Dr. Slava Shut

In a world that entices people to “drop 20 pounds in two weeks!” or to “get rich overnight!” it’s so hard to see the good that comes along with incremental change. But here’s the thing: incremental change is what you want. I know it doesn’t feel like it, or it’s easier to wish for instantaneous change overnight, but let’s talk about why letting yourself celebrate small steps is better in the long run.

1. Anything that Promises Immediate Change is a Scam

Think about that “drop 20 pounds in 2 weeks!” claim I mentioned earlier. Plenty of dietary supplements, influencer “nutritionists,” and diets will promise results like this. But if you talk to anyone reputable in the medical community, you’ll find that not only are these claims garbage, they’re dangerous. And even if you do manage to lose the weight (which again, is extremely unhealthy), chances are because you’ve had to go through such intense restriction, you’ll immediately revert back to your old habits and put back on even more weight than you started with. Same thing with a financial goal – if you plan on getting rich overnight, think again. For a lot of people, saving means incrementally funneling money away over time. Yes, you can absolutely put your money in an account that will work for you and gain interest over time, but that’s also going to take a while. In the interim, you have to stick to small habits that you build, like limiting yourself to one drink when you go out, or not spending the money as soon as you reach a certain point. So, view your journey as one that’s, by nature, going to be incremental, and don’t give into overnight change – no matter what advertisers would have you believe.

2. Celebrate Within the Context of Your Goal

Like I mentioned earlier, if you immediately revert back to your old habits once you reach your goal, the chances of your habits sticking are slim. But if you plot out your incremental goals, giving yourself a reward is a great way to stick with it. Think of it this way – if you were hiking to a peak, you wouldn’t try and run the entire way. You’d plot out a few stops along the way and make sure to give yourself water, food, or a small break so you were able to continue and make it to your destination. So, let’s say your goal is to lose 30 pounds sustainably. Maybe once you hit 10 pounds, buy yourself something that will help you along your journey (a new workout tool, or try a class you’ve never done before). Or, if you have a financial savings goal, once you hit a certain amount, celebrate with something small but within your means, like a nice meal with friends, or a new investment, buying something that will help improve your business, etc.

3. Recognize that Change is Built to be Lifelong

I can’t hammer this home enough – the changes you make should be designed to fit into your life, not be a complete overhaul. Yes, those changes can cause life-shifting results, but the way you go about creating that change should eventually feel like a natural part of your day. So, for example, if you’d never run more than a mile before and set a goal to eventually run a marathon, you wouldn’t try and run 5 miles on your first day. But if you got up each morning and ran for 30 minutes, you would get stronger, faster, and increase your pace and distance over time. Eventually, you would add on a little more time (and make adjustments accordingly, like doing your longer runs on the weekend so you have time), but eventually, running should feel like a part of your life. Once you reach your goal of running the marathon, running every day is a part of your routine, even if it’s not a long distance. Same with setting a weight-related goal – restricting the foods you love will only lead to a binge. Instead, make room for the things you love, but have them in smaller increments to appreciate them more. In short? Your habit is not a diet, it’s a lifestyle.

If you want to talk about your goals more, or already feel overwhelmed trying to reach them, schedule a call with me today and let’s talk about it!