Kick your plateau mentality

All of these areas require determination and discipline to simply maintain—and even more concentrated efforts when it’s time to jazz things up.

Face it. Life hits mediocre sometimes. It just does. So often we catastrophize: ‘I’m destined to never lose weight!’ (four weeks into a new program.) ‘This isn’t the job I thought it would be. I’d better look again’ (six months into a new position.) ‘I married the wrong person’ (two years into a new union.)

What if you took the following viewpoint instead? What if you considered each plateau in life a necessary resting platform before you take the next big step? A chance to catch your breath, re-evaluate your course, and go again—this time more adventurously?

What if it didn’t mean you were doing anything wrong at all? Maybe it’s just a chance for your body (or career or spouse) to catch up. Nothing more dramatic than that. How would that perspective transform and invigorate you anew?

I’ve been on a running plateau for the last few months. For the first time in 15 years of consistent running, I’ve completely and utterly lost my zest. A lot of it has to do with a rather long-standing, medically inexplicable energy funk I’ve been in for a couple years now. Still, I find it a bit disconcerting that I’m running less than I ever have (struggling through three days of 30 minutes.)

And you know what…So what? I’ve also discovered a new appreciation for, and joy in, practicing yoga. Sweaty, stretching, muscles-quivering yoga. So I’ll suck up the running plateau if it means I get to reinvent my activity anew.

And so can you, with whatever plateau you find yourself on. Here’s how:

Expect it. Assume you’ll hit a plateau once, twice, many times. Life is about 99% journeying through the ordinary day-to-day happenings of doing dishes and driving your commute—as opposed to the drama portrayed on TV. It’s what you do with the moments in between each dish or destination that count.

Dig in. I could sit here and tell you what you likely already know about how to break a plateau. i.e. Mix up your exercise routine, re-establish date night, ask for a challenging work assignment, etc. Pick any strategy. It’s sure to work. Just stick to it—that’s the important thing.

Celebrate. You’re maintaining your status quo. In many cases when it comes to your well-being, that alone is a big huge whopping win.

What other ways have YOU found to break a plateau?

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Stop letting the scale define you!

Studies show that external measures of: achievement (i.e. counting calories), success or lackthereof (i.e. your weight on a scale) and rewards (i.e. money) often don’t motivate, and, in many cases de-motivate. Yet many weight loss programs emphasize the numbers.

The same is true for health improvement programs designed to lower your cholesterol and blood glucose or boost your muscle strength—except the difference here is that most people don’t get nearly as anxious and emotionally involved as they do with weight.

The reality is the numbers are helpful in alerting you as to how well your habit changes are working, and if some tweaking is needed. So, how can you refrain from seeing the number on the scale as somehow a measure of your worth?

Speaking of numbers, here are 3 ways to resolve this conundrum and shift your perspective:

1.) Become aware. Of the silly tape recorder running in your head comparing you to others, chastising you for “failures” (personally, I don’t believe in failure of any kind, just lessons), and generally tearing you down. This is your inner saboteur; it is not your true self. Recognize these thoughts, and then kick them to the curb by laughing at them, sharing them, exposing them for the twisted views that they are.

2.) Stay focused. On your compelling vision of well-being and the daily behavior changes you are putting into place that feel amazing. These need to feel rewarding in and of themselves or you won’t continue them…and then what does it matter if you lose weight but don’t keep it off because you chose unmanageable quick-fix strategies?

3.) Trust your instincts. As to what feels right and successful for you. Ask yourself: What if you never had access to a scale again, how would you know you’re being successful? Go at your own pace, and let the results take care of themselves.

I invite you to share your thoughts: How do the numbers make YOU feel? How can you start to see them in a different light?

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