Miserable Habit #1 – Eating too little actual food.
We have been conditioned to think smaller is better. And that to achieve smaller, we must eat less. Almost every client I’ve ever worked with, starts with the expectation that good nutrition must mean not eating very much. And that will-power and motivation are what’s needed to ignore hunger pangs, loss of energy and general miserableness.
Ugh, please, please let’s start eating plenty of proper food. Particularly protein and veg. (And not excluding carbs or fats!!)
Miserable Habit #2 – Setting impossible targets.
…I will work out 5 times per week.
…I won’t drink any booze.
…I won’t eat any carbs.
…I’ll post a X things on social media…
[I need to update you all on this – it’s not going very well, I’ll be honest…]
We regularly overestimate how much we think we can achieve.
And we completely underestimate the cumulative effect of small changes.
So quit the big objectives and the impossible targets. And instead focus on small manageable changes. That you can adhere to for the long term!
Miserable Habit #3 – Putting yourself at the bottom of the priority list.
—–> Can’t train, cos kids
—–> No time for self-care, cos kids
—–> No time for breakfast, cos work
We all do it. It’s in human nature. Particularly for mums and their kids.
We put them first because we’re programmed to value their survival more than ours. But really none of us are living in a brutal jungle anymore. So does it really matter if you miss a bedtime once a week?
So, break this habit. Prioritise your needs. Whether it is to work out, or to have a coffee with a friend.
Glib as it is, the saying is accurate: You can’t pour from an empty cup.
Miserable Habit #4 – Worrying what other people think about you
Or in fact worrying of any sort. Worrying is the mental habit of trying to solve a problem that either can’t be solved or isn’t really a problem. It’s an attempt to control what is fundamentally outside your control.
Worrying about what people think is even more pointless. Yes, some people won’t like you very much. Some people are jerks.
Move on.
When you notice this happening, remind yourself that you cannot live your life to please others. Accept that people will have opinions of you. And it doesn’t matter.
If it helps, be aware that research suggests that even the most well-adjusted people have major blind spots when it comes to interpreting what people think about them.
Miserable Habit #5 – Looking for shortcuts (instead of doing the work!)
You know the type. We get distracted by adverts promising
… speedy fat loss (without changing your eating habits)
… unbelievable social media engagement (without investing any time on it)
… amazing energy (even though your sleep habits are shocking)
But if only we got started on a plan – a sensible change – and stuck with this sensible change for enough time, we’d see results.
Instead we hop from thing to thing and wonder why nothing ever changes.
So for this one my advice is recognise when you’re being distracted by a shiney, new object. And stop yourself! Commit to a thing and stick it through!
And last but not least!!
Miserable Habit #6 –Talking bullshit to yourself in your head
Everybody has a running commentary in their head… It covers everything: what to wear, what we look like, and what we can or can’t do.
Often our self-talk is negative and brutal. Maybe because we were taught that being “tough” on yourself was motivating and the best way to force yourself to be disciplined and get stuff done.
Quit this habit by becoming aware of your judgemental self-talk. And change it with the kind of talk you save for your daughter or best friend!
Become you best cheerleader and your biggest fan!
