From little things, big things grow
18th August 2010
When you’ve got big changes to make, getting started can sometimes feel overwhelming. Whether you’re looking to drop 20 kilos or give up a pack-a-day smoking habit, the enormity of the task in front of you can be so intimidating that it’s easy to fall into the trap of procrastinating and doing nothing. We asked Wallabies Coach and Thompson’s Brand Ambassador Robbie Deans what it takes to move forward.
“If you watch the Wallabies or any other professional sporting team” says Robbie, “you’ll notice they celebrate every tiny milestone on the way to the victory they’re ultimately striving for. The players greet every try that’s scored and every goal that’s kicked with hugs and high-fives. With every little victory, they become more confident of their chances of holding up the trophy at the end of the game. That’s the secret to getting and staying pumped in your personal game plan too.”
Climb your own personal mountain one step at a time
If you’ve got a health goal that’s going to take a long time to achieve, you need to focus on the milestone that’s right in front of you, rather than the ultimate prize that’s far off in the distance.
“A mountain climber may be aiming to reach the summit” says Robbie, “but on every step of the journey the only thing he can afford to think about is where he’s going to put his feet next. Without that focus, he’s never going to stand on top of the mountain.”
So, even if you’ve got 20 kilos to lose, keep your focus firmly on what you need to do to lose half a kilo this week. If you’re currently a couch potato who dreams of running a half-marathon, don’t think about how far that feels, knuckle down and get started with turning yourself into someone that can run two kilometres.
Small change, big reward
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking those small milestones don’t make a big difference. In the world of health, there are plenty of examples where tiny shifts in behaviour can add up to enormous benefits over time.
For instance, if you’re overweight or obese, losing just 10% of your body weight can have significant impact on both your heart health and your blood sugar balance[1] at the same time that it puts a new spring in your step.
