Your Fitness Progress Depends On Your Ability to Say No

Making progress regarding health and fitness is just as much, if not more so, dependent upon your ability to say no than it is to what you’re doing to reach your goals. Oftentimes, we have to say no to things and people to make progress. Yes, this can include good things that we enjoy, things we want, and people who mean well.

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” -Jim Rohn

Let’s just use this one since it’s THE most common justification for not following through on health goals…

“I don’t have time.”

The truth is, too many people simply don’t know how to say no or when to cut what out of their schedule. They’re too distracted. They have a hard time with priorities and determining what needs to be done and what can wait or be delegated. They’re not being purposeful in that regard, and in losing that sense of productivity, they don’t even know how much time they have or don’t have. Most people underestimate or simply have no idea how many hours a day they spend on idle activities such as social media and television. They also tend to over-commit and stretch themselves too thin.

So, if we know that it’s not about having time, but instead making time, how do we do that?

This is where learning how to say no comes in. Learning how to cut things out and make room for what we need or want to do is what will determine your level of progress and success in any area.

If you know you don’t get enough sleep and it’s negatively affecting your health, cut something out in the evenings and go to bed earlier- Netflix, social media, yes, even work! Learn how to be more efficient during the day, and then get to bed at night.

If you know your health problems are because you don’t move enough during the day, block off a section of time to move. You do not need a gym or even equipment to move.

If you have specific goals to accomplish a specific thing, you need to start nixing the things that don’t align with them and distract you from them- the time wasters, the energy suckers, the naysayers, the bad influences. Unfollow people who post negativity and pee on your flame. Instead, get around people who light your fire, share your dreams, encourage you, and are doing or have done what it is you want to do.

Your mindset and environment, and what you allow into either one, will make or break any progress you intend to make in any given area. 

Learn to say no to make room for better yeses, because here’s the hard truth…

No boss, kids, parents, family, friends, teachers, no one is to blame for your lack of time or responsible for how you utilize your time, but YOU.

I know. Ouch. It’s initially harsh and maybe even scary, but when we come to accept this truth and the power that comes with it, it’s ultimately freeing. 

So, I'll leave you with this...

What's one thing that you know has been holding you back from nailing down a new healthy habit or making further progress? I'm going to challenge you to say no to something this week that will free up time for something you need.

Keep shining.

Your trainer & coach,

Kandis