My last article focused on the challenges we may face as life starts to get back to some level of normality. I experienced this first-hand last week. I had a wobble, not a big one, but enough to knock me off track. Being out on the road attending face-to-face meetings led to me making poor food choices, failing to rest and recuperate well, and missing exercise sessions. I kept telling myself, “I’ll catch up tomorrow.” Guess what, tomorrow never comes.

I lacked energy, wasn’t happy, and just couldn’t get fired up about anything. But what I have found interesting is that I quickly recognized the triggers, and I put this down to everything I have learned over the last 18 months. More importantly, I have methods and strategies to fix it just as quickly, preventing regression into bad habits that I have tried so hard to change.

I’ve gone back to basics, planned the coming week like a military operation, including what, when, and where I am eating and exercising. I will ‘beat the week’ by having more good days than bad, go back to saying no (nicely, of course), and focus on myself.

This process reminded me of the mantra “never miss twice.” Sage advice from Alex Myers, a performance coach I had the pleasure of seeing speak as part of a habit-forming course. The premise is that it is OK to slip up and that no one is perfect, so don’t try and be. But, and there is a but, only slip up once, never twice. Why? Because two become three, becomes four, and before you know it, new habits have ceased (and in extreme cases, never to return!). So, if you miss that training session, make sure you smash the next one. If you can’t be bothered to cook and call for a takeaway, make sure you eat healthy the following day. Pretty simple stuff, but sometimes we need a reminder and the call to take positive action.

If you have never come across Alex Myers before, check him out at The Better Man on Facebook, or follow him on LinkedIn and Instagram, to see the brilliant content he shares.

You can also find out about my ideas, techniques, and strategies that I adopt to stay on a healthy path in my book Fuelled, Fit and Fired Up. Check it out on Amazon today. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B094RC545Q/