In our Body Image Groups we have talked about things we know we “should” do because they are good for us. Things like getting regular exercise, choosing a variety of nutrient-rich foods, even brushing our teeth fits into this category. We know that doing these things will yield longterm benefits to our health, happiness, and day-to-day joy, yet we still dread doing them.
What items like this are on your “Things I Should Do for My Wellbeing” (but it feels so hard to keep doing them regularly) list?
“Ugh- I still have to wash my face before bed.” It doesn’t take long, but when you are tired at the end of the day, flopping into bed feels so much more enticing than personal hygiene chores! Bigger tasks like getting your car inspected or doing your taxes fits into this category, as well.
How do we get these things done that we know are good for us, even though we dread them? Especially when they are required to be done regularly.
We’ve pulled it off before, right? Those annoying, but good-for-us tasks. When the dreaded (but good-for-us) challenges ARE accomplished, here is what we came up with for how it happened:
creating a habit
If your daily pills and water are next to your bed and as soon as your alarm goes off you grab and throw them back, there is no need for “I better go take my medicine.” It is done, as part of your regular waking-up routine, no motivation needed. What habits do you already have that make taking care of yourself easier? What can you make a habit, or fold in to a routine, so that it requires less motivation and happens automatically?
recognizing responsibility
If you have an easier time taking your cat to the vet than taking yourself to get an annual medical exam, you understand how motivating a sense of responsibility can be. “I have to take care of my cat!” In what ways does it help others that you maintain your health? When your health suffers, what impact does it have on your family, your coworkers, and your friends?
checking the cost of not
When you aren’t motivated, Andrew Huberman has explained that spending a few minutes leaning in to what happens if you DON’T do the thing can help. When it feels too dreadful to meal prep for the week, or to get up for your morning workout, or to clean the kitchen- if you will think about how bad it can be if you DON’T do it, the cost can help propel you into action.
feel better once getting going
The truth is, 9 times out of 10, once we get our shoes on and head out the door, the thing we didn’t want to do softens and becomes more manageable than we told ourselves it would be. When we remind ourselves that just getting started is all we really have to do, the full task takes care of itself. Rather than feeling the burden of “I don’t know if I can do a whole yoga class right now,” remember that all you have to do immediately is grab your mat and get in the car. Rather than thinking about all the steps between laying on the couch before bed and being in bed, remember that all you have to do immediately is go into the bathroom and pick up your toothbrush. From there, it is all downhill.
Which of these can you consciously use in the coming week to assist you? Write one down and put it next to your sink or your bed as a reminder.