Anchor Habit #2
When all else fails, the EASIEST habit to remember is the 50% Rule.
This one simply states:
If I had it TODAY, I don’t have it TOMORROW
OR
if I had it YESTERDAY, I don’t have it TODAY
Why is this so integral? How does it work?
The beauty of this rule is that it doesn’t deny you anything.
Rather, it just “delays” you a little longer.
Psychology research shows that if you “deny” someone something (by way of severe restrictions), many times this strategy backfires leading them to want MORE of it!
The 50% Rule doesn’t say you can’t have it, it says you can’t have it NOW… But, the option is still open on another day.
This is a great strategy for foods or drinks that you feel aren’t “serving you” in your Health & Wellness journey. For example, clients explain that they notice these items tend to “sneak” in each day – an alcoholic beverage every day at 5pm, a favourite dessert after each dinner, afternoon cookie with a cup of tea.
The 50% Rule puts in some breathing space, allows you a little break without restricting you to NEVER have it again. The minute someone says, “I’m never having X, Y, Z again!” I know that 99% of the time this will absolutely backfire on them…no one likes to hear the word never!
Longterm
Interestingly enough, when people arrive at the day they “can” have the certain food or drink, many times they may even delay it another day!
Hence, something they might have consumed habitually 6-7 days of the week, may turn into only indulging in this treat just 2-3 times per week.
Now you do the math on how awesome (and EASY!!!) this strategy is 😉
Moving towards Intuitive Eating
By instilling a forced break from your habitual eating patterns, you can learn to tune into your body. How did you feel on the “off” day? Did you sleep better? Do you feel less bloated? More energy? Less irritable? Take note of these indicators moving forward.
Over time, you may find these habits just naturally drop off on their own. Something that you might have eaten or drank quite frequently, may simply turn into something that you only have on the odd occasion.
Once we take the fire and desperation out of these habits, the attention and lustre of it all simply wears off and you learn to outgrow them. This doesn’t happen overnight, but is very common as you move through your journey of eating naturally and intuitively.
Again, we’re absolutely not denying ourselves of the enjoyment of food and drink – we’re putting these items into perspective and allowing a treat to be be just that, a treat 🙂
