By Failing to Plan, You’re Preparing to Fail
October 19, 2022 | Words by Gabe Yanez
Preparation Over Everything
For the most part, we all know what to do to feel and look our best. We need to eat nutrient-dense whole foods, exercise consistently, and prioritize adequate sleep and hydration. That’s it. That’s the simple secret to looking good and feeling great.
But why is following that simple prescription so difficult for so many people? Perhaps it comes down to a lack of preparation.
After all, if you fail to plan, you’re inevitably planning to fail.
Prepare Today, Succeed Tomorrow
People often talk about motivation and discipline when it comes to adopting healthy habits. It’s easy to eat healthy and work out when you’re motivated. The problem with motivation, however, is that it won’t always be there.
When motivation inevitably runs dry, it will take discipline to stay on track and get the things done to move you closer to your goals.
But the one piece that is often overlooked in this conversation of motivation versus discipline is preparation.
Preparation is simply frontloading your discipline so that you need less of it down the road.
That’s how you can prepare today so that you can succeed tomorrow.
One Thing to Try This Week: Prepare
Here are a few ways that preparation can help you stick to your healthy habits this week.
Hydration: Find a water bottle that is big enough to fit your hydration needs in 2-3 refills and carry that with you everywhere you go. Tape a note to your bottle and track your refills throughout the day. The constant reminder of the note should make it easier for you to stay on top of your hydration.
Nutrition: Meal prep your protein at the start of the week. You can still prepare different carb options daily to keep meals tasting different but have 3-4 days of ground beef, ground turkey, or chicken ready to go in the fridge. By combining other toppings, sauces, and carbs, you can create different, nutrient-dense, protein-rich meals without having to cook a protein every day.
Fitness: Put blocks into your calendar for 3-5 workouts this week. Whether taking a class or using the NCFIT App for your workouts, make sure you have time aside in your calendar to get it done. Treat these blocks as non-negotiables. You’ll be surprised how consistent you can be if you just go into the week with a plan and a schedule.
