Do you feel low on energy or frustrated that you lose momentum when it comes to healthy eating and moving? Perhaps you struggle to maintain healthy habits because of your busy schedule, as you try to keep all the balls in the air at work and at home, feeling there’s precious little time left over to care for yourself. You may want to feel better and live with strength and vitality for as long as possible, but have difficulty finding time or holding on to your motivation.
I believe part of the problem is that many of us fall into the trap of an all-or-nothing mindset. We may set lofty goals that leave us dissatisfied in the long run because, let’s face it, the goals are tough to reach and nearly impossible to maintain. We’re like runners who start out all fired up and sprint out of the block. We may see others doing it, so we think it’s what we should be doing too. But before long it gets really, really tough to keep going at that pace. And it’s exhausting. So we fizzle out. Back to the starting block we go. And the cycle continues.
Others of us can’t seem to even get out of the starting block because the road ahead seems too daunting. A small voice inside of us says, “Don’t even bother, it’s too difficult. Have a Cheeto.”
Both of these tendencies come from an all-or-nothing mindset and perfectionistic thinking. This type of thinking is a form of procrastination and self-sabotage.
Is there any hope? Of course there is. The health journey truly is a marathon, not a sprint. Think about where you want to be 30 years from now, not only where you want to be now. It’s the sustainable path that keeps you focused and inspired, and that leads to a healthier you.
