Do your bad habits tend to creep up on you?

Bit by bit you ease off on your self imposed standards or rules.

Day by day a little less restriction and a little more freedom.

Weeks sail on by and that good habit that took sooo much effort to create – is history!

Gone.

Whisked away in a cloud of justification “it’s ok because…” or smothered under “I deserve” excuses. 

One such sneaky-bad-habit-creep has resulted in a doubling of my weekly vino indulging.

“It’s ok because it’s winter and my food is perfect AND anyway after that long day and awesome work-out I deserve…”

 

And so for a while now I’ve toyed with the idea of cutting my weekly vino.

Toyed is playful, and uncommitted right?

Maybe a bit wishful.  “I wish I didn’t love it so much….”

or Perhaps the equally unhelpful “I hope I’m more disciplined, more focused tomorrow.”

 

Focusing on what you’re looking to Cut – Eliminate – Eradicate – Ban will prompt you to feel restricted.

Would you like more restriction in your life?

I’m guessing not.

Me neither!

 

Restriction is something to rebel against right?

Ok, so let’s celebrate that with a vino.  a pizza.  maybe a week long binge-fest…

Obviously that’s not going to get either of us the result we’re seeking.  SO, here’s what to do instead of wishing or hoping or pouring your energy into restriction:

 

Focus on what you’ll gain.

This has to be personal.  The more emotional the better.  For me it’s the fact that in a mere couple of weeks I can shave off the annoying little layer of belly fat that moved in for the winter.  Now, I’d be surprised if any other person besides myself has even noticed my unwelcome extra fat.  The point is I’m focusing on what I’ll Gain for me.  How I’ll feel.  And look.

=> What will you gain and what will it mean to your life? How will it make you look and feel and what experiences will you get to enjoy?

 

Appreciate where you can give yourself free rain.

So, you’re not cutting anything you’re just doing a little swap right?  Choosing an alternative that is not detrimental to the attainment of your goal. Whatever that swap is for you, choose one that you can afford to be generous with (the best fruit and veg, a weekly massage, better quality wine on the weekend). Indulge and appreciate that you can.

=> In which specific healthy (or more healthy) habit can you really indulge?

 

Maybe even build the pain.

Pain is a powerful human emotion.  You’ll do a lot to avoid it.  Sometimes that takes becoming conscious of just how much pain you’re creating for yourself.

It can be like the boiling a frog analogy.

Bit by bit you’ll accept a little more pain, you’re dissatisfied initially and then you rationalise your situation.  Maybe you even try without success to fix it… and that’s painful too, so you coast for a while.  Until you get dissatisfied again and give fixing the situation a try again.  Perhaps you hold back and don’t give 100% because you’re aware that last time you tried it didn’t work.

If you went straight from no pain (calm pond) to massive pain (boiling water) you’d be aware of just how intense the pain that’s being creeping up on you really is right?

That’s what I’m asking you to do now.

=> How is the way that it is right now affecting your quality of life?

 

Admit that things cannot stay the same.

Again, personal and emotional are key.  So, you’re clear on exactly how the way that it is right now is affecting your quality of life.  What will happen if you don’t make changes?  In 6 months?  In 12 months?

In 5 years?

=> Your situation will not stay the same.  It can either steadily get worse OR you can choose to make a change and ensure that it only gets better and better.

 

A closing consideration: Humans are of course not robots. 🙂

It’s not about never letting your great habits slip, that’s going to happen to us all from time to time.

In some areas of your life you’ll find it easier to welcome back your great habits and resolutely show the bad habits the door.

AND that is the key.  It’s simply a matter of how much feedback you need to get back on track? 

The less feedback you need (think clothes a little tighter) and the more quickly you can guide yourself back to where you need to be the better results you will get to enjoy.

 

Are you ready for 30 days of positive habits?

That’s exactly how I designed my 30 day body transformation: B3Blitz.  You can check out the first 7-days – FOR FREE – here: 7 Day Body Gain Course

P.S. I’d love to know, What is one bad habit you’re going to show the door this week?