

• A healthier relationship with exercise

These benefits don’t arrive overnight — but they do arrive when you stop quitting on yourself.

Make the Decision Once

The most successful people don’t rely on motivation. They decide in advance that exercise is non-negotiable, then they remove as many barriers as possible.

They schedule sessions. They keep workouts simple. They stop aiming for perfect weeks and start aiming for consistent enough.

The decision you make in January isn’t “I’m going to smash it this year.”

It’s:

“I’m going to keep showing up, even when life isn’t ideal.”

Where Will You Be This Time Next Year?

Twelve months from now will arrive whether you act or not.

The only real question is whether your future self is grateful for the choices you’re making today.

If you’d like support building a sustainable routine that fits around your life — without extremes or all-or-nothing thinking — working with a coach can make all the difference. Sometimes the smartest decision you can make is not doing it alone.

Your future self is watching. Start giving them something to thank you for.