Why is it so hard to stick to good habits?

It seems to be remarkably easy to fall into unhealthy routines...

Eating junk food mindlessly. Watching TV instead of doing your workout. Showing up to a job that brings you no joy. Biting your nails. Smoking. You get the idea.

There’s no shortage of unhealthy and unproductive behaviors.

And we all struggle with them from time to time.

But why?

You want to live a healthy, fulfilling, and remarkable life.

And every now and then you probably get really motivated and inspired to make a change.

So how come it is more likely that, this time next year, you'll be doing the same thing rather than something better?

Why is it so hard to stick to good habits?

I believe that it is because we usually try to make changes in the wrong way.

And, at our online personal training program, I do my best to share a blend of science and real-world experiences that offer a better strategy for making long-term changes in your life.

Let me explain...

How to Avoid This Common Mistake

“Your audacious life goals are fabulous. We’re proud of you for having them. But it’s possible that those goals are designed to distract you from the thing that’s really frightening you—the shift in daily habits that would mean a re–invention of how you see yourself.”

- Seth Godin

Transformations and overnight successes get a lot of hype. And for good reason because who wouldn't want to be more successful in less time?

But here's the problem:

When you hear about a dramatic transformation (like someone losing 100 pounds) or a incredible success story (like some teenager launching the next FaceTube from their college dorm room), the only thing you know is the event that people are talking about.

You don't hear anything about the PROCESS that came before it or about the habits that led to the eventual result.

It's easy to let these incredible stories trick you into doing too much, too soon. I know I've done it.

When you get motivated and inspired to take your life to the next level, it's so easy to get obsessed with the result.

“I need to lose 20 pounds (or 40 or 60 or 100).”

“I need to squat 200 pounds (or 300 or 400).”

“I need to meditate 3 days per week (or 5 or 7).”

Or thousands of other variations of your life goals.

It's natural to think that we need the result, the transformation, the overnight success.

But that's not what you need.

Why You Need Better Habits

It’s so easy to overestimate the importance of one defining moment and underestimate the value of making better decisions on a daily basis.

Almost every habit that you have — good or bad — is the result of many small decisions over time.

And if this is true, if the problems you’re facing now are the result of thousands of small decisions made over the course of years...

...then wouldn’t it make sense that path to success, health, strength, joy, fulfillment, meaning, and vitality would also be through thousands of daily decisions?

And yet, how easily we forget this when you want to make a change.

When you become obsessed with achieving a result quickly, the only thing you think about is how to get to your goal, and you forget to realize that your process for achieving goals is just as important as whether or not you achieve them at all.

Let me repeat that:

The Secret to Achieving Your Priority-one Goal is Mastering the Proven Process

The desire to achieve results quickly fools you into thinking that the result is the prize.

But here's the truth…

Becoming the type of person you want to become — someone who lives by a stronger standard, someone who believes in themselves, someone who can be counted on by the people that matter to them — is about the daily process you follow and not the ultimate product you achieve.

Why is this true?

Because your life today is essentially the sum of your habits.

How in shape or out of shape you are? A result of your habits.

How happy or unhappy you are? A result of your habits.

How successful or unsuccessful you are? A result of your habits.

What you repeatedly think about, and do, ultimately forms the person you are, the things you believe, and the personality that you portray.

The most common mistake that people make is setting their sights on an event, a transformation, an overnight success they want to achieve – rather than focusing on their habits and routines.

I've been guilty of this just like everyone else.

And even today, I'm still learning how to master my habits just like you.

But over time, I've discovered a helpful blend of academic research and real-world experiences that have allowed me to make progress in many areas of life.

If you are coachable, I want to share that progress with you so that you can avoid chasing another overnight success and actually stick to your goals for the long term.

Next step is to schedule your 20-Minute Strategy Call.

 Something else.

I’m going to be brutally honest with you, and I want you to know that this comes from a place of love.

Okay?

You know how it’s a common fact that EVERYONE flocks to gyms and health clubs in January... ...only to abandon the hope of "getting fit" by February?

Well, there’s more to it than that.

Allow me to share the thought process I have seen, as a professional coach, for the past 25+ years.

🌞Summertime Excuses

Kids/grandkids are out of school. Things are SO CRAZY that it’s too hard to commit to a fitness-and-nutrition routine.

🍁Autumn Excuses

Kids/grandkids go back to school. Maybe virtual school. There’s so much to organize and sports and routine, etc.

🎉🎄Holiday-Season Excuses

The "CRAZIEST" time of year (in addition to summer and autumn).

There’s no way you can possibly commit during the holidays! It’s just too busy and the food is too tempting. Plus, your family and friends really need your attention. And then, of course, you’ll need a few weeks after the holidays to get your "ducks in a row" and take care of all of your responsibilities.

Sound familiar?

Chances are the answer is “YES” if you’ve ever jumped on and off the nutrition-and-fitness wagon.

And I feel compelled to call it out because this is such flawed thinking.

It’s Just a Story You Tell Yourself, So Many Times, That You End Up Believing It to Be True

It makes it easier to put off taking care of your body and buy into our own excuses.

But what if your story changed?

Imagine if your story became something more along the lines of ...

“Maintaining excellent health is my priority-one goal, so I will schedule time and prioritize this 365 days a year.”

Because the truth is, you ALWAYS find time for the things that are truly important.

Whether that’s your favorite Netflix series or a child’s extracurricular activities.

You know you can find the time when your health becomes a priority.

When you say you “don’t have time,” you are simply saying “it’s just not a priority.”

And that’s my rant.

According to the faulty logic I described above, there are really only about THREE months a year that aren’t “crazy” and where it’s “convenient” to focus on taking care of you…

...unless, of course, other circumstances pop up, as they always do.

Here’s the thing.

Your body and your health aren’t a "sometimes" project.

You never place your health "on the back burner."

Imagine waking up in the ER, after a heart attack, and telling the doctor that you'll continue to place your health "on the back burner"?

I know, that would be madness.

Truth is, you often put off the things you know you need to do until something happens – an injury, disease, or just finding yourself deeply unhappy with the body you’ve created.

Instead of preventative care and maintenance of excellent health, you wait for things to get so bad you’re FORCED to finally do something.

That’s the state of many people who have believed the story about...

😥 “too busy”

🍁🎉🎄 “seasons”

🕑 "the perfect time.”

Please KNOW that this message, though a bit of a harsh reality check, is coming to you with love.

I truly want to look you in the eyes and let you know that I believe in you.

So, if you’re ready to write a new story for yourself, let me take you by the hand and show you the way.

Let’s have a real conversation about how you can take action and move forward, for the final time, so you never have to start over again.

All you have to do is Schedule your 20-Minute Strategy Call with me.

Answer some questions on the next page and then book a time to chat about how you can get rid of your problem for good.

To your success,

Coach Joe

Joseph Arangio helps 40+ men and women get leaner, stronger, and happier. He's delivered over 100,000 transformation programs to satisfied clients around the globe. If you want to lose weight from home, with the best online age-management personal trainer, or you want to visit the best longevity personal trainer in the Lehigh Valley, you can take a free 14-day trial.