7 Ways to Stop Waiting for “Someday” and Start Living Today

We’ve all whispered it to ourselves at some point: “Someday, I’ll travel more.”

Someday, I’ll write that book. Someday, I’ll start my own business, take better care of my health, or finally live the life I’ve been dreaming of.

For most, “someday” feels safe. It’s a placeholder, a cozy word that allows us to put off what our heart craves until the timing is right, the bank account is fuller, or the fear feels smaller.

But here’s the truth: someday never magically arrives. Life only happens in the present moment. Waiting for someday is really just postponing joy, growth, and freedom.

So how do you stop waiting for that elusive “someday” and finally start living today? Let’s walk through the mindset shifts, practical tools, and gentle truths that will help you step into the life you’ve been putting off.

1. Don’t Let Fear Hold You Back

Waiting for someday is often rooted in fear—fear of failure, fear of judgment, fear of discomfort. It feels safer to keep dreams on a shelf where they can’t disappoint us. But by protecting ourselves from possible failure, we guarantee a different kind of failure—a life unlived. Regret doesn’t come from trying and stumbling; it comes from never trying at all.

Fear often disguises itself as practicality. You may hear thoughts like “I’ll wait until I have more money,” or “It’s smarter to delay until the timing is right.” While sometimes these reasons are valid, often they’re fear’s way of hiding behind logic. Learning to separate genuine obstacles from fear-based excuses helps you see where you’re truly holding yourself back.

Another way fear keeps us stuck is by magnifying the worst-case scenario while ignoring the best-case. We imagine embarrassment, failure, or rejection, but rarely pause to picture success, joy, or growth. What if, instead of asking, “What’s the worst that could happen?” you asked, “What’s the best that could happen?” This small shift can open up powerful new possibilities.

It’s also worth remembering that fear itself is not a villain—it’s part of being human. Courage isn’t about eliminating fear; it’s about moving forward with it by your side. When you take even the smallest action despite fear, you prove to yourself that fear doesn’t control your choices. Each time you do this, fear loses a little of its grip.

The truth is, no one ever feels fully ready to make meaningful changes. People who achieve big dreams aren’t braver or more prepared than you—they simply chose to begin before they felt ready. Action is the teacher that preparation alone can never be.

If you keep waiting for a perfect starting point, you’ll miss the power of messy beginnings. Messy starts are where resilience, creativity, and unexpected breakthroughs happen. The mistakes you fear aren’t proof that you’re failing—they’re proof that you’re learning.

One practical way to redefine readiness is to adopt the mindset of experimentation. Instead of asking yourself, “Am I ready to do this perfectly?” ask, “Am I willing to try and learn as I go?” That shift takes the pressure off and makes starting feel less like a risk and more like an adventure.

If you like journal prompts, I highly recommend “This Year I Will…: Weekly Prompts to Create the Life You Want“. It’s a total game-changer because getting your dreams written on paper is a huge motivation boost!

3. Shrink the Mountain Into Pebbles

Dreams can feel enormous, which makes “someday” feel logical. After all, how could you possibly run a marathon, write a book, or move to another country today? But you don’t have to. You only have to take one step.

Big dreams become doable when you shrink them down to pebbles you can carry each day. The key is to break down intimidating goals into the smallest possible actions:

• Instead of “Someday I’ll get healthy,” try “Today I’ll go for a 10-minute walk.”
• Instead of “Someday I’ll write a novel,” try “Today I’ll write 300 words.”
• Instead of “Someday I’ll save enough money to travel,” try “Today I’ll put aside $10.”

Nothing kills “someday” like momentum. Even the smallest win can spark motivation, and the more consistent you are with tiny actions, the more your confidence grows. Living today doesn’t require a grand overhaul—just consistent sparks of aliveness. Start with one doable habit this week. Celebrate progress, not perfection. Wins compound over time.

4. Stop Waiting for Permission

So much of “someday” thinking comes from a subtle belief that we need approval. We wait for someone else to validate our choices, encourage our dreams, or confirm that our path is worth pursuing.

But no one is coming to hand you a permission slip for your own life. You are the author. The moment you realize you don’t need external approval to start living authentically is the moment everything shifts.

The truth is, waiting for permission keeps your life on hold. You may not even realize you’re doing it—waiting for a sign, a supportive word, or someone else’s green light. But your dreams don’t require a committee vote. They only require your willingness to honor them.

Often, the need for permission is rooted in our childhood experiences. Maybe you were praised for following rules or discouraged from taking risks. As adults, this can translate into waiting for someone else to say, “Yes, it’s okay.” Recognizing this pattern allows you to break free from it.

You can practice giving yourself permission daily. Write it down if you need to: I give myself permission to write, to travel, to change careers, to live differently. The more you affirm your own authority, the less you’ll rely on external validation to live the life you want.

5. Embrace the Discomfort of Now

The truth is, growth always feels awkward at first, and living today instead of someday requires a bit of discomfort. Stepping into new habits, chasing dreams, or making changes stirs up resistance. But discomfort isn’t a signal to stop—it’s proof that you’re moving forward.

Discomfort is not the enemy; it’s the gateway. When fear whispers, “This feels scary, maybe I should wait,” reframe it: “This feels scary, which means it matters.” 

Most people assume discomfort means they’re on the wrong path, when in reality it’s often the clearest sign of growth. Think about exercising a new muscle: soreness doesn’t mean harm, it means you’re building strength. The same is true for emotional and personal growth. The stretching is uncomfortable, but it signals transformation.

One way to work with discomfort is to reframe it as temporary. Fear tells you the awkwardness will last forever, but in reality, the first step is often the hardest. Once you build momentum, discomfort softens into familiarity, and eventually, into confidence. The sooner you start, the sooner you move through that uncomfortable stage.

6. Reconnect With What Truly Matters

Often we push dreams aside because life gets busy. Responsibilities pile up, routines harden, and before we know it, our deepest desires feel impractical or even indulgent. But your joy isn’t frivolous—it’s fuel. Take time to reconnect with your values:

• What experiences light you up?
• What activities make you lose track of time?
• If your time on earth were limited (spoiler: it is), what would feel most important?
• Try using tools like “The Live Your Values Deck” to help you find your values.

Work deadlines, errands, and obligations often crowd out the things that nourish your soul. Reconnecting with your values helps you see beyond the noise and prioritize what genuinely enriches your life. When you live aligned with your values, even ordinary days feel meaningful.

Another powerful way to reconnect is by reflecting on moments in the past when you felt most alive. What were you doing? Who were you with? These memories can serve as a compass, pointing you back toward the activities and experiences that bring you joy and purpose.

Sometimes reconnecting requires letting go. If your life feels too cluttered with obligations that don’t reflect your values, it may be time to release some of them. Saying “no” creates space for saying “yes” to what really matters. Every time you choose in favor of your core values, you’re choosing to live today instead of postponing life for someday.

7. Release the Myth of “Someday Happiness”

One of the sneakiest traps of “someday” thinking is the belief that happiness is waiting for us on the other side of a future milestone. We tell ourselves, “I’ll finally be happy when I lose weight, earn more, move somewhere new, or find the right relationship.”

But happiness isn’t a destination—it’s a practice. If you can’t access small moments of joy now, reaching your goal won’t suddenly switch it on. Living today means finding beauty in the imperfect present while still reaching for growth. Gratitude, mindfulness, and presence transform ordinary moments into extraordinary ones.

There’s no perfect time, perfect plan, or perfect version of you required to start living. There’s only right now. And right now is enough. So go ahead: send that message, start that project, book that class, lace up those shoes. Do one thing today that brings you closer to the life you want.

Because someday isn’t coming. But today is already here.

Start Living Today!

Your life is happening in this moment—not in some distant someday. The adventure you crave, the joy you imagine, the growth you long for—it all begins the moment you stop waiting and take your first step.

Don’t let someday steal your life. Start small, start messy, start scared—but start today. The freedom, joy, and authenticity you’re waiting for aren’t waiting at all. They’re within reach, in this very moment, as soon as you choose to live them.