A friend of mine recently recommended a book to me “Essentialism- the disciplined pursuit of less” by Greg Mckeown.

You see I’m very good at stretching myself a little thin and constantly being busy but not productive. 

I was surprised when reading the book how relevant this book was to improving your health and fitness

Essentialism is fundamentally about designing and taking control of your life. The same amount of energy, when directed purposefully, can bring you much closer to your goal. Know the things you must do, reject everything else and direct your time and energy to create the biggest impact where it matters. 

Here are 3 key ideas if you want to adopt “The essentialist mindset”:

Choose- We can’t always control the options presented to us, but we can always control the choices we make and how we spend our time and energy. Remove the words “I have to” which puts you in a reactive, helpless position. Use the words “I choose to”- Remember that you can always choose how to respond to your circumstances.

Discern- We’re surrounded by noise that confuses and distracts us. Stop thinking that everything is important. LEarn to filter out the few vital things that are truly valuable from the mass of trivialities. 

Trade-offs- Trade-offs are a fact of life. You can do anything but not everything. Stop thinking “How can I do it all?. Instead, choose the problem you’d focus on, and ask “What trade-offs will I make?” and “How can I go really big on this?” See trade-offs not as losses but as opportunities to find the highest-impact options.

So what are the highest impact options when it comes to your health and fitness?

Here are some of the big rocks that have the most impact:

• Strength Training (2 x Week)
• Daily Movement (eg walking)
• Sleep
• Hydration
• Quality Food

Which one is your priority?