A Little Is Better Than Nothing
As we reemerge from our two years of isolation, we are trying to find our way back to normal. We are seeking out relationships that have been masked and distanced. We are connecting with people far away in hopes of travel adventures. And along with all of these new found freedoms, the reality that we have taken on some not so favorable habits, can make this time feel a lot more daunting than it needs to be. For some, it might be staying in bed an extra 30 minutes, instead of getting out for an early morning workout or run. For others it might the nightly justification to have that extra glass of wine or extra dessert. And then some of us, maybe its more of all of the above and then some.
If these were habits based on a three month or a six month quarantine, maybe getting rid of them would be a simple shift in thinking. But kicking two years of these habits isn’t going to be easy and it isn’t going to fast. These habits are going to take some time. They are going to take some effort. And they are going to take some serious goal setting. I am pretty sure we all have a few that we have been hiding behind. Wearing sweatpants on our Zooms, that might be easy to change. Swearing under our masks, well that might be a little harder. But the constant temptations that occupy our kitchens when we are home all day can be difficult. Feeling exhausted before we even fully wake up knowing our kids are home and have no place to go, now that can be the perfect excuse for excess coffee and no time for workouts.
For most of us, changing our habits is going to take some focus and some over used motivation. So we need to take some pressure off ourselves. We are not alone, so many other people are going through the same things. Even if trying to conquer everything all at once feels controlled and productive, we might find more success taking it one step at a time. This is where doing a little can actually be better than doing a lot. Even if your motivation is high and your bikini clad summer is just around the corner, smaller goals accomplished will get you further than huge goals that overwhelm and fall apart. It can feel good to jump in with two feet, but make sure each foot is firmly planted before you take the next step. Right now, no one needs more excuses to isolate. Enjoy your smiles and hugs and start shifting your habits in the direction you want to go.
Changing habits is never easy. Sticking with the changes is usually even harder. So be gentle with yourself, but also be honest. Know your strengths and weaknesses and start to put together your end game with some room for set backs along the way. For example, this might be setting your alarm to get out of bed before 5:30am, knowing you are going to snooze it at least two times. This might be limiting your champagne and wine for the weekends, but still enjoy an extra glass on a Tuesday just because a good friend stops by. These moments of forgiveness might not accomplish our goals in a 30-day-challenge, but they are going to allow for some much needed socialization. Having room for some small set backs might add a week or two to your timeline, but will get you there with a smile on your faces and memories to look back on. Giving ourselves these freedoms will still help create new habits, as long as we get back on track and stay the course. A miss step or a really fun night out with friends isn’t going to ruin anything. But allowing that night to change your goals and your habits for the next week or month can and will completely side track your progress.
The truth is, it might seem easier to set ourselves up for these grand challenges. But more times than not they bring us right back to where we started with missed experiences and lost opportunities. Keep your goals within reach and take one step at a time. Find little successes that make the next step seem easy. Because a little bit every week can be better than a lot all at once. And so much of accomplishing our goals is changing our habits so it doesn’t have to be a constant challenge, but just part of our life. Be serious and be intentional. We finally get to look ahead and recreate the habits we want for our own futures.