If you could travel back in time to visit your younger self, what would you thank yourself for doing then that you’re reaping the benefits now? Did you get the perfect job, got into a particular hobby, or met the right person? Regardless of the answer, events have happened to you that have shaped you into the person you are today. Yet today, you’re shaping your future self by the choices you make right now.
If your future self visited you, what would they thank you for? Will they speak of gratitude or regret? More importantly, what are you doing for them today?
Who Is Your Future Self?
Take a moment to picture yourself a month, six months, or even five or more years from now. First, set the scene by imagining your future self. Don’t overlook the details, and think about the answers to some of these questions:
- Where will you be?
- How will you move?
- What will your energy be like?
- Who will you have around you?
- How will you wake up feeling?
- What will your morning routine look like?
- What habits will be second nature?
- How will you look?
- What will you no longer worry about?
- What will you be proud of?
Your future self is important, so take the time to think it through. Put yourself in your future self’s shoes. The more you can imagine, the more powerful the pull to become that person will be. So, with your future self in mind, how do you get there?
Become The Person You Want To Be
You’re busy, and there is likely a lot going on in your life. So, it’s easy to push your health goals aside for more pressing wants and needs. When you do have some free time, you want to spend it relaxing because you don’t have the energy to exercise. Furthermore, you likely have a set daily schedule and habits that make it difficult to fit something else in.
It’s easy to skip those healthy habits because they require time and effort, and the rewards feel distant. So, it’s easy to tell yourself you’ll do it tomorrow or next week to get back on track. Unfortunately, that rarely happens.
Goals help you make improvements in your life, but goals like losing weight or running a race are outcomes that you work towards. Unfortunately, it’s easy to fall back into old habits once you’ve achieved your goals. Instead of focusing on the results, aim to embrace behaviors and habits that align with the person you want to become.
You won’t be able to overhaul your habits and lifestyle overnight. It’s about making small, but consistent actions that will keep you moving toward your goals. So, what can you do today to move you toward your ideal future self?
The Power Of Small Everyday Choices
It’s easy to underestimate the impact of seemingly insignificant habits and daily choices. Skipping one workout or grabbing fast food for one meal won’t ruin your health, just as eating one healthy meal won’t transform it. However, making the same choices most days will affect your health, for better or worse. What would your future self think of your choices today?
While a 10-minute walk today doesn’t feel like it’s life-changing, multiply that by 365, and you’ve logged over 60 hours of movement in a year. That’s one small change that makes a positive impact over time. Small changes matter, and they’re often easy to start, and with consistency, can give your future self something to be grateful for.
So, what is one small change you can do today? Is it drinking a glass of water, stretching before bed, or swapping your evening of scrolling for exercise or meditation? Whatever consistent change you decide to make, your future self will notice.
Your Future Self Is More Than A Number
Tracking your progress helps you stay engaged and make any necessary adjustments along the way. Even when things aren’t perfect, tracking helps you see your progress. Tracking gives you real-time feedback on what’s working and what isn’t.
While tracking yourself is important, you are not defined by numbers. Success isn’t about how much money or friends you have, and your health isn’t defined by a certain weight, how much you can bench press, clothing size, or resting heart rate. Weight loss or fitness milestones can be motivating, helping you achieve specific goals, but the benefits of taking care of your health go far beyond that. What would your future self be capable of doing if you were to eat a sensible diet and consistently exercise?
Today’s choices are tomorrow’s reality. Your health goals may be to have more energy, strength, and confidence. These won’t happen by accident or from inconsistently exercising. It’s built, choice by choice. The good news is you don’t need to overhaul everything at once. Start with just one thing today and make small, intentional choices that nudge you in the right direction. Your future self is cheering you on.
Always Something
Perfectionism is a progress killer. It’s impossible to follow any plan perfectly, because life gets in the way sometimes. One skipped workout or eating two helpings of dessert isn’t failure. What matters is how quickly you bounce back.
Instead of an all-or-nothing mentality, shift your mindset to focus on always something. Maybe you don’t have time for a full workout, but you can still do something. Perhaps it’s a 10-minute walk or five push-ups. Either way, it’s a win because you’ve done something.
The Takeaway
Your future self is being shaped by the choices you make today, no matter how small. Visualizing your future self and how you feel, move, and live can help determine the actions you should take now. Instead of chasing short-term goals, focus on adopting behaviors and habits that align with your future self.
Progress isn’t about perfection or reaching a specific number. It’s about consistent, meaningful choices that compound over time. Start small and adopt an ‘always something’ mindset. Every choice you make today is an investment in the life you want to live tomorrow.
So, what’s one thing you can do now that your future self will thank you for? Start today and work towards the person you want to be, one choice at a time.
FitTrend’s mission is to help you along your self-improvement journey, promote an active lifestyle, and help you achieve your goals. Our journal can help you track your workouts, weight, mood, calories, and more. Also, FitTrend allows you to connect supported gadgets to your account to make it easier for you to update your journal automatically. Create your account today and start using FitTrend for free!
Disclaimer: No content on this site should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
