20/01/2025
Just over a week into the new year now, with high motivation towards new goals or overall fitness transformation.
While high motivation levels is good, we don’t wont to rely solely on willpower / motivation alone just to get by the day with what can be better managed with environmental control. You don’t win points for needlessly making things harder than they already are. Even the most self driven individuals will eventually feel overwhelmed with decision fatigue or just be exhausted after a long day.. and the easy choice of convenient high calorie foods in the environment can result in going off track.
There’s no shortage of convenient highly palatable , calorie dense food options at our disposal, (just a quick phone order away ) let alone the social influence factors that can derail progress. The last thing you want Is your home environment working against you also.
Manage your environment towards success in your fitness goals.
Take note of everything within your control in your environment. Evaluate its relevance towards your new years fitness resolutions. Instead of moralising and labelling them “good” or “bad” and setting yourself up for guilt trips when you inevitably go off track. Ask yourself if weither it is
Productive
Unproductive
Or neutral ….. towards your goals.
(“Bad” foods can also be part of a plan, keyword being being planned, not a daily occurrence)
Sweets and biscuits etc? Obviously unproductive for most peoples goals, why waste willpower and having to make a choice every single time you walk through the kitchen? Keep them out of sight out of mind and ideally don’t even buy them , you start craving chocolate? Now you have to get up and walk to the shop.. making the choice less convenient and less likely.
Fresh fruit and healthier snack options?, productive! Ensure you always have available convenient foods that are productive and in line with your goals. Fruit, nuts, even protein bars/ beef jerky..
think better choices instead of being idealistic , a protein bar is more in line with your goals than a Mars bar etc. Think progress, not perfection)
Cues to behaviours /habits apply here also.
Having your fitness clothes/ runners ready and in sight to build a habit of morning walks..
A doorway chin up bar is a good reminder and cue to practice some daily bodyweight movements.
Simplify and minimise choices to make progress more efficient.
Make the unproductive less convenient and make the productive more convenient and easier to stay consistent and form habits
02/01/2020