Breaking Free from the “Perfect Day” Trap

Every New Year’s resolution begins with ambition, right? This time, I thought I’d take a different approach—test the waters before diving in. It’s been a mix of experiments, failures, and aha moments.

You see, I used to think becoming the “best version of myself” meant transforming everything in a single day.

Spoiler: That’s impossible.

The Morning Spiral

Picture this: Every night, I’d journal and craft the perfect to-do list for the next day.

• Wake up at 5 AM
• Go for a refreshing walk
• Make a healthy, Pinterest-worthy breakfast
• Look polished and ready to conquer the day

But every morning? The alarm rang, and I’d snooze it again…and again. When I finally got up, it was chaos—no time for breakfast, no makeup, rushing out the door, still half-asleep. At work, I’d feel off. Why? Because I didn’t feel like me.

For me, looking presentable isn’t vanity—it’s confidence. But I wasn’t giving myself the time to feel good about how I looked, and it showed in my mood and productivity.

The Aha Moment

One day, mid-snooze: I’m trying to do it all at once, and it’s setting me up to fail.

I reflected on Atomic Habits—about starting small. So instead of piling up a hundred goals for tomorrow, I asked myself:

👉 What’s the one thing I truly want to change right now?

The answer was clear: Fix my mornings.

The Power of Small Steps

Here’s how I’m working on it:

Here’s how I’m working on it:

1. 1. One Step at a Time
      Instead of overhauling my mornings, I chose a single goal: waking up on time. My focus? Stop snoozing. That’s it.
   2. Setting Myself Up for Success
      • Moved my alarm across the room so I had to get out of bed.
      • Stopped overloading my evening journaling sessions with unrealistic expectations.
      • Picked one breakfast recipe and prepped it the night before.
   3. Celebrating Progress
      The first few days weren’t perfect, but when I woke up on time and grabbed that prepped breakfast, I felt proud. And that small win set the tone for the rest of the day.

What I Learned

I was chasing the idea of “that girl”—the one I’d seen in YouTube vlogs. But real growth isn’t about mimicking someone else’s highlight reel. It’s about becoming your best self, one small step at a time.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or caught in the trap of perfection, try this:

• Pick one thing to work on.
• Break it into small, manageable actions.
• Celebrate every little win.

And remember: It’s not about being perfect. It’s about progress.

Your Turn

What’s one small change you’ve made (or want to make) that’s had a big impact on your life? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear your story!