Struggling to establish a new wellness habit? When developing healthy habits feels overwhelming, shift your focus to the “Power of One.” Think in terms of small actions to take today rather than the magnitude of changes over the long-term.
It’s not uncommon for my wellness coaching clients to come to me after trying and failing several times to change their habits. They get discouraged by the magnitude of the change or the length of time it will take to reach their health goals. Often, they get so overwhelmed by this, they stop trying at all.
Sound familiar? If so, try the “Power of One” approach.
The “Power of One” Approach for Healthy Habits
To prevent overwhelm, consider just one thing you can do today that will move you closer to your health and wellness goal. The caveat is that you must be able and willing to do it today. This forces you to consider actions that are:
- Immediate,
- Realistic, and
- Within your control.
Commit to doing this action just once, and then do it today.
For example, someone who wants to improve their nutrition might commit to eating one apple at lunch. Another person who wants to exercise regularly might commit to buying the athletic shoes they need to workout. Yet another person who wants to learn to control their stress and anxiety might commit to doing one session of belly breathing for five minutes.
How the “Power of One” Approach Helps You Change Your Habits
This approach accomplishes a few things:
1. It helps you identify a starting point. Today.
2. It helps you focus on one thing that can be done with minimal effort. Today.
3. It keeps your focus on the little picture. I’m not asking you to commit to anything more than this one task. Today.
Notice the trend? It’s all about today.
Focusing on one small thing today decreases the overwhelming nature of large-scale habit change. It’s a baby step, and the road to sustainable habit change is paved with a series of successful baby steps.
Why the “Power of One” Approach Works For Habit Change
Many of us struggle to change bad habits or develop new habits when we expect everything to change at once. Instead of motivating us, mindsets that foster striving, perfectionism, and all-or-nothing approaches derail our efforts. These mindsets make us think we must do way more than is possible or in a way that we’re not yet capable.
On the other hand, focusing on the “Power of One” approach safeguards us from these limiting beliefs. We no longer feel the need to have everything figured out, to behave perfectly, or to change all at once. Instead, we are free to take a small step, experiment with curiosity, and embody a more compassionate mindset.
Almost every coaching client I’ve worked with has utilized the “Power of One” approach to accomplish their health goals. Typically, this occurs when we review their health goal and the action items they intend to take in the upcoming week.
Clients will pause and ask, “Is this really enough?” My answer is always, “If you’re taking one step forward, no matter how small, it is enough.” Time and again I’ve seen this approach work.
A Compelling Metaphor for the “Power of One”
Prior to becoming a wellness coach, I worked as a business consultant, educator, and trainer. Frequently, I used illustrations and metaphors to inspire clients and students. I loved to use a metaphor presented in the short book 212° The Extra Degree.
I wrote about this metaphor in the very early days of the blog. Read it here!
In this booklet, Sam Parker discusses the boiling temperature for water. On the surface this may not sound very inspiring, but hear me out! At 211° water is simply hot. It’s not until it reaches 212° that it boils.
A one-degree shift in temperature makes all the difference. It seems like a small change, but in fact it’s monumental. At this temperature, water changes to steam, which is powerful enough to move a locomotive.
Parker gives similar examples of the impact of one, small incremental shift. One golf stroke is enough to decide a championship. A fraction of a second is enough to win a gold medal in the Olympics. One ingredient in a recipe can change the whole flavor. The examples are endless.
The “Power of One” can be huge for something so small. In the area of habit change, one change done consistently, over time, can have transformative consequences.
Small Changes, Big Transformation
Using the “Power of One” approach to change our habits is one small change we can make to prioritize our health and build resilience. Wellness doesn’t have to feel so overwhelming. Give this approach a try this week and let me know how it goes!
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