One of the most common issues holding back new Gyroscope members from success is not a missing wearable or lack of motivation, but something much more dangerous: an “all or nothing” mentality to life and health. This is one of the most common cognitive biases — like confirmation bias, anchoring or sunk cost — that can reduce the quality of our decision making and impact our health.
We tend to think only in two extremes: All or Nothing. On the wagon, off the wagon. On a strict diet, or eating junk food. Working out intensely, or being completely sedentary. Sleeping at 10pm or staying up all night. Focusing on our health, or putting it on hold entirely.
However, these are not the only options! A balanced and consistent approach will give better results with minimal effort. Once you become aware of this bias, you can start to counteract it by noticing when it happens and finding new options that avoid both extremes.
Driving a Car
Managing your health can be like driving a car. Sometimes, when the road is wide open, you can go as fast as you can. Other times, there may be a lot of traffic and you slow down. Ideally, you continue to move towards your destination, sometimes fast and sometimes slow, until you get there.
If you took one wrong turn or encountered some slow traffic, would you turn back home or wait until next year? Definitely not. Unfortunately, people give up on their health goals entirely when they encounter some obstacles in the road. You also wouldn’t go far above the speed limit, risking a ticket or dangerous accident. That is the equivalent of starting some unsustainable diet or extreme workout routine on January 1, and then burning out only a few weeks later instead of getting to your goal.