The “I’ll Start Monday” Fitness Plan (And Why It Never Works)

Let’s face it, we’ve all done it—circled Monday on the calendar as the sacred day we’ll finally kickstart our fitness journey. We imagine ourselves waking up at the crack of dawn, lacing up our sneakers, and hitting the gym with a level of enthusiasm usually reserved for puppies and people who’ve had too much caffeine. Monday is going to be the day, we tell ourselves. And maybe it is... for about 24 hours.

By Tuesday, though, reality sets in. That early morning run feels more like a marathon of getting out of bed, the healthy breakfast gets swapped for something quick (and let’s be honest, probably involving too much sugar), and by Wednesday? Well, let’s just say that Wednesday workout plan is starting to look a lot like Thursday’s problem.

But why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we think Monday has some magical powers to transform us into fitness enthusiasts overnight? The truth is, we’re using Monday as an excuse—a way to delay what we know we should be doing right now. And I’m not just pointing fingers here; I’m right there with you.

There’s something comforting about pushing our goals off to “Monday.” It feels like a fresh start, a clean slate, the perfect time to begin anew. But life doesn’t work that way, and neither does fitness. Waiting for the perfect moment to start only sets us up for disappointment when life inevitably gets in the way. Because, spoiler alert: something always comes up. Maybe it’s a work deadline, a family commitment, or just plain old tiredness. Whatever it is, it’s enough to make us push that Monday plan back another week… and then another.

So, how do we break the cycle? How do we stop relying on Monday and start taking action today? Here’s the thing: you don’t need a perfect plan or a specific day to begin. You just need to start, no matter how small the effort.

Instead of waiting for Monday, why not start today? Seriously, right now. I’m not saying you have to go out and run a marathon (unless you’re into that sort of thing, in which case, go you!). But you can do something small—take a 10-minute walk, do a quick set of squats while watching TV, or stretch out those muscles that have been neglected since the last time you said “I’ll start Monday.”

The point is, starting small is better than not starting at all. And guess what? Those small efforts add up. A walk today turns into a jog next week, which turns into a regular workout routine before you know it. And suddenly, you’re not the person who’s always waiting for Monday—you’re the person who’s actually doing it.

Now, I’m not going to lie and say it’s going to be easy. There will be days when motivation is low, when the bed feels too comfortable, or when that extra slice of pizza seems like the better option. But that’s okay. The key is to keep going, even when you don’t feel like it. Because consistency is what turns a habit into a lifestyle, and before you know it, you won’t need Monday to get started. You’ll just do it because it’s part of who you are.

And let’s be real—life’s too short to keep putting off the things that make us feel good. So, here’s my challenge to you (and to myself, let’s be honest): let’s stop waiting for the perfect day to start. Let’s make today the day we take that first step, no matter how small. Because the sooner we start, the sooner we’ll see the results—and trust me, future you is going to be really glad you didn’t wait until Monday.

So, what are you waiting for? Lace up those sneakers, grab a water bottle, and let’s do this—no Monday required.