We’ve all been there: scrolling through social media, seeing a picture-perfect morning routine or reading about the intricate evening rituals of ultra-successful people. It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that to make any real strides in our wellness journey, we need to have the perfect setup or the perfect habits. With my coaching clients, I like to call these beliefs “thought obstacles”— mental hurdles that keep us from even starting on our goals.
While having the right tools and an ideal environment can certainly support your wellness endeavors, waiting for everything to be perfect can absolutely keep you stuck in neutral, so much so that you never actually make any progress. We’ve all heard the saying, “Perfect is the enemy of good,” and that couldn’t be more accurate when it comes to our morning and evening routines.
There’s a reason why habit stacking is one of the most effective wellness trends.
Not only is it a powerful way to integrate new behaviors into existing routines, but it also champions the power of small shifts. For example, let’s say your big-picture goal is to improve your hydration. Simply having a water bottle waiting for you in your bathroom to drink first thing in the morning is a much more achievable step than immediately committing to drinking 65 ounces throughout the day. Drinking that first glass means you’ve already made progress. That 65-ounce goal is great, but without these smaller, actionable steps, you might struggle to account for how you’ll actually reach it.
Changing your routine
Consider the common aspiration of waking up earlier. Many people declare, “I’m going to wake up early, go for a run, make a smoothie, do some stretching, and meditate first thing!” When, in reality, what they could truly benefit from is a more gradual approach. Perhaps for the first week, they just let the alarm go off 10 minutes earlier. The next week, they let it go off 10 minutes earlier and actually get out of bed. And maybe the week after that, they get out of bed and do a few minutes of deep breathing. The gradual building of the habit inherently makes it more approachable and sustainable.
The relentless race towards optimization often causes us to trip up before we even get to the starting block.
Our lives as humans are full, messy, emotional, and busy. While it’s wonderful to be motivated to do our best in supporting our health, if we want these strides to be long-lasting, we need to focus on small, sustainable steps.
So, the next time you think about making a shift in your routine, pause and consider how you might break it down. Think about how two or three “good enough” steps will lead to more long-term fulfillment and progress, rather than letting the pursuit of a perfect plan burn you out before you even begin.
Want to learn about a more sustainable approach to optimizing your wellbeing? Book a Health Talk with one of our Board Certified Health Coaches today!
