Do Less To Reach Your Goals
At Oakville Performance & Wellness, we like to use the one-habit approach to facilitate positive change and long-term success.
Whether you’re looking for fat loss, increased strength, or simply injury prevention, we address change by encouraging you to practice one habit at a time.
In our experience and according to experts (check out The Power of Less by Leo Babauta), taking on too many things at once can be stressful. That additional stress can become overwhelming and the result is often not following through with ANY of the new desired habits.
According to Babauta, applying ONE small, clear action-focused task at a time is the only approach for lasting change. If you add 2 or more things, your success rates will likely drop tremendously.
How does the one-habit method work?
Select an easy-to-achieve habit that will help you make progress towards your goal.
Pick one thing and give it your entire focus until it becomes a habit. Once you perform this task without having to think about it, it’s time to pick the next more challenging process goal.
For example, if your goal is to lose 10 lbs, start by choosing ONE thing from the list below. Master it and do it consistently for a couple weeks before choosing another habit.
Fat loss habits:
Exercise 5 days a week
Eat slowly at every meal
Decrease consumption of processed foods
Practice portion control at every meal
Limit alcohol consumption
Drink more water
Plan your meals
Eat vegetables at every meal
Meditate daily
And so on
We encourage you to choose the easiest habit first to build some momentum. Even achieving an easier goal will help nourish your motivation to continue. It creates a snowball effect for achievement. If you choose a habit that is especially difficult, you may find yourself discouraged if you fail to keep up with it.
Trying to do everything at once will decrease the likelihood of of you actually accomplishing your goals.
Only consistent, deliberate repetition and practice can help you reach them. You might also notice that this approach can have a positive impact on other areas of your life:
Self-confidence and self-esteem
Physical appearance
Sleep
Productivity and organization
Overall health and well-being
Longevity
If you haven’t been successful with your fitness, performance or lifestyle goals so far this year, you may find the one-habit approach very helpful to steer your efforts in the right direction.
It sounds simple (and it is), however it’s not necessarily easy. It takes focus, self-regulation and reflection to make it work. With patience and deliberate practice we believe anyone can make it work.
If you’re interested in our approach to wellness or need help with movement and exercise, click here to book a complimentary assessment and we would be happy to help.
Always remember, motion is lotion. We encourage you to Move Well, Live Well™.