Lighten Up Frances!

Do you ever get the feeling that you might be too hard on yourself?? Do you freak out by the slightest deviation from your plan? [pullquote]Do you think that you are Super Woman?[/pullquote]Do you set (almost) impossible goals for yourself to follow? Are you setting yourself up for failure?  Do you think that you are Super Woman and you should be able to do the impossible in a split second?  If so, you are a lot like me and the pressure can really add up to be too much.

So, should you be a little bit easier on yourself?  Should you lighten the load and ease up on the strict rules you have in place?  Or should you keep striving for perfection and being upset and disappointed with yourself when you don’t quite measure up to your own standards?[pullquote]Are you setting yourself up for failure?[/pullquote]

There’s probably no easy answer to these questions, but we can take a look at some things that might help you be more successful.  First, it’s a good idea to make sure that your goals are reasonable (you and the average human actually can achieve the goal).

Second, give yourself enough time to accomplish your goal.  It has been said that there are no unrealistic goals, only unrealistic deadlines.  If you’re not allowing yourself enough time to accomplish your goal, set a new deadline.  You don’t have to burn off two pounds of fat a week if it’s making you miserable and you can’t function socially.  Maybe burning off one pound of fat a week is a better goal for you.  You will still be making progress toward your goal, just a little bit more slowly.  It’s better to make some progress toward your goals than none at all because you threw in the towel.

Remember the tortoise and the hare story?  Well, I’m sure you get my point.  It’s better to arrive at your destination a little later than planned than not at all.  Don’t be in such a rush to get to your final point.  Take a moment to stop and smell the roses (thorns and all) along the way.  Try to enjoy the journey. If your goals are unattainable with an unrealistic timeline, you will feel guilty and depressed when you don’t get there on time.  Don’t get yourself into that downward spiral.

As long as you are sticking to the plan, even if it’s allowing you a few days off from the gym and a couple cheat meals a week, you will still be making progress in the right direction.

Give yourself a break, ease up the timeline, and watch progress skyrocket!  Lighten Up Frances!  And see how much easier your life will be become!