Once upon a time I lived in Europe, to be exact The Netherlands. A colleague of mine once said “Americans continually move from crisis to complacent mode, never in between.” At that time, I thought oh I don’t know. (Human instinct when living abroad is to be defensive of one’s land!)
The more time I spend back in the US the more I’m in agreement. It is ever so apparent in the fields of fitness and nutrition. When January arrives, the gym is packed, everyone is suddenly on a diet and all conversations revolve around “getting healthy.” Four months later the tune has changed, and the couch is getting more action than the exercise path.
Why do we do this? Is it we don’t know how to live with consistency? Overwhelmed by choices? Or was our initial (read crisis) action not necessary? I think probably all of the above.
So let’s start with the crisis piece first.
Our 24-7 news cycle acerbates headline grabbing and hysterical behavior. This is not only visible in our politics but particularly in areas of nutrition and health. One day eggs are good, the next they might kill you and on and on. This whipping up a problem which doesn’t exist creates “crisis” mode on a national and individual level.
What can you do?
First dial it back, turn down the noise. Realize that most headlines in regard to, what you should and shouldn’t eat are not backed by solid science. Read Chris Kresser’s excellent two part series on Why You Should be Skeptical of the Latest Nutrition Headlines to bring some sanity to the table.
Another important piece of work and definite reality check on published research is Professor John Ioannidis from Stanford on Why Most Published Research Findings are False. Both of these examples support the idea you must develop your own strong set of critical thinking skills to apply anytime you see a headline.
OK, so let’s say there really isn’t a crisis but you would like to make some changes. Make it simple, choose one thing. That single piece is your goal. Then break it down, what will help you reach your goal, what objects do you need to remove that might prevent you from reaching your goal and what supporting characters will help you stay on track.
Example #1
You want to eat less sugar. Simple start is keep it off your grocery list: out of house, out of mind. Avoid baking and creating sweets for others that you will be tempted to eat if around at home. Choose one day that you will enjoy a treat, like Saturday or Sunday thus making it special and not an everyday occurrence.
Then start looking at impediments to your goal. Are you tempted by the counter at Starbucks or elsewhere? Maybe it’s time to start saving money and drink your coffee at home. Does your office mate bring sweets to your desk? Let them know your goal and that you would appreciate their help. Find someone to check in with.
True life story: My cousin was wanting to cut down on sugar. She was a daily soda drinker. We set up a regular connect appointment to see how it was going. Yes, there were a few set-backs but over time it got easier, having accountability and support is crucial to success.
Example #2
You want to exercise more. Figure out what days of the week this can happen. Put it on your calendar. If you need commitment find a friend and or purchase a class series. Knowing exactly when and where it will occur keeps you on track and harder to let go.
Obstacles will occur, plan ahead. Look at your calendar, are there birthdays, holidays and other events that might get in the way? Find another day that week to book your exercise. Do you get bored easily? Plan to different workouts during the year.
If weather is a hindrance, maybe you garden in the summer, walk in the fall and use the winter to do something indoors. Be creative and be ahead of the game in your planning. Waiting till the last minute means it won’t happen.
At the end of the day complacency = a lack of planning. You can always change your plan but only if you have a plan to change.
“Be prepared and be honest.”
Coach John Wooden
Krisna’s book “Finding Lifestyle Sanity: A Survival Guide” is available here.
