I’ve talked about this before but it begs repeating – a reason is not the same as an excuse.
Especially when it comes to exercise, people tend to beat themselves up about missing a workout or going off their plan and try to come up with a good “excuse” as to why they didn’t go for their regular run on the evening of their daughter’s graduation. But guess what? You don’t need an excuse.
Sometimes there is a good reason to skip a workout, eat in a way you don’t normally, or do something that otherwise isn’t in your usual “schedule”.
Your reason is more important than an excuse.
Your Reason is NOT an EXCUSE
Just look at the definition of the two words:
Reason: a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event.
Excuse: attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); seek to defend or justify.
Excuse goes in the same category as a “cheat day” in my mind. It attaches negativity to something that doesn’t need to be negative.
Reasons aren’t always positive (example: I couldn’t meet you for a run because I blew a tire on my way home for work and didn’t get home until 8 pm), but just using the word excuse attaches negativity to your “reason” even when it was good (example: I found out I won the lottery and had to go pick up my 5 million dollars”).
But your reason can BECOME an excuse
This is what you really need to watch out for – that one time or short term reason for not doing something (exercising, eating well, getting enough sleep, etc.) turning into a habit. It takes a few weeks or longer to develop a healthy habit but breaking that healthy habit can be done in just a matter of days.
So in this busy month of year-end activities, proms, graduations, busy times at work, etc. make yourself a promise – that while you might have to sip a few workouts, opt for fast food so you don’t starve, and surviving on less sleep right now, don’t let that become your new normal.