Better, Not Perfect

I have a confession.

This week I was completely overwhelmed, by my own house.

I had been traveling and busy with life, and when I looked around all I could see was everything that needed to be done. Yes, EVERYTHING! It was to the point I was afraid I might see that GIGANTIC spider from “Lord of the Rings.”

I help people build healthy habits for a living, yet I couldn’t figure out where to start with my own cleaning project. 

Sound familiar? Maybe your version isn’t a messy house. Maybe it’s getting back into exercise, cleaning up your eating after vacation, weeding the garden, or tackling that stack of paperwork on the counter.

Sometimes the hardest part isn’t the work. It’s simply getting started.

So, I took my own advice. Stop thinking about the whole project. Focus on the next step. Ready. Set. Go.

First, I turned on “Housework Hits” on Spotify. Next, I washed the dishes. Then I cleaned one room, took a break (to have a snack), moved to the next, and kept going. Clean, snack, clean, hydrate. In just a few hours, everything was done except the baseboards and hardwood floors. (When did I last wipe down the baseboards…?)

The next morning, baseboards turned out to be a much bigger job than I imagined. I finished a few rooms, mopped the floors, and caught myself thinking, “I didn’t finish.”

Then I stopped. I looked at what I had accomplished instead. The house felt fresh. Calm. And I realized something: I don’t have to clean every baseboard in one day. Ten minutes here and there, and eventually they’ll all get done.

That’s exactly how healthy habits work too.

We tell ourselves we need a perfect meal plan or an hour at the gym every day before we can succeed. But lasting health isn’t built in one perfect weekend. It’s built in ordinary moments. A walk after dinner. An extra glass of water. A few strength exercises while dinner’s in the oven.

My baseboards aren’t all clean. My house isn’t perfect. And that’s A-OK. It feels lived in, not lived under.

So, whatever you’re tackling, don’t ask “how do I finish it all?” Ask instead: “what’s my next 10-minute win?” Ready. Set. Go.

Now, to deal with the weeds in my vegetable garden.

In your health and in your home, better really is better than perfect.

Much love,
Health Coach Carol

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

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Speaking of one step at a time, if hormones have been your version of a messy house lately, I have something for you.

“I would recommend Menopause Reset! I wasn’t sure these sessions would teach me anything new, but I loved Carol’s approach, knowledge, and expertise. Knowing what to do is one thing, actually doing it is another, and this program encouraged me every day. I looked forward to each session.” ~Barbara

Menopause Reset starts July 28, and it’s built to help you understand what’s really happening hormonally so you can finally feel like yourself again. 

It’s for any woman navigating the confusing symptoms of midlife who’s ready for real answers, not more guesswork.

For $197, you’ll get four Tuesday evening Zoom sessions (July 28, Aug 4, 11, 18 from 7 to 8:15pm) covering the hormonal why behind your symptoms and the daily habits that actually help.

Know someone who needs this? Share it with a friend. And gentlemen, if there’s a woman in your life who’s been frustrated and searching for answers, passing this along would be a very loving thing to do.

Click here for all the details.