Just Start (Imperfectly)
At Park Fitness, we often say: “Just start.”
Out of all the things you can do to move closer to your goals, this one phrase might say it best.
Just start. Just do the thing. Just get in the door.
And while those words sound simple, they’re a little more profound than they first appear.
Because really, “just start” means “just start imperfectly.”
It’s about knowing that taking action—no matter how small, messy, or unpolished—is the most powerful step of all.
Good, Better, Best... But First: Consistency
In a recent post, we explored how your fitness journey can take different shapes, depending on your goals. 👉 Good, Better, Best: What Kind of Progress Are You After?
Wherever you fall on that spectrum—whether you're just getting started or chasing peak performance—the one thing that unlocks progress across the board is consistency.
And here’s the truth: Consistency doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to exist.
Find Your Minimum Viable Consistency
One of the best ways to build this skill is to set a target that feels attainable. Try this:
Ask yourself: “On a scale of 1–10, how likely am I to hit this goal every week?”
If your answer is anything under a 7 or 8, adjust it. For example, if your initial goal is to work out 5 days per week, but you rank your confidence a 5 out of 10, bring it down a notch.
Maybe 3 days a week feels much more doable—and when you ask the question again, your answer is a 9. That’s a winning target.
The goal here is sustainable momentum, not perfection.
Ditch the All-or-Nothing Thinking
When we’re starting—or restarting—a fitness routine, it’s easy to fall into “all or nothing” thinking. We tell ourselves:
- "If I'm not in shape, I can't start at the gym."
- “If I’m not doing 5 days a week, why bother?”
- “If I missed Monday’s workout, the week is shot.”
- “If I ate off-plan, the whole day is ruined.”
Sound familiar?
The truth is, there’s a lot of space between “all” and “nothing.” And progress lives in that space.
It’s like the image here of the circles.
So many times when we start or restart something, we have this expectation of ourselves to be that perfect circle right away.
When in reality, we have to just start and do the thing knowing that just doing the thing is the most important step.
We often think we have to be the “perfect circle” from Day 1, but that’s just not how it works. Progress is messy, imperfect, and beautifully human.
The Magic is in the Start
Whether your goal is to:
- Get back to the gym
- Do your first pull-up
- Run your first 5K
- Or simply feel stronger and more energized...
Just start. Start where you are. Start messy. Start small.
Because the act of starting—and doing it again tomorrow—is where the real transformation begins.
You can make it great later.