Most of us have a desire to be the best versions of ourselves.
Lots of us strive to make improvements to our lives. We make changes and even stick to some of them!
We’re living in a time when we have access to so much information and so many opinions about what’s good for us and how to get there, that it can all feel overwhelming and unattainable.
What should I be eating?
How much water should I drink each day?
Am I getting sufficient sleep?
I need to make sure I get all my training in?
Am I allowing myself enough recovery time?
How much sunlight did I get today?
Did I meditate?
Did I mediate enough?
Am I doing it right?
Am I engaging in enough social activities?
Should I get more hobbies?
Have I got enough goals?
And on and on…
Generally it seems like we’re setting more and more goals for ourselves and whilst I’m a big believer in having goals and a plan, there’s a point where it can cross over into the relentless optimisation zone.
Relentless optimisation occurs when it stops feeling like we’re looking after ourselves and it starts to feel more compulsive. That if we don’t do what we’ve got planned something bad will happen. There’s a pressure that comes with it that drives up our inner temperature and can generate anxiety.
Perhaps it feels like we’re out of touch with our values and the purpose of why we may have started a lifestyle choice in the first place.
It’s great to be interested in your health & well-being, but being preoccupied with getting everything right in the quest for health can actually draw us away from a deeper connection with our life.
It can prevent us from connecting with friends and family and actually start to make us feel more alone, isolated and stressed.
Are there any areas in your life where you might be relentlessly optimising, that are actually hurting rather than helping?
Is there something you can do this week for the pure joy of it, rather than it be something you do to make you feel good?
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