Why is it hard to start something good?

Why we don't start something that we know will be good

How many of us (myself included) have things in our life that we know we need to change but we procrastinate doing it? It could be something that we need to start or something we need to stop. It could be something we need to continue doing but in a slightly different way. Regardless of whether it's a stop, start, or modify - most of us just don't make the change.

I think all of us tend to be resistant to change. Even if something isn't optimal, we tend to let it keep going like it's going. This is coming from someone who tends to seek out new stuff in life. Even if you like trying new things, I still think that most of us are slow to actually make the change.

Why is that? Psychologists tell us that we are hard wired to view any change as a threat. It can be very hard to overcome factory settings - especially how we're wired.

This impacts more than working out and eating healthy

We're a gym and we do nutrition coaching, so you're probably thinking that we're talking about making changes in fitness and nutrition. You're right. This also applies across other areas of life. Personal relationships, career, business -- pretty much everything feels the impact of this reluctance to change.

So how do we make a change that sticks?

Whether we're talking about coming to the gym for the first time or meal prepping for the first time or making a change in your professional life, the answer is very similar.

Map out a plan for everything that you need to do to make the change a success. It can look like this...

• Starting to work out in class at the gym: pack your gym clothes and a snack the night before; decide when you need to leave and set an alarm to remind you; look at your calendar for the day and decide before the day starts anything that you'll need to move to make the workout class on time. If you're coming to the 5am class, go to bed early enough to get plenty of sleep, lay out your clothes before bed, and have your water bottle ready to go.
• Meal prepping for the first time: find a recipe or two that you're excited to eat for the week; make your grocery list; go grocery shopping; cook the meals and put them in containers.
• Making a professional life change: map out the desired end state (or interim milestone); list out the steps needed to achieve the goal; make a plan to accomplish each of the steps and a realistic timeline; execute the plan.

The hardest part...

The hardest part of starting something new or making a change is the first step. At least, that's what you always hear.

I agree that the first step can be intimidating. Clicking the button below to book an intro and trial class can be scary. Walking through the door of the gym for the first time can be something that seems nearly insurmountable.

The reality is that when you click the button to book your intro, you'll talk to some super-friendly and encouraging people (normally via text message). The thing that seemed so hard suddenly becomes ok.

The reality of walking through the gym door is that you find a welcoming group of people who are all regular people on the inside. They chat with you, encourage you, and you have a great time in your first class. The thing that seemed so hard suddenly becomes ok.

Then week two or week four or some other week comes. The newness has worn off and the new change that you've made isn't quite part of your daily life yet. You get busy or distracted or something else pops up, and suddenly the thing that you thought was going well becomes hard again.

Think about the big gyms with all of the equipment in them - packed out for the first few weeks of January with all of the New Year's resolution crowds, and then eerily quiet by mid-February.

The real hardest part comes part way into the journey.

The best way to avoid this trap is to plan for it. Anticipate this possibility when you begin the change.

Here's how:

• If you're starting to come to the gym 4 days per week, find an accountability partner and commit to them what days you'll be at the gym. Tell them on Sunday what days you'll be at the gym that week and then check in to confirm each day that you go to class. Give them permission to ask you about it.
• If you're starting a meal prep routine, find an accountability partner and plan your meals, grocery shopping, and even meal prep together. Share the work with them in one kitchen (or FaceTime during meal prep if they don't live nearby). Text them a photo each day of your empty meal prep container after you've eaten that amazing meal.

Accountability partners are one key to success. Mapping out an action plan is a key to success.

You can do this. You can make the change you desire. We can help.

‍