Perfection is the Enemy of Progress

Your workout does not have to be perfect, it just needs to happen.

Your Workout Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect—It Just Has to Happen

Let me tell you about one of my clients.

She is in her mid-40s, navigating a demanding job, sports schedules, and all the wonderful (read: unpredictable) chaos that comes with perimenopause. Her current struggle is not time, it is motivation.

She’d open her calendar, see the 30-minute workout she had planned, and immediately feel overwhelmed. Not because she couldn’t do it physically, but because mentally, it felt like another thing she had to conquer.

Then she felt like, 'If I cannot do this, I am not going to do anything at all.'

This is where discipline really helps.

Discipline is what carries you when motivation doesn’t.

So we tried something different this week. Instead of aiming for perfection, we went for progress. We broke that 30-minute block into three 10-minute movement snacks.

One before work. One in the afternoon. One after dinner maybe walking the dog. We will see what happens, but optimistic that this can help her create some success in her movement goals.

Here is the truth most of us need to hear, especially those of us conditioned to believe workouts must be long, intense, or sweaty to “count”:

“The most basic routine done often is more effective than the most advanced one done rarely.”

Let that sink in.

You don’t need the perfect setup, the right playlist, or 45 uninterrupted minutes to make progress. What you do need is the willingness to keep showing up, even if the workout looks a little different than what you pictured in your head.

Why Consistency Beats Intensity

We often overestimate what we need to do to make progress and underestimate the power of simple, repeatable actions. And this matters even more for women in perimenopause and beyond.

Here’s what the science shows:

• Consistency leads to better results. A 2017 study in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine found that individuals who followed a moderate-intensity program 3x per week for 12 weeks saw greater adherence and better long-term strength gains than those who started with high-intensity but dropped off early.

• Smaller, more frequent doses of movement improve hormonal balance. Regular movement—even in bite-sized chunks—helps regulate cortisol and boost mood, two major wins in the hormonal rollercoaster of midlife.

  
  

What Consistency Really Looks Like

It looks like:

• Walking during your kid’s soccer practice.

• 5-minute mobility flows between meetings.

• A few sets of lunges while dinner’s in the oven.

• Stretching while watching your favorite show.

  
  

It’s not always about pushing harder. Sometimes, it’s about showing up even if you are messy, tired, unshowered, choosing to do something.

Your 10-Minute Bodyweight Workout

If you’ve ever thought “I don’t have time for a full workout,” try this instead.

Set a timer for 10 minutes and cycle through:

1. Bodyweight Squats – 15 reps

2. Incline Push-ups (hands on a counter or bench) – 10-12 reps

3. Glute Bridges – 15 reps

4. Bird-Dogs (hold each side for 3 seconds) – 8 per side

5. Wall Sit – 30 seconds

   
   

Repeat as many rounds as you can with good form.

You can do this once, twice, or split it up across your day

Give Yourself Credit

You don’t need to “make up” for a missed workout or wait for Monday to start over. Health isn’t a punishment. It’s a practice.

So instead of chasing perfection, let’s celebrate momentum.

What’s one “imperfect” workout you’re proud of this week?

Give yourself credit.

You showed up.

And that matters more than you think.