You're probably pretty good at dealing with things not going to plan.
At work, if a meeting overruns, a deadline moves or something unexpected lands on your desk, you adapt. You reprioritise, find another way and get on with it.
But when it comes to your health, do you give yourself the same flexibility?
Perhaps you miss a workout, eat something you hadn't planned, have a few too many drinks, or get to bed later than you intended.
And suddenly, it feels like you've failed. So you decide you'll get back on track tomorrow. Or Monday. Or after the next holiday.
This is one of the most common patterns I see with high achievers. And the problem isn't the original missed workout, biscuit or glass of wine. It's the meaning you attach to it.
One small deviation becomes: I shouldn't have done that. I've failed. I've ruined the day. I'll start again tomorrow. So I might as well forget the plan for now.
Best-selling author Shane Parrish, captures this brilliantly:
'Bounce, Don't Break. Most people strive to avoid setbacks entirely, which is unrealistic. Your advantage isn’t never falling; it’s mastering rapid recovery. Resilience quietly beats perfection every time.'
I love this because resilience is a skill, not something you're either born with or not.
And like any skill, it takes practice to develop. That means getting things wrong sometimes. Having days when things don't go to plan. And learning to get back on track rather than giving up or waiting for a fresh start.
You can't practise bouncing back if you stop whenever you fall.
So, distinguishing between 'I've failed' and 'I didn't follow the plan perfectly today' is a really important place to start.
These are NOT the same thing.
The goal isn't to create a life where you never deviate from your intentions. It's to become really good at getting back to them quickly.
Let's make healthy simple
Think of the last time something didn't go to plan with your health. What happened next? Did you compensate, give up or simply carry on?
Next time, practise getting straight back to your usual routine. Eat the next meal (don't skip it or think sod it!), do the next workout (don't skip it or feel you need to work twice as hard).
Remember, you don't need to make up for yesterday. You just need to focus on what you can do today.
And if perfectionism around your health is keeping you stuck, I can help you find an approach to nutrition, exercise and healthy habits that works with your actual life. Get in touch to arrange a free health consultation.