Why Is It So Hard To Start New Habits?

It's really a physics problem.

I get it. You’ve tried a ton of different things to lose weight and balance your blood sugar and get your energy back.

Maybe your doctor has told you to try eating a healthier diet and exercising a few times a week.

You’ve tried all the diets, joined the gym, then joined another gym.

But while you’ve made some progress, you feel like you just slide back into old habits and lose your progress.

The weight comes back, your blood pressure ticks back up, and you’re still tired all the time.

What’s more, you’re too tired to play with your kids, and activities you used to enjoy now just feel exhausting.

It’s super frustrating. It can feel like you’re on a treadmill, and not in a good way.

Why?!

It’s called Inertia.

It’s a science-y term that basically says something that’s not moving will stay that way unless something changes.

(You. That means you.)

You are dealing with inertia, and it can be a tough force to change.

Yes, you have tried to change your habits, but the change hasn’t been sustained long enough or with enough consistency to break your inertia.

So it’s just easier to keep doing the same thing you’ve been doing rather than put the effort in to make a consistent change.

This doesn’t make you lazy! Really, breaking inertia is tough.

Let me give you an example.

I didn’t used to exercise much, was a pack a day smoker, and drank most weekends.

Once I decided I really needed to quit smoking for good, I had to do something, so I started swimming.

Every morning. 6:00am. 

It truly sucked at first. I could barely swim two full lengths without needing to stop and gasp for air.

I could have given up. I’m sure my brain was screaming at me to give up. 

It would have been easier to give up and go back to what I was used to.

But I wanted to get better at swimming, and I wanted to quit smoking. So I kept at it.

Slowly but surely, I got stronger. I was able to breathe better and swim for longer without breaking.

And I quit smoking. Finally.

It wasn’t magic, it wasn’t a pill. It was just consistently doing the work to change my inertia.

Now, I exercise 4-5 times a week, go on hikes and play soccer in the park with my kids, run 5Ks, and yeah, I still swim.

Plus, I feel better and more energetic in my 40s than I ever have.

Because here’s the secret:

Inertia also means once you start moving, you keep moving.

“A body remains in motion unless acted upon by some external force.”

So now that I’ve been exercising and eating whole foods and drinking plenty of water and managing my stress, I’m gonna keep going.

I changed my inertia from being “at rest” to being “in motion”.

Moving forward toward a stronger, healthier version of myself, making sure I’m strong and capable as I age.

You can change your inertia, too.

No, it’s not always easy; it wasn’t for me.

But it’s not a willpower problem or a motivation problem, you’re not lazy, there is nothing “wrong with you”. 

It’s a physics problem.

We need to change your inertia from “at rest” to “in motion”, like a cue ball hitting the 8-ball.

How do we do that?

We make small, personalized changes to your day. We make adjustments, and stack small habits changes on top of each other.

We look at the whole you, not just lab results or a number on a scale. We see how small changes work together to create balance and energy.

Want to know more? Click here to learn about my 6-month coaching program and how it could work for you.

If you’re ready to break your inertia, set up your free call with me today!