As I was driving home from work this evening I found myself feeling really good about not stopping at a fast food joint for dinner. That used to be my normal routine especially on a Friday night. It was almost like a Friday night date…me, Popeye’s chicken and Shark Tank. But not tonight. No fast food for me and I am so okay with that!
But I also found myself thinking, what happens on those days or on those Friday’s when my resolve isn’t so strong. What will be the plan for not giving into temptation? Immediately three strategies came to mind:
Pause and breathe. Sometimes all I need is a few minutes to collect myself and clear my thoughts so that I’m not making hasty or emotional decisions. I find that by taking a few deep cleansing breaths I can usually calm myself down and bring myself in off the ledge.
Write it out. I will take a few minutes to write out the answer to these questions.
- How do I want to feel in 30 minutes?
- If I eat this, how will I feel in 30 minutes?
- Is it worth it?
Taking time to answer these questions, again would calm me down long enough to really think about the consequences of my choices and weigh out how much it’s worth to me. It will give me time to really consider the cost.
Give Myself A Pep Talk. I’m big on talking to myself. Many times when I do it in my car I envision myself sitting right there next to myself, listening intensely to what I have to say. LOL, I know that might sound strange, but many times when I need a good talking to, and there is no one else around to give it to me, I have to do it myself. And you know what? It works. So if it works in other instances, it will work for this too!
Your Turn To Share
What strategies do you have in place for when you have a weak moment and you want to make the right choice?