In terms of health and wellness, it’s easy to have an “all-or-nothing” mindset- that is, assuming that in order to reach a desired goal, you need to change everything you’re currently doing all at once. In reality, it takes time and patience in order to make significant changes to your health and wellness sustainable. Instead, ditch the “all-or-nothing” mindset and try to take smaller, attainable steps in order to create healthy habits. These habits will then be woven into your lifestyle after consistently achieving them over a period of time.
We know that small steps to achieve these overall lifestyle changes is better; however, it may not be the simple option.
Example: Dining Out vs. Dining In
Here’s an example of a goal that may sound simple, but inevitably causes confusion. When you say–”I’m going to stop dining out so much,” you don’t actually realize WHAT THAT MEANS. Let’s break it down.
When you go out to eat, you basically have 3 action steps to take:
1.) Decide where to go.
2.) Get there.
3.) Decide what to order.
That’s easy!!
On the flip side- when you eat at home, there are at least 9 steps:
1.) Decide what to eat.
2.) Find a recipe and determine the ingredients.
3.) See what you already have.
4.) Make a grocery list.
5.) Go to the grocery store.
6.) Put the groceries away.
7.) Prep/chop the ingredients.
8.) Cook the meal and follow the recipe.
9.) Clean up after cooking and eating.
WHEW!!! That was A LOT!!
So you see, something as simple as “not dining out as much” can actually be a lot of work. This is why focusing on something more simple, like making better choices when going out to eat, is a much BETTER start.
Research backs the concept of focusing on one thing at a time- so let’s talk numbers.
Changing one habit at a time has an 80% success rate in retaining the habit for a year or more, but when you attempt to change even two habits at a time, the success rate drops to 35%. Try adding a third, and the success rate declines to 5%!!!
Again, this is why you ditch the “all-or-nothing” mindset and focus on one thing at a time in order to set yourself up for success. It didn’t take you two weeks to get where you are now, and it won’t take two weeks to get where you want to be.
It’s Time to Take Action
If you need help breaking things down into smaller, actionable steps- I can help! All you have to do is click here to book your Discovery Call today!
In Health,
Coach Christy
