Improve with flexibility and moderation
Well-being 🌿 | Improve yourself 🏋️ | #Progress #Flexibility #Moderation
TL;DR
Flexibility and Moderation: Embrace these as practical tools for lasting mental well-being; view habits as adaptable frameworks rather than rigid rules.
Break Streaks for Rest: Recognise the importance of occasionally breaking habits or routines to rest and recharge, promoting long-term sustainability.
Beware of Absolutes: Avoid applying advice in absolute terms; life is nuanced, and success lies in the flexibility and moderation of progress, not rigid adherence to rules.
Seed
In our quest for improved mental well-being, embracing flexibility and moderation is key. These are practical tools for sustainable change.
Think of building new habits as constructing a framework for a healthier mindset. Yet, it's crucial to acknowledge that life is unpredictable. There will be days when circumstances prevent us from adhering strictly to our routines, and that's perfectly okay. We're human, not robots.
If you miss a day or break a streak, it doesn't erase your progress. Consider it a necessary pause, a moment to rest and recharge. In fact, breaking a streak occasionally can be beneficial, allowing you the space needed to maintain these habits in the long run.
Your mental well-being is not a rigid structure; it's a dynamic process. Don't turn self-improvement into a set of rules that suffocate you. The goal is to make your life easier, not to create a new set of constraints.
Flexibility in your approach is your ally, not a sign of failure. Life is filled with unexpected twists, and your habits should have room to adapt. Moderation is the compass that keeps you on course. Moderation does not mean “not enough”. It just mean avoiding excess and extremes. Sometimes, we forget the importance of taking time for ourselves. Breaking a routine occasionally isn't a flaw; it's a recognition of your own needs.
Additionally, beware of turning advice into absolutes. In the context of well-being, no guideline should be applied without exception. If you catch yourself thinking in rigid terms, you may be missing the point. Life is nuanced, and your approach to self-improvement should be too. Embrace the fact that perfection is an illusion, and success lies in the ebb and flow of progress, not in unwavering adherence to a set of rules.
If you haven’t seen them yet, I wrote two Seeds specifically on the benefits of breaking streaks and creating elastic habits.
Example
Last week, I did not publish the weekly Seed. I broke my 40 weeks streak. I felt uninspired, tired, and had no post ready to go. I knew these were signals that it was time to take a short break. Nevertheless, letting go was challenging — until I committed to it and decided to celebrate the fact that I was allowing myself to rest that evening.
Breaking a positive habit is surprisingly easy, yet finding peace with that decision can be difficult.
I’m happy that I managed to follow my own recommendations. I'm not a fan of "do as I say, not as I do" or other double standards speeches, and I try my best to avoid that.
And I think it was a good idea to take that break as I feel much happier to write this one today than I was feeling last week.
Bonus
Indirectly related to today’s topic, but interesting enough to share:
Summary, if you don’t have 17 minutes:
Defensive Failure and Mindset Blocks: Ever promised yourself a gym-filled week only to find Friday rolls around with zero visits? Amanda Crowell introduces the concept of defensive failure and identifies three powerful mindset blocks - those invisible barriers that keep us from turning intentions into actions.
"I Can't Do It" Mindset Block: Do you ever believe some people have an innate talent or genetics that you lack? She shares her experience with exercise, highlighting the shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. Mistakes aren't proof of failure but stepping stones toward success.
"People Like Me Don't Do This" Mindset Block: Our identity, carefully crafted through adolescence, becomes a shield against actions that might threaten it. Discover how aligning your goals with your identity is the key to overcoming this mindset block.
"I Should Want to Do It, But I Don't" Mindset Block: External motivations often fall short when the going gets tough. She delves into the importance of intrinsic interest - the fuel that sustains long-term commitment and trumps fleeting external reasons.
Breaking the Cycle: How do we escape this cycle of defensive failure? Amanda encourages us to embrace a growth mindset, align our goals with our identity, and foster intrinsic interest. It's about turning defensive failure into a journey of productive failure, where mistakes lead to improvement and, ultimately, success.