Small changes : big results: For those of you who are not averse to a little gamble, this is one that could start to pay off big time. And if you’ve never tried it, it could change your life!
A bold statement maybe, but if you feel overwhelmed at the prospect of tackling a large weight-loss programme, getting that book written or changing your life out of all recognition, there could be hope for you yet.
In my work as a coach I observe a number of responses when people are faced with a major project and the majority can be grouped into four categories:
1. Just do it
People in this category are in control of the pesky demons that tell them they can’t, they have plenty of motivation and don’t know the meaning of the words ‘slob on the sofa’ – they just get on and do it. And this article is probably not for them.
2. I’ll start tomorrow
If you’re in this category, you’ll find anything you can that keeps you occupied so you don’t have time to start on a project. I’ll start tomorrow-ers may have very clean skirting boards and become defensive if anyone dares tell them they’re procrastinating!
3. Smash and grab
We’ve all been there: jumped in with both feet, gone at it hammer and tongs for a couple of weeks and then utterly lost interest and walked away. How many half written novels have you got in your drawer? How many diet books have you got on the shelf? Have you got an unused exercise bike/abdominal cruncher/Swiss ball in the house? I rest my case.
4. Small changes : big results
Now these people have discovered a secret. By making small adjustments to their lifestyle that don’t impact on their day to day too much, then over time they can move forward an incredible amount.
And this is the approach that has changed my life this year. Because after watching a weight loss programme on TV where the subjects lost incredible amounts of weight over a year, it dawned on me that they achieved these spectacular results because they applied the changes they were making every single day over a set period of time – so the end was always in sight! Now these people had to make massive lifestyle changes and the results were truly amazing in some cases. But apply the principle to your own major projects and BINGO! you’ve got a fantastic formula to work with.
I tried it. On the basis that it takes three weeks to change a habit, I set myself a goal at the beginning of the year to walk for one hour every day for three weeks. After a month I couldn’t bear the thought of not having my daily walk and even upped the pace so I was covering twice as much distance in the hour. In four months I’ve lost a noticeable amount of weight. Spurred on by this success, I’ve started applying the same principle to other projects that have been lurking – some of them for years.
And the to-do list is definitely shrinking along with my waist-line.
The secret is to make the changes small enough that they are not an issue. Don’t say: “I’m going to give up chocolate until the summer holidays,” because for someone who loves chocolate enough that they have to cut down, that’s going to be really hard to stick to. Instead say: “I’m going to have 20% less chocolate each week and do 50 more stomach crunches every day for the next six weeks.” After six weeks, the chances are you will have absorbed this into your routine and be ready for another small change.
Don’t have a day off work and promise yourself you’re going to spring-clean the house, start your book, do your marketing plan, finish 10-weeks’ worth of ironing and do a shabby-chic paint job on the sideboard – you won’t do anything! Either pick one thing you know you will enjoy getting done or if you’re trying to catch up with the jobs, allow yourself two hours and do half an hour on four things. You may not finish them, but they’ll be less daunting as a result and this way you get time to go for a walk in the sunshine/read a magazine/meet a friend for coffee or one of the other gazillion things you’d really rather be doing!
So if you’re set to change your world and finding it hard to get – or stay – motivated, try making small changes for a set period of time and see where it brings you to. The big results may spur you on to do more!
Mary Keeley 