Challenge Yourself To Be 1% Better
June 15, 2021
Take action and start.
So much of our time is wasted by having too big of a focus and not taking action. Start to see BIG results when you shift to striving to be 1% better in everything you can and taking action right away. Strive to present yourself at your best and feel the difference. So much of optimal health starts from a calm and focused headspace. Start by getting your ass up early, dressing for success and getting outside of your comfort zone.
You likely know what you need to focus on right now to be 1% better. It can be as simple as it meal prepping 1 day of lunches, exercising consistently on Monday morning, setting aside 5 minutes to meditate or calling up one friend that you have been meaning to catch up with.
Stop Writing To-Do Lists... Just Do It!
Take action and start. Do your best and progress regardless of how messy it may look in the beginning. Every time you have a small win, you get a dopamine hit and it feels good. Much of riding the wave of success is wrapped up in your mindset. Matthew McConaughey hit the nail on the head in his book Greenlights with the concept of “greenlighting,” meaning that once you are able to identify the ENERGY of what achieving goals feels like, you will know exactly what you are looking for.
Whether you are looking to be the best in your field as an athlete, entrepreneur, or optimizing your health you need to “get in the zone” or find a flow state. To do so you need to break down the actions necessary to get you to that bigger prize in the sky. Break it down into itty bitty bite sized pieces – 1% improvements you can constantly commit to achieving. This is creating compounding interest if you will in your life.
Being 1% better may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things. In America, so often we fall for the trap that “Bigger is Better!” but you’re smarter than that. You see the value in simplicity. Small, simple steps are doable and something you can focus on and CRUSH! Plus, it feels good to look back on the day and count your successes.
Start Small and Build
Pick out 1-3 goals and START NOW. Keep it simple. If you are trying to do a crazy 30 day overhaul of your diet, exercise routine, start to meditate, start journaling, and heck why not try to get your significant other all in the same month! By the end of the day, how would you feel? Naturally you’d be feeling overwhelmed and that “being healthier” is just a daunting task that is not for you!
Being healthier and more successful in multiple capacities does not have to be a chore. Keep it simple and add new layers to build you up each day with your 1% successes. Over the course of a year, you will be over 300% better than when you started!
Be Kind and Trust in the Process
As you are pushing yourself to make changes, remember to be kind to yourself along the way! Celebrate those small wins like waking up right away, shutting the phone off early at night or having a mindful moment during the day. So much of our internal chatter is like the stacking of dominos.
Practice positivity and you will notice a lot more good things stacked in your favor. You will train your mind to seek out that good. This mindset will also open up new opportunities and ideas and, quite frankly, it’s attractive to those around you!
Focus on the negative, “I messed up here, I didn’t do xyz, my legs are abc” and you will not get very far. Complaining and unnecessary criticism creates a closed mindset. Start this week by winning small. Do the things that you know will build you up and celebrate those wins! Have a positive mantra or enjoy an at home (or in van) “spa day” at the end of the week. Self love will take you a long way but those little compounding actions are what will seal the deal!
How do you plan to be 1% better this week? Comment below! I would love to hear about it!
Want personalized strategies to be 1% better?
Eleanor Baker MS, RD, CSSD
Hello! My name is Eleanor and I am a Registered Dietitian (RD) and Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD), founder of Elevated Nutrition and Wellness and the Sports Nutrition Consultant for UC Santa Barbara Athletics. Since 2016, I have helped athletes and active individuals fuel smarter, recover faster, and heal through simple and sustainable nutrition and lifestyle interventions. I combine my clinical expertise with a personalized, high-performance approach to help clients achieve lasting results so they can live happier and healthier lifestyles.