Growing obesity and higher levels of personal debt are 2 different modern phenomenon. There is no obvious connection between the two, but both problems share many similarities. These ideas suggest that the solution to many of our problems share certain key characteristics.
Whatever we wish to achieve, the solution is rarely gained through looking for some miracle product. The solution invariably lies through a change in our attitude and frame of mind.
The Road is Paved with Good Intentions
It is good to have a hope for achieving our targets. But, to be successful, we need more than half-hearted good intentions. To make significant changes in our life we need to be focused and fully committed. Alas, we cannot reduce weight by talking about how desirable it would be. Nor can we reduce our debt through wishful thinking; it requires determination and continued commitment.
Life Long habits
We are constantly bombarded by instant fixes — the seven week diet, and debt settlement plans which will solve all our money problems. These products are marketed as the panacea to all our problems. However, they rarely tackle the underlying problems.
Switching debt to lower interest rates is good. But, it doesn’t resolve the fundamental problem which is our desire to spend more than income. Crash diets often have a temporary effect, only for the weight to later pile back on. Successful dieters suggest that the most successful solution is careful, common sense, sustainable changes to our diet. To reduce our propensity to get into debt, we need to carefully re-evaluate our spending patterns - not just keep looking for the latest financial product.
Change Your Thinking
It is our own thinking that determines our outer circumstances. Perhaps our weight problem is due to our association between eating and happiness. Perhaps subconsciously we feel that if we eat our problems can be temporarily ignored. Unless we tackle thought patterns such as these, dieting is always going to be an uphill struggle. Similarly to reduce debt we have to change our association with compulsive spending and happiness.
Stick To Your Goals
The key to success is sticking to an inner discipline. We can always justify to ourselves over eating or over spending; but, unless we can stick to our plans and targets we will struggle to make any real difference. Start with achievable goals and continue to monitor your progress as you work to your target.
80/20 Principle
This is a general principle that 80% of our results can be gained from just 20% of our efforts. In reducing debt. If we can move our balance to a lower interest rate and then pay an extra amount of repayment, we will see a snowball effect generated. This refers to the small amount of extra repayment having a big cumulative effect.
In reducing weight we may find that reducing consumption of certain foods can make a big difference; we don’t need to stop eating, we just need to moderate our eating habits, e.g. cutting out certain fatty foods. Alternatively walking to work, rather than catching the bus may take only an extra 10 minutes, but this could have a big effect on burning up fat.
You Have to Do It
We can take advice from other people; we can read books written by experts; but, if we really wish to make changes in our lives it is we ourselves who have to make the change. To reduce our debt and to gain control of our weight, we need to take personal responsibility. If we have an attitude that things are beyond our control we will never be able to achieve our goals. With either dieting or reducing debt, we have to feel that it is through our own choices that we will either solve the problem or make it worse.
Tejvan Pettinger teaches Economics at a sixth form college in Oxford. He enjoy writing on topics of economics, personal finance and self development. Recent articles include >how to transcend your limitations at Sri Chinmoy Inspiration.
(5 votes, average: 3 out of 5)
Loading ...
Hey Tejvan,
Great Post!
One addition might be - Finish what you start!
The number one reason we don’t achieve what we set out to is we don’t finish what we start.
It’s not a talent, opportunity or timing issue… it’s a ‘perseverance’ issue.
We are a collective of people who are constantly starting and stopping things.
Consistency is the key.
Why don’t most people who join gyms achieve their goals?
They don’t go.
They start but they don’t finish.
Even when the motivation wears off (and it will) do it anyway.
Even when it ain’t fun (and it won’t be sometimes) do it anyway.
When others throw in the towel, you stay committed.
If you want to be like everybody else, do what they do.
If you want to be exceptional, do exceptional things.
Persevere.
Get the job done.
Hey Tejvan, a very nice post. Good round up of very solid principles, thanks for that.
Cheers,
Albert | UrbanMonk.Net
Modern personal development, entwined with ancient spirituality.
Greats to reads your post , money saving & trimming body Ha !
Thank you
Tracy Ho
Wisdom Getting Loaded
Great post. I’m a huge fan of the 80/20 rule. Basically, I’d suggest starting with just one thing that can make a difference; preferably the one that will make the most difference. It’s easier to commit to making small changes at a time and the effect really does compound. Keep it up!
I liked the idea of save money and improve your health, live fit and enjoy life. Thank you.
Snacking can be considered as a healthy substitute to any weight loss dieting program. Go for the snack that satisfies your hunger and provides you sufficient energy and nutrients. Go for different types of snacks so that you can get multiple nutrients.
Tejvan:
One of the most important fundamentals is understanding that if we make a firm decision and take responsibility, we’re better able to follow through and see to its completion. Half wishing or saying things like “Well, I hope to lose weight” isn’t going to cut it.
This was a timely article because the new year is coming up and many people are probably going to be setting new goals and/or resolutions. It’s a good reminder that in order to be successful with anything, they have to be willing to take responsibility.
Great post!
Thanks for all the comments.
I’m currently on holiday in the Carribean (spending lots of money, eating too much food e.t.c
so I don’t have too much time to respond (and internet is so slow in Dominican Republic.)
I like the connection between exercise and debt…or between exercise and any other challenge. The best thing about doing a workout every day or so is not how you look, or how clear it makes your head. For me, it’s the chance to face down my fears and my negative voices every day. If you try to stay a little outside your comfort zone (meaning off the couch for an hour a day), ignoring those voices that hammer away to prevent you from making a change becomes second-nature. Once you get good at making yourself do the uncomfortable in one context, it’s a lot easier to move it into other contexts. You learn to just get on with it because there’s a big pay-off you can’t get to without it.
I agree also with Craig Harper’s excellent comment.
Changing habits is really changing one’s behaviour.
I recommend the following book:
“Self-directed behaviour: Self-modification for Personal adjusment” by David L. Watson & Roland G. Tharp
Don’t be put off by it being a psychology text-book. It’s perfectly readable for the layperson and it gives some very practical and realistic advice and statergies. Approach it with an open and curious mind.
I finally gave up soft drink/sodas after several years of trying. I discovered this book one month into giving up soft drinks and the tactics I had been using were a very neat fit with the material in the book.
The key to change is to have patience and use failure as a learning experience. Craig Harper is right about perserverance. Sometimes one has to be a slave to the grind with exercise.
In my decade and a half of reading widely in the self-development field this is one of the best books that I have read.
Have a happy holiday season.
[…] to lose weight. By going straight to your subconscious, you are able to eliminate the root of the weight loss problem: your conscious mind. The conscious mind tells you that it is impossible, and that you will […]
[…] The beauty with growing them under a straw mat is that you take the guess work out of the growing. You can actually lift the corner of the straw and see your potatoes developing. When you are close to harvest, you simply pull out some of the bigger ones for early eating, without killing off the plant. […]