I was reading a book on companies that found themselves reaching heights they never thought they could reach.
Something that came up in a handful of companies was “To Don’t” lists. I’ve never heard of this concept before but It made so much sense.
When we have a goal that we want to reach, there will be a HUGE list of things that we “should” do to get there. When someone wants to lose weight–> they have to eat less, move more, sleep better, exercise, drink water, and manage stress.
Imagine adding in every single one of these into your life right now. How long do you think you would last?
For me, not too long. I need to pace myself, focus on a few things or maybe just need to focus on things I shouldn’t do.
Don’t eat dessert after dinner
Don’t drink alcohol this month
Don’t scroll the phone before bed
Don’t get takeout this week
Don’t drink soda this week
Instead of:
Go to the gym 3x this week
Drink a gallon of water every day
Walk 4x this week
Eat protein with every meal
Go to bed at the same time each night
It’s not a matter of which one of these lists is more effective, it’s a matter of which one we can actually follow long enough to see a result. I have seen more and more people do better with refraining from certain activities than I have trying to insert new habits into their day.
Give this one a try with a small goal you want to reach for. Obviously along the way there are things you will need to do to get there, but a To Don’t list can help get things started or even just keep things on track throughout the process.
In good health,
Jeff
