I talked on Instagram last week about making emotionalutions rather than resolutions this year. Yes, it is a word! 🤣
In 2022 Matt and I are focusing on small things we can do that support our emotional state, so that we see positive changes in our overall health.
January is the time of year where many of us contemplate big changes in our quest to be healthier.
We ponder buying yet another piece of exercise equipment, we consider just living on celery dipped in fat free yogurt or resolve not to touch a carb until the clocks go forward.
The problem is many of these resolutions contemplated in January are missing actual solutions to the problems that affect your health negatively.
The fact is, there’s one resolution in particular which is often overlooked but could make a big difference to your wellbeing.
What is it?
Striking a better balance between what you should do versus making time for the things you would really love to do.
This is definitely something many people struggle with and the sad truth is it has the potential to scupper all your good intentions.
Obviously if you really love eating pastries, downing pints, being glued to the sofa and ordering takeaways then you need a little more “should do” in your life 😜
However, what I tend to see is the opposite.
I come across A LOT of people who struggle with sustainable change because they prioritise things they feel they “should do” and massively neglect what they really love doing.
It’s admirable that you make sure your boss/partner/kids/parents or pals are all sorted.
Your emails and What’s App messages are all answered, Facebook is updated, exercise is ticked off, green smoothie downed, house is tidy and all jobs are done… phew…
BUT it’s no wonder you NEED something to look forward to after all that!
In fact there’s a direct correlation between an increase in chocolate, ice cream and alcohol consumption and “should do” activities.
Should do’s in excess become tedious, uncomfortable and time consuming, they rapidly decrease your energy and feel good chemicals so you simply have nothing left once you’ve tackled them all.
AND a deficiency of things you love doing will cause a significant increase in cravings, lack of will power and overall motivation, especially with chronic exposure.
There are also the indirect effects to consider, you eat too fast or fail to prepare a healthy meal for yourself because there’s other things you should be doing.
Sleep is disrupted because you fall asleep thinking about what you should do tomorrow.
As for exercise, well that’s just a whole host of should do dilemmas.
It doesn’t matter if you have 110% enthusiasm now for positive change, it will fail at some point if the balance between should and would love to isn’t addressed.
Addressing the balance between should do and would love to’s should be top of YOUR list.
After the chaos of the last two years and the negative effects of the pandemic, please promise me you’ll take a moment to consider what would you LOVE to do more of in 2022 and start to make it happen.
Life is short.
If you’d like to hang out with Matt and I and a group of other awesome Fitties who are working on their loves not should’s then start a FREE 7 day trial of our Fitter 365 Membership.
You’ll have access to a tonne of easy to make, healthy recipes, real time workouts, meal plans and training programme. Find out more at fitter365.com.
