OK, just for clarity, I'm not talking about physical slip ups that land you on your tushie! Those bad boys - we want to avoid!

I'm talking more about say, doing more Pilates or eating more veggies. Maybe you've said to yourself "I'll start again on Monday."

But in the meantime, you've kind of felt like a failure. Or thought "Well, it doesn't matter now. I've had a couple of biscuits, I might as well finish the packet".

It really matters less than you think

Here's the thing. Our health is impacted more by what we do most of the time than by each individual day, meal or action.

In fact, being able to be flexible is what will take you to a healthier place.

A 2009 study (linked below) challenged that missing a day or two in your goal of habit formation - be that movement, food habits or other - made almost no difference whatsoever to the overall creation of that habit!

Meaning if you had a goal to say, do Pilates every week, and you missed a week, well, it wouldn't mean that you'd never do Pilates again. You'd just get back on it again the week after.

Why does the average matter more?

Multiple studies have proven that those who eat healthily on most days or exercise regularly have lower disease risks and on average live longer.

Does a sausage sandwich once in a while matter if you're trying to eat a more plant-based diet, for example? No. 

If you eat more plants, more of the time, fantastic.

Why? Because your body and your gut microbiome tend to look at what's happened over several days and not on any one day. It's the steady pattern that makes the difference.

In fact, research indicates that where individuals get overly fixated on good habits, it can slip over into disordered eating or exercise patterns.

What does flexibility look like?

Well, not beating yourself up if things don't go quite to plan for a start!

Can't make your regular Pilates class this week? 

- Head to the Virtual Vault and do one of the recordings. Doesn't even matter if you haven't got time for a full class. Just move.

- Or do an extra class another time. 

- Or do a different class to your usual. It might be a nice change, especially if you choose a class with an instructor you don't usually go to. We're all a bit different!

Had cake at an event?

- No worries, get back to your regular eating after. 

Going out to eat?

- Choose what sounds good not what you think you "should" eat. Especially if you're eating out with me. I'm not gonna judge. I might get food envy though.

Let your meal & movement choices vary day by day

Rather than focusing on sticking to strict rules.

Read more:

Modelling habit formation in the real world

Why do we find it hard to finish what we started?