You can never have too much of a good thing, or can you?
The other day, my younger daughter was busily coloring some pictures and singing to herself long past her bedtime. When I sternly told her it was time to put her crayons away, she sweetly said, “Just one more minute”. That one minute quickly became 5 minutes.
Have you ever done that? Maybe you were browsing your Facebook newsfeed, reading a blog article, or finishing up that work project. You get so caught up in what you are doing (or avoiding) that you chase the next shiny object, and go around in circles.
Before you know it, an hour of your time has disappeared into a black hole.
It reminded me of my childhood, but in a slightly different way. For me, “just one more” usually referred to food. Just one more chip, one more bite, or one more serving. The problem with that is it gave me permission to keep adding more than just one. For a child with impulse control, that was bad news.
I have a confession for you. This might be an OCD impulse, and it makes me slightly ashamed. I had an eating ritual where I needed to eat symmetrically or in even amounts. If I took one gigantic bite of a burrito, I then had to take 2 more bites to flatten out that first bite. Yes, my burrito needed to be evenly devoured.
If I poured myself a bowl of cereal, the cereal had to line up with the top of the bowl. Regardless of how deep the bowl was. If I decided to splurge on dessert, I might as well load it up with hot fudge and peanuts. I almost always found ways to super-size my portions, until I was so stuffed I couldn’t breathe.
All of this stemmed from the just one more syndrome.
The syndrome can actually backfire in both directions. Just one more minute of running full-tilt on a treadmill might result in an injury. Just one more salad that you despise might cause you to binge at the next opportunity. Just one more pound to lose before you can be happy means you might never be happy.
I am no productivity expert, but I follow several people who are. And, all of them agree that the best thing you can do for a happier and more successful life is to FOCUS.
There is a lot of information out there about the best way to improve your eating and exercise habits. Much of it is conflicting and contradictory. Much of it also prevents you from focusing on what you need to succeed. Stop searching for more, and take action! It doesn’t have to be cutting edge, or Dr. Oz-approved. It doesn’t even have to be accurate.
The National Weight Control Registry sends me an annual survey asking about my habits. This research is released to identify secrets of long-term weight control. This year, they added an optional survey on fitness apps and health trackers. The average age of the folks on the registry is 45. I would guess that many of them are dinosaurs who pre-dated apps and devices.
I consider myself a somewhat savvy person on the web. I still do not use a fitness app or device.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that you should throw away your Fitbit. I bring this point up, because I feel that technology can actually prevent you from focusing on your goals. Technology provides yet another platform for you to chase the shiny, the new, and the right now. Just one more motivational pin, just one more exercise trick, or just one more eating challenge.
None of those will help you FOCUS.
Worse yet, they never help you sustain ACTION.
On the flip-side, laser focus can only be sustained for so much time before it self-destructs. Thinking about the number on the scale every day will sabotage your confidence. Obsessing about meal planning will make you feel guilty if you falter. Exercising for over an hour every day will fatigue your body. If you follow the traditional dieting methods.
I could tell you to find work-life balance. If only I knew how to do that! I could tell you to embrace whatever method or tool works for you. But, how do you know which one does work for you?
Or, I could tell you to FOCUS on your health by downloading my FREE Lose 5 Now breakthrough. Not big on reading? Download the report today, and you will get call details for my NEW Coach on Call, where I answer your questions live. The call details will only go to my subscribers (that’s you!)
9 thoughts on “Just One More Syndrome”
As someone who always seems to be looking for more (information), this post gave me lots to think about!
On the challenge front, I find it difficult to find the time to make my health a priority. When things get hectic (usually due to work), my health and fitness activities are the first to go. But I’m working on it 😉
It is a continuous challenge to find time to focus on you. But, what happens if you don’t? Health is really most priceless gift we can strive for. Stay the course, Amber-Celeste!
I always try to exercise every day. Me time is important.
Hello Tara and welcome! Exercise is definitely important, especially me time. Do you also have some ways to handle overeating?
I totally agree with the “just one more” problem. Last weekend we had junk food in the house for a teenage party. It’s stuff I don’t normally buy – chips, cookies, pop. We were having that problem with Lay’s potato chips (I love you Lay’s! I cannot resist your flavor!) and Oreos (Can’t stop!) Mostly I choose to not bring the temptation into my house because we will all want “just one more.”
Great idea, Deb! Don’t buy the junk & you won’t eat it. This is challenging when other people in your house bring it, though. Oreos and chips are tough to resist (or eat just one). Thanks for sharing!
Oh I can SO relate to losing hours of time on social media – I think it’s going to be just ONE more story, or ONE more post, or checking ONE more update, and then I look up again and two hours have passed!
I can also relate to the ‘symmetrical eating’ habit – the sandwich thing – and it’s kinda funny that I’m not alone in that!
I do love my technology for tracking activity – I can no longer overestimate the calories burned because they are RIGHT THERE. It’s keeping me more honest, and actually helping me to not be even more obsessive about it. Thanks for this article – I know I’m not alone, and that is comforting!
Symmetrical eaters unite! It can be hard to avoid time-sucks like Facebook & food-sucks like those nibbles left on your kid’s plate.
I’m happy that technology has helped you, Dianne. It’s hard to argue with numbers
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