Chasing numbers isn’t a sustainable health strategy
When I ask my clients what good health looks like to them I often get an answer with a few numbers in it. Numbers on scales. Numbers of kilograms lifted. Numbers of kilometres run. Number of minutes meditated. Number of hours slept.
It's a typical approach to health (and life). We’re told to set targets or SMART goals and get after them. Once we achieve them then we will be healthy and possess all those other qualities that we may be lacking.
Numbers do give us important information about our health status. Blood tests provide information that should inform our lifestyle choices (and potential need for medication). Numbers on scales can be helpful if we need awareness of our weight in order to drive healthful actions (BUT most people know if they are a healthy weight without having to step on the scales). The number of kg lifted or km run can help us predict what we’re likely to be able to do physically in both the short and long term.
But chasing the numbers doesn’t lead to good health in the long run.
The number most people choose is arbitrary. When I ask people why they picked that number, they either struggle for an answer, or give some pseudo-scientific explanation they have heard a “guru” spout. Every now and then I’m pleasantly surprised when someone tells me “I really like the way my body feels and the energy levels I have when I am X weight”.
We know that most people who diet to lose weight, don’t keep that weight off. In fact they end up back at the same weight they started out at.
When you set targets for your health, where do you go when you achieve that number? Often back to your old habits because you were focused on the target as opposed to sustainably changing your health behaviours. And where do you go when you don’t achieve the number? Again, back to your old habits, but with a feeling of failure and a loss of self-worth.
How should we think about health instead?
Chasing numbers focuses on the metric
Pursuing health opportunities focuses on the experience
Health is an experience not an outcome
These numbers you are chasing are a tangible representation of an experience you desire.
“I want to run this far” = “I want to feel fit”
“I want to lift this much” = “I want to feel strong”
“I want to do this much meditation” = “I want to feel more composed and self-aware”
“I want to sleep this much” = “I want to feel energised”
“I want to weigh this much” = let's not go down that rabbit hole
Instead of targeting an arbitrary number, look for the feeling behind the target. How do you want to feel? How do you want to be?
This vision informs how you want to be in your life. It starts to help you select practices that support that way of being.
Stop racing for a goal as quickly as possible. Instead choose practices that support how you want to feel. It’s more sustainable, AND more enjoyable. Instead of the 6 week bikini body bootcamp blitz that changes nothing about how you live, these practices invest in your health over the long term.
Focusing on experience allows you to individualise your health decisions. Focus on your unique journey and change who you are as you take that journey. Health targets focus on the destination and neglect the journey. They give you less capacity for meaningful change
Numbers can be great motivators when it comes to working on your health. They can help you get going. They can engage your competitive spirit when you feel a little flat. And they can help build your health awareness.
BUT
They shouldn’t be ALL of your health strategy, otherwise you’ll fail to make long term progress.
Thanks for reading. When you’re ready to improve your health, here are a few ways we can help with that.
Want to improve the performance of yourself or your organisation through health and wellbeing. Please feel free to book in a time for a 30 minute introductory chat https://calendly.com/healthmentors/30min
Grab a copy of our “My Health Plan - dial in your health and improve your performance in the midst of a chaotic world” e-book. Simply send me a message and I’ll fire it through to you.
Listen to “Uncomfortable is OK” a mental wellbeing and performance podcast helping us get better at navigating challenge https://uncomfortable-is-ok.castos.com/
