I know, here we are not even a week into this full-of-potential New Year and I come out with a bummer title like that. I’m not here to burst your motivated bubble; my intentions are good. You see, I was in a session on Monday with a client I’ve known for some time. We were setting goals for the year ahead and I was reviewing her food journal. This client is an exercise hater but we’ve made progress in that department. She has worked out with a trainer and managed to get into a routine where she does something about 3 days a week. As I looked over her exercise total, I saw that she had done 2 25-minute workouts and one for 30 minutes. Few would argue that this is better than nothing. I looked asked my client if 35 could be the new 25? She said, “it probably could, I just get to 25 minutes and feel I’ve done enough, I have the time though.”
You may call it settling into a routine but I think there are places for all of us where we consistently underachieve. There are certain yoga poses I just don’t do. Some of them I am incapable of going into without serious bodily harm. Others, I don’t do because I never do them. Occasionally I attempt a non-Lauren pose and I am surprised. Aside from fitness, this same mentality apply to eating. How often you resort to take out when you have ingredients at home you could technically cook? Or do you have a snack after dinner simply because you always have a snack after dinner? Maybe you’re not hungry on a particular day; if you’re on autopilot you may not even notice this.
So while we’re setting lofty goals (did I really say I was writing a book?), think of the details too. Take a minute to file the papers on your desk rather than shuffling them or bring your lunch to work when there are leftovers, stretch after your run, you get it. There’s a difference between cutting yourself a break here and there and consistently copping out. OK having said all this, I should probably start to file and run more than a few miles at a time.
What areas do you see yourself underachieving? Would you call it underachieving?
Will I ever be able to do a headstand in yoga class?
Wow! Just what I needed to hear today.. thank you! You pegged me big time and it was good to see myself in your post. I have always cut corners, always been a "good-enough" type. And deep down on some level it bothered me because I always felt like I sold myself short. I'm honestly going to look at that and will re-think how I do things!
ReplyDeletep.s. I'm stopping by from Ivy League Insecurities!
I like this post a lot because it reminds me that relatively small changes (a few minutes here, an added activity there) can add up and make a difference. I tend to fall into the all-or-nothing category where I think if I can't workout for 90 minutes or declutter my entire home it's not worth doing anything, but I am beginning to realize that this is not the case. It is worth chipping away at things and making baby steps toward important change.
ReplyDeletePS - Love to see that Mary (above) is stopping by from ILI. Very cool!
Mary, glad you found me. I love ILI/Aidan is my blog hero. The nice thing about being "good enough" girl is that you're putting some work in. A little more and you'll be great.
ReplyDeleteYou will totally be able to do a headstand! My brother, who has been doing a daily yoga practice for the last year to become a better musician, just completed a three month HANDstand workshop. If he can do it, you can too.
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