How to overcome barriers to better health
We’ve got four steps below to help you.
4 steps to start taking effective (and realistic) action
Now that we know what’s potentially getting in the way of taking productive action, here are four steps to get unstuck.
Step #1: Explore the why before the how.
Before you (or a client) start undertaking something you want to change, it’s helpful to understand your deeper motivations first.
Do a little investigating by asking questions like:
- What about this change is important to you?
- How serious or pressing is this for you?
- Why not continue doing what you’re already doing?
You can also go through one of our favorite motivation-mining exercises, The 5 Whys.
When you know why you want to change something, and you’re clear on the consequences of not taking action, you’ll be more likely to feel that deeper, more sustaining push to keep going, even when things get tough.
Step #2: Prioritize the most effective actions.
We can do all the things!! Really!! We just can’t do all the things… all at once.
Effective change means being able to realistically:
- Identify all the tasks, trade-offs, and commitments involved
- Prioritize what matters for the results you want
- Figure out what to do first
What are the essentials in relation to your goal? Regardless of all goals, they likely include a movement practice, a nutrition practice, and/or a recovery practice.
If you want some guidance on how to select the most effective action for your goal, check out our Skills, Practices, and Daily Actions Cheat Sheet.
