Embrace Imperfection, Achieve More
Why Imperfection Is The Key To Success
Every year I choose one word to be my word of the year. A word that guides my approach to life for 365 days and serves as a reminder of my long-term goals. My 2025 word of the year is “imperfectionism,” inspired by the writing of Oliver Burkeman (Meditations for Mortals & 4,000 Weeks).
We live in a world that glorifies perfection. We are constantly striving to achieve the “ideal” body, relationship, life. We go online and we are consistently fed messages that support our desire for perfection - curated snapshots of flawless routines, happy moments, and sculpted bodies. But one thing I’m constantly reminded of is: real progress and fulfillment lie not in chasing perfection, but in embracing imperfection. And when we obsess over the perfect, we are often paralyzed from making progress at all.
What Is Imperfection?
Imperfectionism is the belief that it’s better to take imperfect action than to wait for the perfect moment. It’s about doing your best today, even if you don’t have all the answers or the conditions aren’t ideal. In Burkeman’s words, “The perfect time will never come.” The only time you truly have is now. Burkeman challenges the notion that we must get everything right to find success. Instead, he encourages us to accept that life is finite, messy, and imperfect—and that’s okay.
Why This Matters for Your Fitness Journey
How often do we hold back on starting something new—a workout plan, a healthier diet, or even a fitness class—because we’re afraid we won’t do it perfectly? We tell ourselves that our clean eating routine starts today but when we eat one “cheat meal,” we decide to start next Monday instead. Waiting for perfection paralyzes us for two reasons: first, it slows our progress to achieving our goals. Second, every “step back” convinces us that we don’t have what it takes to achieve our goals (spoiler alert: this is not true!).
When you embrace imperfectionism in your health and fitness journey, you allow yourself to:
Start where you are: Whether you’re a beginner or returning after a break, allow yourself a “day 1.” And repeat that “day 1” as many times as you need.
Focus on the step in front of you: Honing in on the mountaintop when you’re still at the bottom of the hill can be overwhelming. Instead, try to prioritize the one, small thing you can do right now to make progress. Again, it doesn’t need to be the perfect thing, all you need is one step in the right direction to give you momentum to keep going. That could be: getting dressed for the gym, signing up for a yoga class, or grocery shopping. Focus on putting one foot in front of the other & watch how quickly you climb.
Learn through doing: Mistakes are part of growth. Allow each step to be a learning opportunity. Each workout, meal choice, or decision to rest is a chance to learn. Mistakes are often life’s biggest lessons and life’s biggest blessings.
Try This Today: Choose one small, imperfect action toward your goals. Maybe it’s trying one new exercise, prepping one healthy meal, or simply going for a short walk. Remember, perfection isn’t the goal—movement is.
Imperfectionism isn’t about settling for less; it’s about showing up as you are and trusting that you will be more than okay through whatever choices you make for yourself. Your fitness journey, like life, will have ups, downs, and detours— this is a good thing. It’s what makes your success uniquely yours.
If you’re up for it, reply to this email and share one small action you’ll take today! Let’s celebrate the power of showing up.
Nutrition Tip of the Month
Stay warm this winter with some hearty soups, stews, broths & teas. Grab some in-season vegetables such as squash, kale, mushrooms, beets, or brussel sprouts to make your own. Here are a few recipes to try:
Workout of the Month
The beginning of 2025 has already been chaotic for many of us. In times of unrest, it is critical to take care of ourselves because our bodies need nourishment to get us through challenging times. This month’s workout is a “deload” routine that prioritizes recovery, mobility & stability. Try out this light mobility/stretching routine when you need some gentle movement over the next couple of weeks:
(3 rounds, 10-15 reps each round)
