Consistency Is The Goal, Not Perfection

Last week, I discussed ways for you to change your mindset when it comes to exercise.  I explained several reasons people dread exercise and how to overcome those.

One of the reasons I discussed is thinking you have to exercise “perfectly” – for X minutes, Y times a day – or it will not be good enough.

How many of you feel like you have to exercise for a certain amount of time, or for a certain number of days a week?

“I have to run 3x/week and strength train 2x/week.”

“I have to walk 6 days a week for a minimum of 20 minutes.”

“I have to burn 400 calories for my cardio session today.”

Yes, these things can be good for you, but the more strict the rules you place on yourself the harder it is going to be to stick with any exercise plan.  It will become overwhelming because you will feel like a failure if you do not meet your minimum amount of exercise.

We live in such a rigid, fast-paced society that everything has to fall according to plan, or routine, or we are stressed.

“Oh no, I cannot get in my exercise today.  What am I going to do?  This is going to totally ruin my fitness goals.  I might as well skip tomorrow too and just get back on track next week.”

I have heard this rationalization so many times.  Listen, things do not have to go exactly according to plan for you to achieve your goal(s).  Obstacles are going to come up – tough times are going to happen.  You have to accept these and move on.  Perfection is not the goal, consistency is the goal.

Pretty much every successful person has become that way through consistency and hard-work.  I am sure nothing went exactly according to plan for them.  You must learn to adapt and move on.

Using the example above, the person would be much better off just saying, “Bummer.  I will not be able to make it to the gym tonight, but that is okay.  I will be sure to get in my session tomorrow.”

I largely blame the internet and the fitness industry in general for our obsession over perfection when it comes to nutrition and exercise.  We have become too smart for our own good.  I do believe it is good that we have this information, but for the most part, very few people need to worry over the minutiae to achieve their goal(s).

We need more people to preach the basics, which will take most people a long way toward their goal(s).

If someone cannot stop drinking coke or eating doughnuts for breakfast, he or she does not need to worry about carb cycling or intermittent fasting or nutrient timing.

Stop worrying about being perfect and start working on being consistent.  Focus on those fundamental, basic habits everyone can agree on that are very important for health, fitness, aesthetics, performance, and happiness.  These include:

Adequate Sleep

Stress Management

Proper Nutrition

Sufficient Exercise

Healthy Social Life

Looking over this list, which area are you lacking consistency in?  How can you improve in this area?

By addressing these five habits, you are going to be healthier, happier, and sexier than 99% of people.  However, the goal is not be perfect in all of these.  The goal is to be consistent in addressing each one.

We keep searching for the perfect plan to achieve our goal(s), and when we find it we strive to follow it meticulously because that is the only way it will work, right?

WRONG.

Stop failing to reach your goal(s) because you cannot be perfect.  None of us are.  Strive for consistency and focus on the basics, and you will make a huge difference in your physique, happiness, and health.

In my next article I will provide tips on how you can build consistency into your life and maintain that to achieve any goal you may have.

Have a great week!