Come January 1st, many of us are able to easily propel ourselves into achieving lofty health goals through sheer determination and willpower. Fueled on our accomplishment and brimming with pride we may remain buoyant on a streak of goal crushing another week, maybe two. Circle back to us later on, though, and most of the momentum we’ve built up is near to non-existent, and inconsistent, sputtering efforts replace the steady confident stream of success we experienced at outset. 

This week at PSC we dig into not only why this phenomena occurs, but what we can do to turn this understanding into long-term, sustainable and nearly frictionless healthy habits well beyond the New Year.

Why do we lose our momentum and what can we do about it?

In brief - because we are wired to. Sheer willpower is simply too flimsy a structure to build over years, in some cases decades, of old habits and behavior. As habits atomist James Clear stated, We do not rise to the level of our goals. We fall to the level of our systems. Our habits are our systems. We rely on our habits so that we don’t waste time and energy thinking about every step in activities we repeat daily, weekly and beyond. This system is so efficient that we are often completely oblivious to the fact that it is running like scripts of code, informing and directing our daily actions and behaviors. 

So if willpower isn’t enough to disrupt our habits, what is? Scaffolding. Rather than trying to use dogged determination to obliterate old habits, take note of them, let them be, and build on them. Bit by bit we can build on our hard-wiring and carve out new habits that are near frictionless and easy to sustain.

Taking Action

To ensure our new scaffolding is both durable and malleable enough to affix over our ingrained habits, it’s critical to examine three key areas: Mindset | Accountability | Hidden Barriers

NEW PSC Nutrition Services

If one of your primary goals is to build healthier eating habits, PSC’s resident doctor of nutrition and registered dietician, Dr. Chinara Tate is now taking on a

limited number of clients for 30, 45 and 60 minute nutrition consultations including the following services:

• Behavioral approach to nutrition goals uncovering how daily habits and routines influence your food choices
• Assessment of daily activities across four primary dimensions - diet, exercise, sleep and social connection. 
• Using science-based practice and a collaborative approach, we will develop a clear plan for behavior change aimed at improving your dietary choices, restoring energy balance and optimizing your mental and physical well-being.
• 24-hour dietary analysis highlighting potential areas of micronutrient deficiency
• A ‘whole food script’ to help you obtain more of these micronutrients from whole, nutrient-dense and bioavailable sources

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment for a virtual session with Dr. Tate and receiving a fee schedule for these services please e-mail drtate@pearlstreeetcaviar.com