Stop Justifying Being an Asshole (to yourself)

Let’s be real for a second.You’ve probably already said something like this to yourself:

• “It’s almost Halloween… I’ll start after that.”

• “Thanksgiving’s coming, no point now.”

• “Christmas is basically all of December, I’ll just reset January 1.”

Sound familiar? That’s not planning. That’s just a long-winded way of saying, “I’m gonna keep being an asshole to myself until it feels convenient.”

And here’s the truth: convenience is never coming.

The Myth of the Perfect Starting Line

Life doesn’t throw up a green flag that says, “Okay, everything’s calm now, you can work on yourself.” It’s birthdays, office parties, family stress, soccer practice, grocery runs, laundry piles… and then suddenly it’s New Year’s again.

Waiting for “the right time” is basically training your brain to look for reasons not to change. And every holiday, every event, every busy week is just another excuse dressed up as “logic.”

The Cost of Waiting

Here’s the part people don’t like to hear: every time you hit snooze on your goals, you’re not just staying the same. You’re actively moving backward.

Think about it: if you justify skipping workouts and eating like garbage for three months, that’s 90 days of practice… in the wrong direction. That habit gets stronger too. It doesn’t just disappear because January showed up with a shiny new planner.

Why We Do It

You’re not lazy. You’re human. Humans are wired to avoid discomfort. Starting now feels harder than starting “later,” because later is this imaginary land where you’re magically more motivated, less busy, and less stressed. Spoiler: that land doesn’t exist.

And deep down, you know it.

Calling Out the Holiday Excuses

Let’s walk through the greatest hits:

• Halloween: You’re not obligated to eat the whole bag of Reese’s just because you bought it. You can still train and eat real food around the candy.

• Thanksgiving: It’s one meal. Maybe two if you stretch out the leftovers. That doesn’t justify writing off the other 29 days in November.

• Christmas: Okay, I’ll give you this one’s busy. But busy doesn’t equal impossible. You’ve got 31 days in December. Even if you “messed up” half of them, the other half could still move you forward.

The Funny Thing About Momentum

Here’s what most people miss: it’s not about being perfect through the holidays. It’s about keeping the wheel turning.Skipping workouts because it’s “the season” is like taking your foot off the gas while driving uphill. Sure, you can hit it again in January, but you’re starting from way farther back than you needed to.

Even small effort now means less regret later.

How to Stop the Cycle (Without Losing Your Mind)

1. Shrink the goal. Instead of, “I’ll train 5 days a week,” say, “I’ll hit 2 workouts and walk 3 times this week.” Progress, not punishment.

2. Don’t negotiate with yourself. If it’s in your calendar, it’s happening. You wouldn’t skip a meeting with your boss — why treat yourself as optional?

3. Holiday-proof your basics. Keep protein at every meal. Drink water. Sleep like it’s your job. You’ll be amazed how much this offsets “fun food.”

4. Choose presence over perfection. Eat the pie, but don’t eat half the pie. Train even if it’s only 20 minutes. Do enough that January doesn’t feel like starting over.

The Joke’s on You (if You Wait)

Here’s the kicker: January 1 isn’t actually easier. It’s crowded gyms, cold weather, less sunlight, and a sugar hangover from the holidays. That’s the time you’re waiting for? Really?

The best time to start is when it feels inconvenient — because that’s when it actually sticks. If you can build consistency through chaos, you’ve got real habits, not just seasonal motivation.

So Stop Justifying It

This isn’t about being harsh. It’s about being honest. You deserve better than waiting for a fake “perfect” window that never comes.

So next time you hear yourself say, “I’ll start after…” stop. You’re just giving yourself permission to keep doing nothing.

And doing nothing is the fastest way to get more of what you don’t want.

You don’t need January 1. You need today.So pick one thing. Do it. And stop being an asshole to yourself.