When Life Feels Heavy: Why Small Steps Still Count

If there’s one thing my own journey has taught me, it’s that progress rarely happens in a straight line. Some seasons of life feel smooth, like everything is clicking into place—meals are on track, workouts feel strong, and my energy is steady. Other seasons? They feel messy. I’ve had days where even getting out the door for a walk felt impossible, where panic attacks took over, or where I let old habits creep back in. And for a long time, I told myself that those moments meant I had failed.

But the truth is, they don’t mean failure. They mean I’m human.

These past few years have been a rollercoaster for me. Between working on my mental health, adjusting medications, and dealing with setbacks, I’ve had to learn the hard way that health isn’t just about physical strength—it’s about mental resilience, too. I’ve been learning to give myself grace, even on the days where I feel like I’m standing still. Because the reality is, every choice to try again, to show up, or to simply not give up is progress.

Infertility has been a huge part of that story. It’s something that has tested me in ways I never expected. There were days I feel broken, like my body had failed me, and I carried a grief that few people could see from the outside. That struggle bled into my mental health—I battle depression, waves of anxiety, insominia, and the kind of panic that made even simple tasks feel impossible. There were times I questioned my worth, my strength, and my ability to move forward.

But here’s what I’ve learned through it all: pain doesn’t erase progress. Even in the darkest seasons, there’s resilience being built. Infertility taught me how to sit with emotions I couldn’t fix, how to live with questions I couldn’t answer, and how to keep moving even when the outcome wasn’t in my control. Those lessons carried into every other part of my life, especially when it came to how I see health and wellness.

For me, success doesn’t always look like hitting the gym five days a week or eating a flawless meal plan. Some days, success is cooking myself breakfast instead of skipping it. Other days, it’s choosing to rest when my body needs it. And sometimes, success is just taking a deep breath, stepping outside, and reminding myself that I’m still here. Those small wins matter—and they’re worth celebrating.

If you’re in a season where life feels heavy, here are five things that have helped me lately:

🩷 Focus on the next choice, not the last one. Messed up a meal or skipped a workout? Don’t spiral. Just make the next choice a better one.

🩷 Get outside. Fresh air and movement—even if it’s just a short walk—does wonders for both mental and physical health.

🩷 Set small, realistic goals. Instead of overhauling your entire routine, aim for something doable like drinking more water, stretching before bed, or prepping one healthy meal.

🩷 Celebrate little wins. Progress doesn’t have to be dramatic to matter. Give yourself credit for the small steps—they add up.

🩷 Protect your peace. Whether it’s unfollowing accounts that trigger comparison, saying no to draining commitments, or walking away from toxic relationships, guard your mental space fiercely.

At the end of the day, this journey is about becoming the best version of yourself—not the perfect one, but the real one. Every single step forward, no matter how small, matters.

✨ Here’s your reminder: You are capable. You are worthy. And you are never too far gone to begin again.✨

📣 Now I want to hear from you: what part of your journey feels the heaviest right now, and what’s one small step you can take to move forward? Share it with me in the comments or connect with me on Instagram @fitness_adventures_with_liz—let’s support each other and remind ourselves that even in the messy seasons, we are still making progress.