What is the difference between reaching your health goals vs. giving up? I work with a lot of women of various ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. I’ve seen many women work hard and reach their goals. But in a world full of quick fixes and gimmicks, this can be more difficult then what it seems. As I’ve processed the difference, a lot of it comes down to mentality, and I think we can categorize these characteristics into two groups.
The first is the “I’ll start over again Monday” mentality. The habit you’re working on is temporary because it starts and stops based on your circumstances. Busy week? I’ll start over again Monday. Eat something that was “off limits?” I might as well just eat all the junk because I messed up, and then start over again Monday. Perfectionism, or following a plan perfectly, is a big part of this mentality, and when you end up making a poor choice (because you’re human), this can lead to a wave of more poor choices.
Under this mentality, what you’re doing might work at first, especially when the program is new and exciting. However, it isn’t sustainable long term through busy seasons, vacation, holidays, and stress. You have to be all-or-none for it to count, and a “mistake” leads to a shame spiral, only to quit or decide that you’re going to “start again Monday.”
The second is the “Lifestyle” mentality. The habit you’re working on is for LIFE, not just a season. An “off day” doesn’t lead to tossing in the towel. You can make the next decision a better one. The change you’re trying to make is sustainable through every season and event. It might not look the same, but you don’t have to forget it completely. You know that something is ALWAYS better than nothing! And a “mistake” is not a mistake – it’s an opportunity to learn, filled with grace for each day.
Consistency with healthy habits is built upon the lifestyle mentality, NOT the “I’ll start again Monday” mentality. Want to make a permanent change? Stop playing the short game. It might give temporary results, but it WILL NOT lead to the long-lasting wellness benefits you are looking for!
Summer is fun, but oftentimes schedules are different and it can be easy to think, “I’ll just wait until September rolls around.” But maybe there’s a very small thing you can begin with right now. It might seem minor, but what if you did it consistently for the next month because it was so EASY to fit in your schedule? It might be a 15 min walk after dinner, drinking just one extra glass of water a day, or trying to get to bed 30 minutes earlier. Whatever you choose, keep it simple, and it WILL become a habit over time. That might seem like it’s not going to make a difference, but change multiplies and begets more change. If you made one simple, small change every single month, imagine where you could be in a year?
What’s the “something is better than nothing” you’re going to choose today?
