Why don't we do the things we know are good for us?
Humans are the most contradicting of all species. Think about it - we know what’s good for us, yet we’ll somehow ignore that “good thing” and continuously do the thing that’s going to bring us more harm than good.
In 2020, we have adequate information on how to eat healthily, how to save money, and how to exercise, but we don’t often follow the rules. We overeat sugary or fatty foods, we overspend and don’t save enough, or we don’t give ourselves enough time to exercise.
A lot of times, we’ll realize what we’re not doing, and we try to make a change. And more often than not, the beneficial changes don’t stick and we fall back into our old routine.
In an interview with HuffPost, therapist, and author, Dr. Pat Allen, said the root of it is because we don’t love ourselves enough. Think about it, we’re almost always the first to judge and critic ourselves. Furthermore, we’re unable to make good habits stick because satisfying an immediate pleasure has a stronger impact than our concern for long term benefits.
So what can we do to make our good habits stick?
1. Start simple
It might make you feel like you’re off to a good start when you have these intense plans for a better life. But what’s important is whether or not you can make this plan stick for the rest of your life. For example, if your plan is to get healthy, cutting off all carbs and fatty foods immediately and adding a 2-hour gym routine to your schedule every day from day one. This is likely not going to stick and you know it. So start simple - one step at a time.
2. Stay consistent
Habits stick more easily when you create a routine out of them. For example, going to the gym at the same time every day. Having a routine like this allows the environment, time, and circumstances to cue your mind and body into taking action more easily every day.
3. Join a supportive community
Being a part of a like-minded community and being with people with similar goals can help boost our motivation and keep us growing. We can encourage each other when we’re down, we can help push each other forward, and keep each other motivated when we feel like quitting.
Remember, success is about progress, not about perfection. Keep stepping forward, no matter how small that step is, you’re making progress. Maybe you’ll make a huge leap today and only a small step tomorrow, but know that with each step, you’re progressing.