I’d be willing to bet you clicked this link because you, like 99 out of 100 people, love a solid tip or trick to help gain instant results. I mean, who doesn’t want that? Results overnight? Uh, yes please! More success with less work on your end is always a great thing.
We’re not going to tell you to drink grapefruit juice to burn more fat or anything gimmicky, despite the title of this post suggesting that might be the case. No, we’re going to give you a bit more substance than that.
So just what is this one thing that you can do to help you overcome sticking points and see more results?
We’ll tell you, but in order to drive home our point, let’s first conduct an experiment. Right now, as you sit down reading this, take your right foot and draw clockwise circles in the air. Now at the same time with your right hand, draw the number 6 in the air repeatedly. What happened?
If you’re like 99% of people, your brain just failed and you seemingly lost control of your limbs.
Why this is difficult from a scientific or neuromuscular standpoint is not the point we’re trying to make. However, it does illustrate the fact that multitasking is a complete and utter myth.
What really happens when you multitask is that you ‘task-switch’ instead of focusing on two things at the same time. This means you can’t split your attention between two tasks simultaneously and accomplish twice the amount in half the time. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Studies have shown that when you try and multitask between two or more tasks, you take about 40% longer to accomplish those tasks compared to completing them separately.
You simply cannot (effectively) complete two tasks at once. Your brain is hardwired to focus on only one thing at a time. Many of you out there think you’re the exception, but trust us, you’re not. Your confidence is matched only by your inefficiency. #TheTruthHurts
And while this multitasking talk typically refers to tasks such as reading, sending emails, holding a conversation, writing, driving, etc., the same thing can apply to your health and fitness. Especially when you’ve hit a plateau. Many times when people embark on their quest for better health and fitness, they have a laundry list of things to overhaul and change.
Better diet, more sleep, better sleep, manage stress, time management, strength train, take fish oil, eliminate sugar, daily cardio, stretch, meal prep, eat more protein, should I buy a shake weight?
And while tackling this whole list all at once is admirable, its honestly setting you up for failure. Trying to focus on aaaall of those things at once is not only hard, it’s damn near impossible.
So the one thing you need to do in order to break through plateaus and see results is the one thing that will directly have the biggest impact on your particular goals.
If you’re just starting out or are stuck in a rut, stop trying to focus on 30 things at once! Pick the one thing that will lead to the most success for your goals. If you’re not sure which one that is, here are some of the factors that tend to lead to the most success for the more common health and fitness goals.
Fat loss – sleep, diet, strength training
Weight gain – sleep, diet, high volume strength training
Increased strength – lifting weights, sleep, diet
Improved endurance – various methods of cardiovascular exercise, strength training
Increased mobility – soft tissue work, stretching, mobility drills, breathing drills, decrease stress
Decreased stress – meditation, exercise, sleep
Better sleep – set a consistent sleep schedule, no electronics one hour before bed, get more sunlight exposure, exercise more, decrease stress
Now, I know what you may be thinking… “Hey MORON, there’s more than one thing in each of those categories. You just told me to pick one!” Correct, once you’ve identified your goal, pick the ONE factor that you struggle with out of those choices. Let’s look at fat loss as an example.
For optimal fat loss, you absolutely need to sleep well, eat better, and strength train. You simply won’t see results without addressing all three of these things. But you just need to identify the one thing you struggle with the most. Which of those 3 things do you need to place 100% of your focus on to see better results?
This doesn’t mean neglect the other two, but you need to make one of these things top priority. By focusing on one thing, your probable weakest link, you’ll start to see more results. Sleep like a baby and have no issues making it to the gym? Well, sounds like you need to make your nutrition your one thing.
Once you’ve improved that one thing, developed a habit or two, and shifted how you approach that one thing, now it’s time to move on to the next ‘one thing’. Think of your one thing as the meat to your entree, while the other factors, the ones you’re good at, are the side dishes. Eventually you may get to the point where you don’t need a ‘one thing’ because you’ve developed a nice set of engrained habits surrounding multiple factors. But until then, the one thing is a solid approach!
And if you still need help, don’t be a stranger! We always eager to help you guys out however we can. Don’t be afraid to reach out by clicking this link!
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