It’s Easy To Start
Well, this is about the time of year that it starts happening. Falling off the wagon on New Year's resolutions, that is. It is a well-documented phenomena that attendance at health and wellness based businesses (gyms, yoga studios, meditation centers) all skyrocket in January of the new year, but then commitment gradually teeters off by mid-February. Next thing you know, you're buying discount chocolate and eating a pint of ice cream on Valentine's Day.
Anyway, I made a 2023 promise to myself to read one business book per week as a form of self-improvement. I started strong, and did all the prep work - there is a stack of library books on my bedside table written by ultra-successful people who wake up at 4:30 AM to meditate, workout, sauna and shower before putting in a 16 hour workday. But, like many people - I am not as dedicated as I was on January 1.
That's because IT'S EASY TO START. It's not so easy to finish. And the hardest thing is to SUSTAIN. My excuse is that the fiction books by my nightstand start calling to me, saying "Amaaaandaaaa, I'm much more entertaining than these mind numbing monologues on organizational structure and macroeconomics...". Excuses will always be there.
Rather than giving up on my 2023 goal when my self-motivation faltered, I changed tack. I signed up for a business Masterclass taught by Bob Iger, and have three more teed up with other instructors after I finish his.
I should have done this from the start. According to Gretchen Rubin's theory on The Four Tendencies (more on this at another time), I am what she calls an Obliger. Of the Four Tendencies, “Obliger” is the most common Tendency that people belong to.
The defining characteristic about Obligers is that they readily meet outer expectations, but they struggle to meet inner expectations. For instance, I would never would never miss a workout scheduled with Cole, the personal trainer at Align, but I struggle to set aside time to exercise on my own. Having an appointment makes me feel accountable to him, and our mutual agreement to 'show up' is what keeps me committed to training.
It is more expensive to go about self-improvement this way. There are plenty of free workout classes online and zero cost library books I could be reading, but INVESTMENT IS KEY for Obligers like myself. To meet inner expectations, Obligers have to create outer accountability.
If you started a health related goal that you have dropped off on this year, I recommend creating outer accountability.
To optimize your health and fitness in a sustainable way, schedule a training session with one of our trainers. They will become the face of accountability!
Sincerely,
Amanda