| With the new year fast approaching and everyone setting their big goals for 2022…
There’s an important question I want to address which — in some form or other — keeps coming up:
Q1: “Craig, I just got back from a trip. My habits went to heck while I was gone (I know you don’t swear but I really wanted to use a different word). I feel completely messed up. Now what? How do I get back on track?”
Q2: “Craig, what do I do when I mess up my day. It started so great... I didn’t hit snooze... I did my NUI work... but then I went on Facebook and spent the rest of the morning bouncing around on my phone. How do I get back on track?”
Q3: “Craig, today sucked. I woke up and hit the snooze button three times. After that I figured I’d go straight to the bar. I’ve been drinking since it was 5-o’clock-somewhere. How do I get back on track?” (not an actual question, lol)
Answer:
If you get OFF track...
The solution is simple...
Get back ON track as soon as possible.
No moping.
No beating yourself up.
No switching from one bad behavior (like scrolling & snoozing – aka “scroozing”) to another (like stress-eating donuts) to help you “feel better”.
Instead, use your emotional self-discipline to make the right rational decision.
Look for the quickest victory you can get to return to normal and helpful habits.
Learn from the past mistake but don't dwell on it.
When you learn from a past mistake that means:
a) You build a system that makes the wrong move more difficult... Toss the toxicity from life and eliminate distractions and destroyers (“build a fence around yourself to keep out the wolves”)
b) You identify supportive sets of behaviors and circuit breakers that make the right actions as automatic as possible (“make the path to success as smooth as possible”)
c) You share your future behavior goals with a coach or accountability buddy who holds you accountable and helps keep you on track.
Someone who reminds you that no matter how late it is...
You always still have time to save the day.
Even if you overeat dessert at dinner...
There’s always a better way to end the day... Look to leave each day with a victory.
For example...
It could be writing in a gratitude journal... saying a prayer... prepping your first meal the next day to start the day right... and of course, making sure your work station is set-up so that you get into your #1 task as quickly as possible.
You can salvage any situation...
And then when you wake up in the morning you must start the day right.
For example...
Last week my long-time client Lloyd told me how he’d gone three stressful weeks without working out or eating well...
“Let’s get back on track with one simple healthy habit,” I said.
“Don’t think you’re going to wake up at 3am and go to the gym for 2 hours and then survive on 1500 calories a day. That’s a recipe for falling OFF track.”
“Instead, just set yourself up with a smoothie. That’s it.”
“Get up. Throw protein, a banana, some blueberries, some spinach, water, and ice into the blender. Then go for a walk. That’s how heroes get back on track – one step at a time.”
“If you do that first thing then you'll be able to keep the momentum going all day.”
***
The bottom line...
When you learn to get back on track...
When you learn to “switch at will” from the vicious loop to the virtuous cycle...
You’ll never have a “lost day”. You’ll win every morning. And you’ll crush at the game of life.
Success Loves Speed,
Craig |
