With the start of 2025 and a flurry of New Year’s resolutions, I wondered why we often wait for a Monday, the 1st of the month, or a new year to start something. Is it because we crave structure, the promise of a clean slate, or simply because everyone else is doing the same? Yet starting on a random Friday or the 14th of the month doesn’t seem to carry the same weight. Do you also reckon so?

But is this mindset not holding us back?

Last year, I came across this simple reminder, and it stuck with me:

Start in November.
Start in your forties.
Start on a Friday.
Start at 5 p.m.
Start on the 31st.
Start late.
Start.

This hit me hard because it reminded me of how often I’ve delayed taking action, waiting for that “perfect” starting point. Isn’t it deceptive? We tell ourselves we’re planning, but it’s procrastination wearing a disguise.

Isn’t the best time to start something right now, when inspiration strikes and the momentum is fresh? For me, this is especially true when I’m writing or drawing. I can’t schedule creativity—it doesn’t work like that. I have to dive in when the spark hits, no matter the time or day. And you know what? My best work almost always comes from those unscheduled bursts of action.

Conversely, I’ve seen how waiting for the “right” time can derail progress entirely. I once met someone who planned to start a diet on Monday. She spent the weekend prepping everything but accidentally bought the wrong yoghurt. It wasn’t a big deal—she could’ve made a small tweak and continued. But instead, she threw everything out and decided to wait for the next Monday. That Monday never came.

The truth is, any moment is a good moment to begin. If we let go of the need for perfect timing, we free ourselves from unnecessary pressure and open the door to progress now. It’s not the start date that makes the difference; it’s the small, consistent actions that follow.

You don’t need to wait for the perfect time. Start today. Start messy. Start not having everything you need yet. Start with what you have. Start imperfectly. Just start.

What have you been waiting to start? What’s stopping you from starting right now?