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Most people don’t fail at health because they lack information. Let’s be honest. Most of us already know the basics.

Move more. Eat more whole foods. Sleep more. Manage stress. Drink more water.

The challenge isn’t knowing what to do. The challenge is consistently doing it.

And that’s why I’ve become increasingly fascinated by mental models. Before knowing what to think, we need to learn how to think.

Mental models are simply frameworks for making decisions. They’re the lenses through which we interpret information, solve problems, and navigate life. And when it comes to health, the mental models we use often determine whether we stay stuck or make progress.

Here are a few that have had the biggest impact on my life and the lives of the people I coach.

Active Open-Mindedness

One of the biggest mistakes people make in health is treating their beliefs as facts. Instead, try treating them as hypotheses.

Maybe intermittent fasting works for you. Maybe it doesn’t. Maybe running is your thing. Maybe strength training is a better fit.

The goal isn’t to defend your current beliefs. The goal is to discover what’s true for you.

The healthiest people I know remain curious. They test. They learn. They adapt.

First Principles Thinking

When health feels overwhelming, go back to the basics.

Social media loves complexity. Your body loves fundamentals.

Before buying another supplement, ask:

• Am I sleeping enough?

• Am I moving regularly?

• Am I eating mostly whole foods?

• Am I managing stress?

Many health problems become simpler when we return to first principles.

Sampling

You don’t need to commit to one approach forever.

Try things. Experiment. Sample different forms of movement. Different recovery practices. Different nutrition strategies.

The more experiences you collect, the more data you have about what actually works for your life.

Research consistently shows that adherence is one of the strongest predictors of long-term success. Finding something you enjoy often matters more than finding the “optimal” strategy.

Growth Mindset

A growth mindset assumes skills, abilities, and behaviors can improve through effort and practice.

Instead of saying: “I’m not disciplined.” Try: “I’m learning how to become more disciplined.”

Instead of: “I’m bad at exercise.” Try: “I haven’t found my movement flavor yet.”

Small shift. Massive difference.

Context-Dependent Thinking

Health isn’t lived in a laboratory. It’s lived in the real world.

Your choices should reflect your current circumstances.

The perfect workout during a stressful work week may look different than the perfect workout during vacation.

The ideal nutrition strategy for a parent with young children may differ from someone living alone.

Flexibility should not be seen as weakness. It can actually be intelligence.

And that brings me to five mindset shifts that I believe make healthy living far more sustainable.

Five Mental Shifts That Change Everything

1. Always Something > All or Nothing: A 10-minute walk beats no walk. A healthy breakfast beats giving up on the entire day. Something compounds. Nothing doesn’t.

2. Consistency > Intensity: You don’t need heroic efforts. You need repeatable efforts. The people who make the most progress are rarely the ones who go the hardest. They’re the ones who keep showing up.

3. Progress > Perfection: Perfection is an impossible standard. Progress is available every day. Focus on getting a little better instead of getting everything right.

4. Systems > Goals: Goals provide direction. Systems create results. A goal might be losing 20 pounds. A system is walking daily, strength training twice per week, and prioritizing protein at meals. Goals matter. Systems sustain.

5. You vs. You > You vs. Others: Comparison has never been easier. Neither has feeling inadequate. But your journey is your journey. Measure yourself against who you were yesterday, not who you see online. That’s where meaningful growth happens.

Final Thoughts

The longer I work in health and wellness, the more convinced I become that sustainable change is less about finding the perfect plan and more about developing better mental software.

The way you think influences the way you act. The way you act shapes your habits. And your habits ultimately shape your life.

So if you’re feeling stuck, don’t immediately ask: “What should I do?” Sometimes it can be better to ask: “How am I thinking about this?”

Sometimes the breakthrough isn’t a new workout, a new diet, or a new supplement. Sometimes it’s a new perspective.

And often, that’s where lasting change begins.

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This past February, I did my first HYROX.

It was equal parts challenging and invigorating. And it reminded me of something simple.

If you never push your limits, you never find the edge.

That applies in sport. It applies in business. It applies in life.

The edge is not where things are comfortable. It is where doubt shows up. Where your legs and lungs burn. Where your mind starts negotiating with you.

And the reality is, most people never get there.

They stop before they start. They avoid discomfort. They let fear make the decision.

But what I was reminded of, and what I learned through my Hyrox experience, is that there is usually more in the tank.

Research in performance psychology shows that fatigue is not just physical. It is perceptual. Your brain sends signals to slow down long before your body is actually done.

Which means, if you’re willing to explore it, there is another gear.

HYROX forced me to find it.

Here are a few lessons I’ll take with me.

1. Build the Gas Tank First

HYROX is a runner’s race. Whether you realize it or not.

Yes, there are stations. Yes, there is strength. But the constant thread is endurance. Running between stations. Running under fatigue. Running when your legs are cooked.

That’s a different challenge.

You need an aerobic base. A real one.

Low-intensity cardio might not feel flashy, but it builds the engine that lets you go fast and go far. More importantly, it prepares you to perform when your body is compromised.

And guess what, that’s what this race is. Movement under fatigue.

And that skill is earned, not guessed.

2. Train Like You Compete

One of the biggest takeaways. You have to simulate the experience.

Running on fresh legs is one thing. Running after sled pushes, lunges, or wall balls is another.

If race day is your first time experiencing that transition, you’re already behind.

Specificity matters.

You don’t train for a 5K on a bike. You don’t prepare for HYROX without combining runs and stations.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. But it has to be intentional.

Feel the fatigue. Learn how your body responds. Figure out your pacing.

When you’ve felt it before, it’s not a shock. It’s familiar.

And that matters when things get hard.

3. Preparation Wins More Than You Think

Race day is not the time to figure things out.

Food. Fuel. Warm-up. Gear. Timing. Logistics.

It all matters.

You need something in your system. You need fuel during. You need to warm up your body without draining it. You need gear that works with you, not against you.

And you need a plan.

Get there early. Know your heat time. Understand the flow.

These are small things. But they add up.

When you’re prepared, you remove stress. You create clarity. You give yourself the best chance to perform.

4. Don’t Let the Energy Break Your Plan

The environment is electric.

Music. People. Adrenaline. Energy everywhere.

And that can be a trap.

I felt great early on. Pushed the runs. Picked up the pace on the first few stations.

And then… I hit a wall.

Hard.

Going out too fast is the kiss of death in a race like this.

You don’t win HYROX in the first half. But you can definitely lose it there.

Steady wins.

Stick to your plan. Trust your pacing. Respect the distance.

Feed off the energy. But don’t let it pull you away from what you know you need to do.

5. Know the Details. They Matter

When you’re tired, small things become big things.

Burpee standards. Wall ball depth. Sled lines. Lap counts.

Miss one, and you pay for it.

Time. Energy. Momentum.

It’s not just about effort. It’s about execution.

Know the rules going in. Don’t leave it up to chance when fatigue sets in.

Run a clean race.

6. Soak It In

At the end of the day, it’s still just a race.

But at the same time, it’s also something more.

The atmosphere. The people. The shared experience.

Strangers cheering. Competitors encouraging each other. Energy that lifts you when you feel like you have nothing left.

That was my favorite part.

It helped me find another gear.

If you can, bring people with you. If you can’t, you’ll still feel it.

This environment gives you something you don’t get on your own.

And once it’s over, it goes fast.

Faster than you expect.

And oddly enough, you find yourself wanting to do it again.

Final Thought

HYROX reminded me of something I talk about often.

Nobody knows what you’re capable of until you show them.

But first, you have to show yourself.

You don’t need to sign up for a race.

But you do need to find your edge.

The place where it gets uncomfortable. The moment where your instinct is to quit. The point where doubt starts getting loud.

That’s where growth happens. That’s where confidence is built. That’s where you learn what you’re made of.

What edge are you avoiding right now…and what would it look like to lean into it?

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My wife and I are in the middle of an interesting journey.

Every so often, we like to do things that challenge us. Things that help us learn, grow, and hopefully become a little healthier and happier along the way.

This time around, we decided to do Whole30.

If you’re unfamiliar, Whole30 is a 30-day elimination diet designed to help people identify food sensitivities, break unhealthy eating patterns, and better understand their relationship with food. For 30 days, you eliminate things like added sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, dairy, and highly processed foods. Then you slowly reintroduce them to see how your body responds.

The timing made sense for us.

We had just returned from an incredible week in Maui.

And by “incredible,” I mean cinnamon rolls, loco moco, hula pie, and pretty much anything else that sounded good at the time.

No regrets. But by the end of the trip, our bodies were craving a reset.

So we went from vacation mode to whole foods, fruits, vegetables, quality proteins, and no sugar or treats.

It was a shift. And like most worthwhile shifts, it wasn’t always easy.

BUT that’s exactly why I think challenges like this are valuable.

Not because everyone should do Whole30. Not because restriction is inherently good. But because there is something powerful about deliberately stepping outside your comfort zone.

When you challenge yourself, you learn things. You learn what habits are serving you. You learn which ones aren’t. You learn what happens when your usual routines disappear. You learn how often you’re operating on autopilot.

And perhaps most importantly, you learn what you’re capable of.

One of the biggest lessons from this experience has been recognizing that temptation isn’t the enemy. Unpreparedness is.

Most of us face temptations every day. To skip the workout. To doom scroll. To eat the extra cookie. To avoid the difficult conversation. To choose comfort over growth.

The problem isn’t that these temptations exist. Life is meant to include enjoyment, flexibility, and imperfection.

The challenge is that temptations are everywhere. They’re available 24/7. And when we’re tired, stressed, overwhelmed, or stretched thin, we tend to default to whatever is easiest.

That’s why discipline is less about willpower and more about preparation.

Here are six strategies that have helped us stay aligned with our goals during this challenge and in everyday life.

1. Environment Beats Willpower

Make the right choice easier.

When healthy foods are visible, movement is accessible, and distractions are reduced, good decisions become simpler.

Your environment is shaping your behavior whether you realize it or not.

Design it intentionally.

2. Know Your Why

Temporary discomfort becomes much easier when it’s connected to something meaningful.

When you’re anchored in purpose, discipline feels less like deprivation and more like alignment.

3. Audit Your Inputs

The people you spend time with.

The content you consume.

The environments you frequent.

They’re all influencing your decisions.

Take inventory.

4. Plan Ahead

When energy is low, convenience wins.

Having a Plan A and a Plan B removes decision fatigue and helps you stay on track when life gets messy.

Because life will get messy.

5. Know Your Triggers

Patterns reveal everything.

Maybe it’s late-night snacking.

Maybe it’s stress.

Maybe it’s boredom.

Awareness creates options. And options create change.

6. Build Boundaries, Not Perfection

We can’t eliminate every temptation forever. That shouldn’t be the goal.

The goal is to create healthy boundaries that allow you to enjoy life without constantly feeling like you’re starting over.

That’s what sustainable health looks like.

As we’ve gone through this process, I’ve been reminded that growth rarely comes from staying comfortable.

It comes from experimenting. It comes from challenging assumptions. It comes from trying things, paying attention, and learning.

Not every challenge has to be a Whole30. Maybe your challenge is walking every day for a month. Maybe it’s reading before bed instead of scrolling. Maybe it’s finally signing up for the race, taking the class, or having the conversation.

The specifics matter less than the willingness to step into something that stretches you.

Because if you never challenge yourself, you’ll never fully discover what else is possible.

And sometimes the greatest benefit isn’t the result.

It’s the person you become in the process.

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Life doesn’t pause. It doesn’t wait for the perfect moment. It doesn’t suddenly clear your schedule, eliminate your stress, or hand you a stretch of uninterrupted time to finally focus on your health, your goals, or the things that matter most.

It just keeps life-ing. And that’s a reality many of us spend years resisting.

We tell ourselves we’ll start when things calm down. When work gets less busy. When the kids get older. When the move is finished. When the project is done. When we have more energy. When we have more time.

But when was the last time everything went exactly as planned for a full month? A full week? Even a full day?

Life is unpredictable. There will always be another challenge, another responsibility, another unexpected turn.

Which brings me to a simple but important reminder: The thing you’re avoiding isn’t going anywhere.

The workout isn’t going to do itself. The meals aren’t going to prep themselves. The book won’t read itself. The difficult conversation won’t magically resolve itself. The stress won’t manage itself. The boundaries won’t set themselves.

And the health habits you’ve been putting off won’t build themselves either.

Deep down, most of us already know what we’re avoiding.

We know the conversation we need to have. We know the habit we need to build. We know the first step we’ve been delaying.

The challenge is that avoidance feels easier in the short term. We convince ourselves we’re waiting for the right conditions when, in reality, we’re often waiting for discomfort to disappear.

But growth has always required moving before you feel fully ready.

That’s why I think one of the most important mindset shifts we can make is to stop planning for someday and start preparing for every day.

Planning has value. But planning alone can become a form of procrastination.

Planning says: “When things settle down, then I’ll start.”

Preparation says: “Even if things don’t settle down, I’ll be ready.”

That’s a very important distinction.

Health isn’t something you build when life gets easier. Health is what helps you handle life when it gets harder.

The workout builds capacity. The walk builds resilience. The sleep builds recovery. The nutritious meal builds energy. The mindfulness practice builds emotional stability.

None of these habits guarantee that life will go according to plan. They simply help you respond better when it doesn’t.

And that’s the point.

Most people don’t take their health seriously until they’re forced to.

Until the diagnosis. Until the burnout. Until the injury. Until the setback. Until life demands more from them than they’re prepared to give.

But when you invest in yourself before the storm arrives, you navigate it differently.

You recover faster. You adapt more easily. You stay grounded when things get chaotic. You create options.

As Jon Kabat-Zinn famously said: “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”

That’s what healthy habits really are. They’re not about perfection. They’re preparation.

So today, take a moment and ask yourself:

• What am I avoiding?

• What habit have I been delaying?

• What conversation needs to happen?

• What action have I been putting off while waiting for the perfect moment?

Then take one step. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today.

Life isn’t slowing down. But you can become more prepared for whatever comes next. And often, that’s all you need.

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This week, Move, Thrive, and Come Alive officially entered the world.

After years of researching, writing, rewriting, refining, and living these ideas, I find myself feeling a lot of things.

Grateful. Thankful. Humbled. Energized. Fulfilled.

And perhaps most of all, reminded of something profound:

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

So many of the things we want in life sit on the other side of action.

The business. The book. The relationship. The career change. The health goal. The adventure. The dream.

Yet we often convince ourselves to wait.

Wait for the perfect time. Wait for the perfect plan. Wait for the perfect opportunity. Wait until we’re ready. Wait until it makes sense.

What I’ve learned through writing this book: The perfect conditions rarely exist.

At some point, you have to start.

Not recklessly. Not without thought or preparation. Planning matters. Reflection matters. Strategy matters.

But eventually, there comes a moment when thinking has done its job and action needs to take over.

Too many dreams get stuck in analysis paralysis. Too many ideas never leave the notebook. Too many people spend years preparing for a life they could start building today.

So this is your reminder, just as much as it is mine: Start before you feel ready.

Choose realistic over perfect. Learn as you go. Adjust as needed. Trust that clarity often comes from action, not before it.

And if there’s something you’ve been putting off, something meaningful, exciting, or a little scary, maybe today is the day you take the first step.

Not tomorrow. Not next month. Not when everything lines up perfectly. Today.

Thank you to everyone who has supported Move, Thrive, and Come Alive this week. Your encouragement, messages, reviews, and support have meant more than you know.

I’ll leave you with one question: What’s something you’ve been waiting to start that deserves your first step today?

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Today is the day!! After 3+ years of researching, writing, rewriting, refining, and living it…

Move, Thrive, and Come Alive is officially out in the world.

I’ll be honest. At times I can be modest with my personal projects. But not this time, not this project.

I’m deeply proud of this book. Not just because it’s done, but because of what it represents and who it’s for.

This wasn’t written from the sidelines.

It was built through experience. Through trial and error. Through showing up and living these principles day after day.

If you know me, you know this is how I operate. I don’t just talk about it. I try to embody it.

And that’s what this book is.

An attempt to make movement simpler, more practical, and more human again.

Writing it was a journey.

A lot of highs. A lot of doubts. A lot of going back to the drawing board.

Trying to take something complex and make it clear. Trying to create something that actually helps people, not just informs them.

It took time. Energy. A lot of patience. And I didn’t do it alone.

I’m incredibly grateful for the people who supported me along the way. The ones who listened, gave feedback, challenged ideas, and kept me going when things felt stuck.

It really does take a village.

This book was never meant to sit on a shelf. It’s meant to be lived.

A call to move more. To feel better. To reconnect with what your body is capable of. And maybe even help someone else do the same.

If this mission resonates, here are a few simple ways to support:

• Grab a copy. Read it. Apply it. Make it your own.

• Share it with someone who could benefit

• Leave a review. It helps more than you know

• Engage with my social posts

It all matters, and it all adds up! Let’s spark this movement revolution!

Thank you for being here. Thank you for following along. Thank you for allowing me to share this work.

Now it’s time to move, thrive, and come alive.

🚀

Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Move-Thrive-Come-Alive-Science-Backed/dp/1572843667

Ps: I’ll also be hosting a free virtual event this Thursday where I’ll highlight some of the book's core ideas, AND Coya will be giving away 5 FREE COPIES of Move, Thrive, and Come Alive. Don’t miss it. Join here: https://80qf1iv9gip.typeform.com/to/lbtXYQC7

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Growing up, movement was a constant companion, woven seamlessly into the fabric of my everyday life. It wasn’t just a means to an end; it was a source of joy, adventure, and connection. As a kid, I walked to school, sprinted through the activities in PE class, and chased friends while playing tag and sports during recess. When afternoon came, I’d walk home from school, drop my backpack, and set out on some neighborhood adventure, where the boundaries of imagination blurred with the thrill of outdoor play. As the sun dipped below the horizon, I pedaled or raced home, exhausted but ready to do it all over again the next day.

Weekends were a gateway to exploration. Family bike rides helped me see the world and develop my own sense of freedom on the open roads, and hikes immersed us in the raw beauty of nature. Team sports ignited my competitive spirit and showed me what it meant to work as part of a cooperative group. All of these activities challenged my body physically but nourished my mind and soul.

Back then, movement wasn’t a burden or something we stressed about how to increase or improve. We didn’t think about step counts, activity levels, or tracking; it was just a natural part of everyday life. The lines between exercise and just plain physical activity were so blurred that they often didn’t even exist. Movement was a way of being, and although we did many things that most would consider “exercise,” to us, it was just life.

Growing up this way instilled in me a deep love and curiosity for all types of movement and, subsequently, exercise. Unfortunately, as I’ve gotten older, things have changed when it comes to the state of movement in our lives.

In our modern world, we have gradually lost touch with the seamless integration of movement that once shaped our days. We choose cars over walking short distances, trade supermarket aisles for home deliveries, and allow technology to claim our attention, relegating the outdoors to the periphery. We find ourselves seated more often, standing less, and outsourcing physically demanding tasks. Even work, in its digital realm, no longer requires us to venture beyond our front doors. Movement has transformed from a privilege we relish to a mere necessity we endure.

Despite all of the changes in the modern world, there is still hope. Each and every one of us possesses the power to rewind the clock, reclaim the inherent joy of movement, and harness the tools and guidance at our disposal. By integrating natural activity back into our lives and leveraging the wonders of technology, we can ignite the flame of passion for movement within ourselves and others. Countless individuals still cherish a life where movement takes center stage, and it is up to all of us to assist others in unearthing their love for the vitality that movement brings.

This book is a resounding call to action, an impassioned guide that beckons you to infuse movement into your very existence. It is an invitation to embark on a journey of self-discovery—to explore, experiment, and uncover what kindles your unique flame of motivation. Within these pages lie the answers to the many movement questions out there, including what to do, why we should do it, and how to do it. . . seamlessly, consistently, and correctly. This book equips you with the knowledge and tools necessary to embark on your own personal movement revolution. And as this revolution takes hold, it will spread like wildfire, touching the lives of your family, friends, and community, empowering them to discover their own vitality, joy, and fullness of life through movement.

So, let’s embark on this journey together. Let’s build an extraordinary future where movement becomes not only a habit but a profound and exhilarating way of being. Let’s bring revitalized energy back to the world of movement, helping people move, thrive, and ultimately come alive. Because when we are moving, nothing can stop us!

If this resonates, you’ll love the rest of my upcoming book Move, Thrive, and Come Alive (out June 2). It’s a practical blueprint for rethinking fitness and reclaiming movement as part of modern life. Built around 100+ practical tools and habits, this book will help you move more, feel better, and live fully. You can check it out or pre-order it here 👇

https://www.amazon.com/Move-Thrive-Come-Alive-Science-Backed/dp/1572843667

ALSO… I’ll be doing a live event for my new book this Thursday, June 4th at 12 pm EST with my company Coya. The virtual session will be a jam-packed hour all about making movement and exercise more sustainable, practical, and accessible in modern life. I’ll run through some of the core ideas from my book and then answer your questions! If you are interested in joining, you can use the link below or reply to this post, and I can add your email to the event.

Link to join on Thursday at 12 pm EST: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88579292880?jst=2

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Many people struggle with hitting their movement goals. Only one in four people meets the recommended activity guidelines. The average adult sits 9+ hours a day. Inactivity is linked to the loss of millions of lives each year.

It’s clear we have a problem on our hands. But most people aren’t struggling with movement because they lack the knowledge. People know what to do for the most part. In my experience, much of the struggle actually stems from what’s happening between their ears.

Overthinking. Inconsistency. Doubt. Waiting for the perfect plan, the perfect time, or the perfect motivation.

What do all of these things have in common? They originate in our minds. Movement is not just physical. It’s mental.

The people who build sustainable health aren’t always the most talented or the most informed. They’re the ones who learn how to think differently. How to prepare. How to show up. How to adapt. How to believe. How to keep going when it would be easier to stop.

This is what it means to train your mind.

And when you get this right, everything else gets easier.

1. Preparation: The Work Before the Work

Preparation is one of the most underrated habits in health and performance.

It’s the work you do before the work. The small, often invisible actions that make showing up feel easier, smoother, and more consistent.

• Lay out your workout clothes the night before.

• Schedule your movement like an appointment.

• Keep simple, healthy options within reach.

These aren’t big, flashy actions. But they remove friction.

Research on behavior change consistently shows that when you decide ahead of time when and where you’ll act, follow-through increases dramatically. You don’t rely on willpower. You rely on systems.

Preparation builds confidence. It sends a signal to yourself. I’m ready. I’ve thought this through.

And over time, that compounds.

The people who stay consistent aren’t always the most motivated. They’re often just the most prepared.

2. Show Up. Especially When You Don’t Feel Like It

There will be days when you feel motivated. Focused. Ready.

Those days are easy.

The real test is what you do when you don’t feel like it.

When you’re tired. Busy. Stressed. Off your routine.

High performers don’t succeed because they always feel like it. They succeed because they’ve trained themselves to show up anyway.

And here’s another news flash: When it comes to habit formation, action often comes before motivation, not after.

You don’t (and shouldn’t) wait to feel motivated to move. You move, and motivation follows.

That’s why I say, “Motivation flows when action shows.”

Showing up doesn’t mean going all out. It means doing something.

A walk instead of a workout. A stretch instead of a session. A small step instead of no step.

The act of showing up keeps you in the game. And staying in the game is everything.

3. Adaptability: Pivot, Don’t Panic

Plans are great. Until life happens.

Schedules change. Energy fluctuates. Things come up.

Most people see this as failure. It’s not. It’s reality. It’s life.

The key is adaptability.

Rigid plans break. Flexible ones bend and keep moving.

If you miss the gym, train at home. If you’re short on time, shrink the session. If you’re exhausted, shift to recovery.

Adaptability is a trainable skill.

In fact, it’s one of the most important traits for long-term success. Health will never be a straight line. It zigs. It zags.

The more willing you are to adjust, the more consistent you become.

And consistency always wins over perfection.

4. Confidence and Belief: Built Through Action

Confidence is less something you wait for. It’s not something you innately have, or you don’t. It’s something you build.

Every time you take action, you collect evidence. It’s a vote toward the type of person you want to become. James Clear taught us that in Atomic Habits.

Each action is evidence that you can show up. That you can handle challenges. That you can keep going.

Over time, that evidence turns into belief. And belief drives behavior.

Research from psychologist Dr. Alia Crum shows that what we believe about our bodies and our efforts can directly influence physical outcomes. Positive belief can enhance performance and recovery. Negative beliefs can hold you back.

Your thoughts don’t just stay in your head. They show up in your body.

So we must shift the story.

From “I can’t” to “I can learn.” From “I’m not that person” to “I’m becoming that person.”

Confidence grows in the doing. Not in the waiting.

5. Always Something Beats All or Nothing

The all-or-nothing mindset is one of the biggest barriers in health. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen this show up when coaching.

If I can’t do the full workout, I won’t do anything. If I miss a day, I’ve failed. If it’s not perfect, it doesn’t count.

Let me tell you the harsh reality: Most people who chase “all” end up with nothing.

The alternative is simple. Try always something.

Right in line with showing up and being adaptable. Find your “something” to stay in the game.

Ten minutes instead of sixty. One set instead of five. A walk instead of nothing.

These small actions may feel insignificant. I’m here to tell you they’re not.

Research shows that even 11 minutes of moderate activity per day can significantly reduce the risk of early death.

Small doses. Repeated consistently. That’s where the magic happens.

This mindset keeps you moving. It builds trust with yourself. It creates momentum.

And momentum changes everything.

6. Let Your Purpose Drive Your Pursuit

This might be the most important point of them all, and I can sum it up in six words: Motivation is unreliable. Purpose is not.

When you know why you’re showing up, you have something deeper to lean on when things get hard. And they will get hard.

Your purpose doesn’t have to be grand. It can be simple.

• To feel better.

• To have more energy.

• To be present with your family.

• To prove to yourself that you can follow through.

But you have to name it. Without a clear why, it’s easy to drift.

When your purpose is clear, your actions become easier. Your decisions become simpler. Your consistency becomes stronger.

Action builds momentum. Momentum reinforces purpose.

And that loop is what keeps you going.

Putting It All Together

Training your body is important. Training your mind is what makes it sustainable.

• Preparation removes friction.

• Showing up builds consistency.

• Adaptability keeps you moving.

• Belief drives behavior.

• Always something builds momentum.

• Purpose fuels the journey.

None of this requires perfection. It requires repetition.

Because at the end of the day, progress isn’t about having the perfect plan.

It’s about becoming the kind of person who shows up. Adjusts. Learns. And keeps going.

A Simple Way to Start

If you want to apply this today, start here:

• Prepare one small action for tomorrow

• Show up, even if it’s not perfect

• Adjust instead of quitting

• Take one small step

• Remind yourself why it matters

That’s it.

Train your mind. The body will follow.

And over time, those small actions, repeated consistently, will change more than you think.

So here’s the question to sit with: Are you just training your body… or are you training your mind to support it?

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If you’re not changing, you’re not growing.

That sounds a bit extreme, but it’s true.

We’ve all heard the idea that doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results leads nowhere. Yet that’s exactly how many people approach their health, their habits, and their lives.

Same routines. Same thoughts. Same behaviors. But different outcomes are expected.

And then frustration sets in.

The reality is that growth requires change. And change requires intention.

Not someday. Not when it’s convenient. Not when something forces your hand.

Now.

Why We Wait

Most people don’t resist change because they don’t care. Most of us care, want to change, and want to be better. The resistance comes because it’s uncomfortable.

It asks you to question what you believe. It asks you to step into uncertainty. It asks you to let go of patterns that feel familiar, even if they’re not serving you.

And your brain doesn’t love that.

From a behavioral science standpoint, humans are wired for efficiency and safety. Familiar patterns require less energy. They feel predictable. They feel safe. Even when they’re not helping you move forward.

So we wait.

We wait for the “right time.” We wait for the “perfect plan.” We wait until something breaks.

A diagnosis. A health scare. A moment where the cost of staying the same finally outweighs the cost of changing.

But by then, the gap is bigger. The habits are deeper. The work is harder.

Health Happens Upstream

Real health shouldn’t start when something goes wrong. It should start long before that. In the decisions you make every day.

• What you eat.

• How you move.

• How you sleep.

• Who you surround yourself with.

• What you pay attention to.

These are not isolated choices. They’re inputs. And over time, those inputs compound into outcomes.

Research in preventive health continues to show that small, consistent behaviors can significantly reduce the risk of chronic disease, improve energy levels, and enhance quality of life. You don’t need the extreme interventions. Just steady change through repeatable actions.

That’s the opportunity.

You don’t need to wait for permission to take control of your health. You don’t need a perfect system to begin. You don’t need everything figured out.

You just need to start.

What Change Actually Looks Like

I feel like one of the major themes throughout my writing is that change doesn’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful. And in fact, the most sustainable change rarely is.

It looks like:

• Challenging a belief you’ve carried for years

• Asking a hard question and actually listening to the answer

• Choosing a walk instead of staying on the couch

• Going to bed a little earlier

• Saying no to something that drains you

• Letting go of a habit that no longer serves you

These aren’t massive, life-altering moments. They’re small decisions. But they stack.

And over time, they reshape how you think, how you act, and who you become.

Sameness leads to stagnation. And stagnation quietly limits your potential.

A Simple Framework to Move Forward

If you’re feeling stuck, don’t overcomplicate it. Start here:

1. Audit your current reality: Take an honest look at your habits. Not what you intend to do. What you actually do.

2. Identify one area to change: Not ten. Not five. One. Where is the biggest opportunity right now?

3. Make it actionable: What is one small step you can take today? Not tomorrow. Today.

4. Stay consistent: You don’t need perfect. You need repetition.

5. Adjust as you go: Experiment. Reflect. Refine. Growth is not linear.

Final Thought

Change is hard. Growth is harder.

But staying the same has a cost, too. It just shows up later.

The longer you wait, the fewer options you have. The earlier you act, the more control you gain. So don’t wait until you have to change.

Choose to.

Every decision you make is either moving you closer to the life you want… or further away from it.

And the best part? You get to decide.

Your move: What’s one change you can make today, before you’re forced to make it later?

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Trying to be healthy these days can feel like navigating a minefield.

Every scroll, every podcast, every headline seems to introduce a new villain. Seed oils. Artificial sweeteners. Coffee. Carbs. Screens. Plastics. The list never ends.

And while some of these concerns have merit, what often gets lost is context. Dose. Frequency. Individual needs.

Instead, we get a steady stream of fear-based messaging that makes health feel overwhelming. Unclear. Out of reach.

One of the biggest shifts I’ve made, both personally and with clients, is simple:

Stop demonizing the bad. Start adding more good.

I call it subtraction by addition.

The idea is simple: when you focus on what to add, the things that don’t serve you often take care of themselves.

Eat more whole foods, and ultra-processed foods naturally decrease. Move more, and sedentary time shrinks. Sleep better, and late-night scrolling fades.

No extremes or overcorrections. Just better inputs, repeated consistently.

There’s actually solid behavioral science behind this. Research shows that positive framing, focusing on what to do rather than what to avoid, increases adherence and long-term behavior change. It lowers resistance. It builds momentum.

And momentum is what most people are missing.

We tend to think progress comes from massive overhauls. Perfect plans. All-in commitments. But in reality, it comes from small, repeatable actions that stack over time.

• Choosing a diet soda over a regular one. That’s progress.

• Walking daily instead of jumping into a five-day training split. That’s progress.

• Waking up at the same time each day without a 12-step routine. Still progress.

We can’t let perfect be the enemy of better.

Perfection is very fragile. One missed workout, one off meal, one late night, and the whole thing feels like it falls apart.

But better is flexible. Better adapts. Better compounds.

That’s the real essence of subtraction by addition.

• You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight.

• You don’t need to eliminate every “bad” thing.

• You don’t need to follow someone else’s version of optimal.

What you need is awareness. Intention. And a willingness to keep showing up.

A Simple Way to Apply This

If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, start here:

1. Add one good habit: Pick something simple and repeatable. A daily walk. A protein-focused breakfast. A consistent bedtime.

2. Let it crowd out the bad: Don’t force removal. Let your new habit naturally shift your behavior.

3. Remove one source of friction: Look at your environment, your schedule, your inputs. What’s making things harder than they need to be?

4. Focus on momentum, not perfection: Ask yourself: Did I move forward today, even a little?

Health has never been about perfection. And it never will be. It’s about momentum. It’s about showing up. Making informed choices. Doing what you can with what you have.

You won’t avoid every “bad” input. But you can stay intentional. You can keep stacking better decisions.

And over time, that’s what changes everything.

So here’s the question to sit with: What’s one good you can add today…
and what’s one thing you can let go of to make space for it?

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Despite what you might have been told (or sold), getting started with your movement journey doesn’t require a perfect plan, a gym membership, or an hour of free time. You don’t need a product or service. You don’t need to have it all figured out.

Truthfully, most people don’t struggle because they don’t know what to do. They struggle because they overthink where to start.

I’m here to tell you, you don’t need more complexity. You need a few simple actions you can repeat.

These are the ones I come back to again and again.

1. More Walks, More Steps, More Often

One of the most effective movement habits is right in front of us. So simple that it often gets overlooked as not being a real activity. I’m talking about walks.

Walks are the gateway habit. Morning walks, post-meal walks, nature walks, boredom walks, walking meetings. They’re all great.

And no, you don’t have to start with 10,000 steps. Start with something realistic for you. I usually recommend adding 1,000 extra steps or about 10-15 minutes of walking. That’s it.

Research consistently shows that even small increases in daily steps are linked to better cardiovascular health, improved blood sugar control, and lower risk of chronic disease.

More importantly, it builds identity. It reinforces that you are someone who moves. The more you walk, the more you want to walk.

Start small. Stack it daily. Walk after dinner, on your lunch break, during a meeting, or after work.

A long-term study found that people who took at least 7,000 steps per day had a 50–70% lower risk of early death than those who didn’t. That’s massive.

Keep it simple, repeatable, and sustainable.

2. Move More Throughout the Day (Not Just in One Workout)

Many people think they have an “I don’t exercise enough” problem when really they have an “I’m too sedentary” problem. There’s a difference.

We don’t just need more exercise. We need less inactivity.

Long, uninterrupted periods of sitting are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction, and low energy. Even if you exercise, staying still for hours at a time can work against you.

The good news is the fix isn’t complicated.

Break up your sitting. Stand up. Move for a few minutes. Reset your body.

You might have heard of “exercise snacks.” The only snack I actually encourage binging on.

These are small, scattered bursts of movement throughout your day. A few squats while your coffee brews. Calf raises while brushing your teeth. A quick walk between meetings. A plank during a break.

Popularized by voices like Andrew Huberman and Andy Galpin, these micro-movements improve circulation, boost energy, sharpen focus, and help regulate blood sugar.

They also lower the barrier to entry. No gym. No equipment. No schedule. No friction.

Set a simple rule. Every 30 to 60 minutes, stand up and move. Take calls on your feet. Stretch. Walk. Shift positions.

Movement isn’t something you do once a day. It’s something you layer into your life.

Small bursts. Repeated often. That’s where the real impact happens.

3. Start Small. Use the Minimal Effective Dose to Stay Consistent

If you want to move more, do yourself a favor and start small. I can’t tell you how many people start too big and burn out or get discouraged because they can’t keep up.

The full workout. The ideal routine. The, dare I say it, “optimized” program. Those mean nothing if you don’t do it consistently. And guess what? Life won’t always allow for optimal, so most people end up defaulting to nothing.

This is where a crucial shift comes into play. From all or nothing to always something.

Anchor with a minimum. Or, as we call it in exercise science, the minimal effective dose.

The Minimal Effective Dose (MED) is the smallest amount of effort needed to produce a meaningful result. This does not mean doing the least. It means doing just enough to create progress without burnout, injury, or decision fatigue.

Most people assume transformation requires going all in, all the time. But research and real life show otherwise. One study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that just 11 minutes of moderate exercise per day can reduce the risk of premature death. That’s less time than a lunch break or a session of scrolling your phone.

When you remove the pressure to do more, you give yourself permission to focus on what matters: showing up, moving well, and being consistent.

Confidence doesn’t come from hitting a huge goal. It comes from showing up consistently. Five minutes. A short walk. A quick circuit. Something you can repeat without friction.

Lock in the habit of doing something. Then build from there.

Because often, the smallest step is the one that keeps everything moving forward.

4. Listen to Your Body

Your body is always communicating. Tightness, fatigue, soreness, pain, low energy, brain fog, and poor sleep. These are all signals. Yet sometimes we treat them as problems to ignore.

As Dr. Kelly Starrett says, “Pain is a request for change.”

Listening to your body doesn’t mean quitting every time something feels off. It means staying curious. Do you need to modify the movement, lower the intensity, adjust the volume, or swap in recovery work?

The goal is to keep showing up, not blindly pushing through. Sometimes, grit is not the problem. The inability to pivot is.

Studies show that individuals who adjust training based on how they feel have better adherence and fewer injuries over time.

Pause. Reflect. Adjust.

That’s how you stay in the game. That’s how you make availability your best ability.

5. Let Movement Be Simple

Despite what you might believe, movement isn’t reserved for athletes, gym-goers, or people following a structured plan. As I’ve mentioned, you don’t need fancy gear, a strict routine, or even a specific reason to get started.

Here’s what you don’t need:

You don’t need to be “in shape.”

You don’t need a gym.
You don’t need an hour-long workout.
You don’t need to sweat buckets.
You don’t need a coach or certification.
You don’t need to wait for the perfect time.
You don’t need a goal.
You don’t even need to call it exercise.

Movement doesn’t have to be loud or flashy to count. In fact, most of the best movement isn’t. It’s quiet, uncomplicated, and ordinary.

It’s walking to clear your head. Playing with your kids on the floor. Dancing in the kitchen. Stretching before bed. Standing while you work. Doing five squats during a break.

We often overcomplicate health. We think if we’re not doing it “right,” it’s not worth doing at all.

But that thinking keeps people stuck.

The truth is, movement meets you where you are. And the only wrong way to move… is not to.

Final Thought

There are 1,440 minutes in a day and 10,080 in a week.

If you exercise for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, that’s just 150 minutes total. About 1 percent of your entire week.

1 percent.

That’s the minimum recommendation from the CDC. And yet only 1 in 4 Americans hits that target.

We have a movement crisis on our hands. Not because people don’t care, but because life gets busy and we stop noticing how little we move.

Let this be your sign. Your call to action.

Movement doesn’t need to be extreme to be effective. It just needs to be consistent.

Start with one of these. Or a couple. Just start.

Build momentum. Stack wins. Let it compound.

Because when it comes to health, the smallest actions, done consistently, are the ones that change everything.

If you enjoyed this article, you will LOVE my new book Move, Thrive, and Come Alive. This article draws on a few ideas from the book. It comes out June 2nd and is available for pre-order! Thank you for your support, and share this article or the book with someone who might need an extra kick to get moving or move more.

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The average person now spends over 12 hours a day engaged with digital media. Half the day scrolling, swiping, watching, reacting.

The even crazier part is that most of it is unconscious.

Our attention is constantly being monetized, manipulated, or distracted unless we decide otherwise. And over time, that shows up as something deeper than lost time. It shows up as lost energy.

What we pay attention to, we become. Where focus goes, energy flows.

So before we talk about doing more, it’s worth asking one question. Where is your attention actually going?

Social media. Newsfeeds. Emails. Notifications. Group chats. Podcasts layered on top of everything else. It’s non-stop. And while these tools can add value, they can also quietly erode focus, increase stress, and fragment your thinking.

In research, they call this “attention residue.” Every time you switch tasks, part of your attention stays behind. Over time, that constant switching drains mental energy and reduces your ability to do meaningful work.

This is why energy management often matters more than time management. We all get the same 24 hours. What separates people is how they direct their attention within those hours.

So the goal is not to opt out of digital life. It’s to design better defaults.

Here’s where I start.

1. Build Mental Buffers

Your day doesn’t need to start or end with noise. Create boundaries that allow you to be connected with the world around you.

No phone for the first 30 minutes of the day. No screens during meals. A daily walk without devices. Seems trivial, but it can be liberating.

These small boundaries create space. Space for clarity. Space for thought. Space for presence.

And that space is where better decisions, empathy, and even creative ideas come from.

2. Set Tactical Tech Limits

Willpower is unreliable. Environment is not. Set up your environment so the desired behavior is the easy one. And then create friction for undesired habits.

Use tools like app blockers if needed. Turn your phone to greyscale to reduce visual pull. Create what I call “No Phone Zones,” like during my morning routine, at the dinner table, during workouts, and pre-bed.

When the rule is clear, the decision is already made.

3. Clean Up Your Inputs

Your digital environment is shaping your mental environment. What you consume bleeds into how you show up and your mood. Be cognizant of this.

Unsubscribe from what you don’t read. Unfollow what drains you. Be intentional about what gets through your digital front door.

God knows we don’t need MORE information. What we need is better information, at the right times, in the right doses.

4. Shift How You Consume

Not every moment needs to be filled. This is one I wrestle with. Podcast while cooking. Audiobook while driving. Music on runs. I try to squeeze something “productive” into every quiet moment. But…

Try this for a day. Cook without a podcast. Walk without music. Drive without noise.

Silence can feel uncomfortable at first. Then it becomes powerful.

You start to think more clearly. You notice more. You reconnect with yourself.

Being alone with your thoughts can help you build a stronger relationship with the person you spend all day, every day with: yourself.

5. Reclaim Your Energy Through Action

If you feel drained, don’t just look at your schedule. Look at your attention.

Run a simple audit for a few days:

• What drains me?

• What drives me?

• What must be done?

• What is just distraction?

Patterns show up quickly. From there, design around what matters.

• Want less social media? Add friction.

• Want to read more? Block time for it.

• Want fewer interruptions? Set rules around when you check messages.

• Want more movement? Schedule it like a meeting.

Energy improves when your attention aligns with your priorities.

A Simple Reframe

You don’t need to delete every app or disconnect from the world (although mini digital detoxes can be great). You just need a plan.

Be mindful. Be intentional. Avoid getting pulled in without your permission.

Your attention is your most valuable currency. And like any currency, it can be spent or invested.

Spent on distractions that leave you drained. Or invested in things that build energy, clarity, and momentum.

Real life still wins. The conversations. The experiences. The moments that don’t fit into a highlight reel.

So here’s something to sit with: If your energy is your most valuable asset, are you investing it wisely?

And if not, what’s one boundary you can set today to start reclaiming it?

Mothers are the foundation of health. Period.

From the moment we’re born, we rely on mothers for care, nourishment, and love.

There aren’t enough words to fully capture what mothers mean to the world. But today, I can try to share a few of the lessons I’ve learned from the incredible women in my life.

I know I wouldn’t be who I am today without them. And my hope is that this inspires you to reach out to a mother in your life and tell her what she means to you.

There is so much invisible work that mothers do. And sometimes, it deserves to be seen, acknowledged, and celebrated.

So here’s my attempt to shine a light on the mothers who shaped me.

My Grandma

My grandma was a special human.

She raised six kids in Southeast DC with far less than most, yet carried everything with grace. She remembered everything, had a sharp sense of humor, and was full of wisdom.

She taught me what true strength looks like. How to listen. The importance of family and tradition.

I’ll never forget the hugs, the food, the stories.

I’m grateful she got to meet her great-grandchild and share her love one more generation forward.

She is missed deeply.

Qualities I admire: Love. Tradition. Patience. Care. Humor. Wisdom. Grace.

My Best Friend’s Mom, Eva Eckenrode

Eva was one of the earliest mother figures in my life outside of my own mom.

I practically lived at their house growing up. And I never once left hungry.

She is grace personified.

She taught me patience, respect, and how to care for people. I learned so much about food, cooking, and what it means to create a home.

She raised three boys, somehow kept us all in line, and supported us as athletes and as humans.

A truly beautiful person, inside and out.

Qualities I admire: Grace. Health. Patience. Joy. Positivity. Respect. Family.

My Mother-in-Law, Dawne Ward

From day one, I’ve been welcomed like family.

Dawne is southern hospitality turned all the way up. To this day, I can’t walk into her house without being offered food, a drink, or anything I might need.

She is one of the most thoughtful people I know. Always looking for ways to brighten someone’s day.

She’s been a constant supporter of my work, my growth, and my life. And she’s taught me lessons in generosity, financial awareness, service, and how to treat people well.

I see her in my wife every single day. And that says everything.

Qualities I admire: Energy. Positivity. Joy. Service. Thoughtfulness. Tradition.

My Sister

My sister, Rian. Amber, as I call her.

We’ve always had a special connection. We think big. We dream. We create.

Our conversations stretch my mind and leave me inspired.

As a mother, she is resilient, passionate, and deeply loving. She gives everything to her kids and makes sure they feel it.

She’s taught me how to express myself, challenge norms, and go after big ideas.

Watching her raise her kids has been one of the greatest gifts.

Qualities I admire: Creativity. Passion. Expression. Resilience. Unconditional love.

My Wife

My wife. My best friend. My anchor.

The most selfless person I know.

You hold everything together with patience, love, and quiet strength.

I don’t say it enough, but everything we’ve built is because of you.

The boys and I are beyond lucky.

And I can’t wait for everything we’ll continue to build together.

Qualities I admire: Love. Support. Trust. Commitment. Selflessness. Family.

My Mom

Mama. Nana.

The strongest woman I know.

A single mother who did whatever it took to give us a great life. Never asking for anything in return. Just doing what needed to be done.

You taught me work ethic. Patience. Grit. Love.

You supported every dream. Encouraged every curiosity. Pushed me to explore, to grow, to become.

As I wrote in my book:
“Every day in my life, I try to embody the qualities I learned from my mother… my passion for knowledge, my desire to help others, and my curiosity are all a product of her.”

You still amaze me. The way you take on challenges. The way you figure things out. The way you keep growing stronger with age.

There aren’t enough words.

So I’ll just say this. I love you. And I’ll keep doing my best to make you proud.

Qualities I admire: Unconditional love. Strength. Resilience. Wisdom. Selflessness.

Final Thought

To all the mothers in my life, and to those I didn’t name here.

Thank you. I love you.

And to everyone reading this, take a moment today.

Reflect on the mothers in your life.
What they’ve given you.
What they’ve taught you.

Then don’t just reflect. Reach out. Tell them.

Mothers may never get all the credit they deserve.
But we can do our part to honor them.

Happy Mother’s Day ❤️

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I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea of “giving yourself grace.”

It’s one of those concepts that sounds right. Feels right. And often comes from a good place.

Slow down. Be kind to yourself. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

All of that matters.

But the more I’ve reflected on it, the more I think this idea deserves a little more nuance. Because sometimes, giving yourself grace can lead to the exact opposite of what you actually need.

When Grace Turns Into Drift

In most cases, from a health standpoint, giving yourself grace means easing off the gas.

Skipping workouts. Letting nutrition slide. Going to bed later. Dropping routines that normally keep you grounded.

And in certain seasons, that makes sense.

But here’s where I’ve started to shift my mindset on grace. It’s when that “grace” becomes open-ended that it can quietly turn into a new pattern. This is the extended grace that I’ve become weary of.

One missed workout turns into a week. One off day turns into a month. One break from structure turns into a loss of momentum.

Behavioral science is pretty clear on this. Habits are built through repetition, but they’re also lost the same way. Small breaks, repeated often enough, can become the new baseline.

So what started as compassion can slowly turn into drift. And drift makes it much easier to regain momentum and consistency.

The Paradox of Tough Seasons

Here’s where things get interesting. The more I thought about this concept, the more I kept coming back to a paradox.

The times when we’re most likely to give ourselves grace… are often the times we need our habits the most.

Think about it. Stress. Busy schedules. Life transitions. Uncertainty.

These are the exact moments where movement, sleep, nutrition, and routine act as anchors.

Not obligations. But anchors.

We know that exercise improves mood and stress resilience. Sleep regulates emotional control and decision-making. Nutrition supports energy and cognitive function. Mindfulness practice can reduce stress and improve well-being.

So when life gets chaotic, removing these behaviors often makes things harder, not easier.

We are essentially removing the antidote to navigating these tough seasons.

A Conversation That Changed My Perspective

This all actually came from a conversation with someone I was coaching.

She was a mom of three, pregnant with her fourth, working a demanding job. Life was full (to say the least). Overwhelming at times.

She was frustrated that she wasn’t exercising more and eating the way she wanted to. So, naturally, I told her to give herself some grace. She was shouldering a lot, so I figured she didn’t need to add guilt on top of that.

But surprisingly, she pushed back.

She said, “Kyle, trust me, I’ve been doing that. And honestly, it’s made it harder to get back on track. I don’t think I need more grace right now. I need more grit.”

It was one of those coaching moments where you learn more than the person you are trying to coach. It really stuck with me.

She wasn’t being hard on herself. She was being honest about what actually helped her feel better.

She mentioned that she felt more like herself when she exercised. She had more agency in her health and her life.

So we mapped out a plan to help her find herself again, through healthy, consistent behaviors that showed her she was capable, strong, and resilient.

Grace vs. Grit. It’s Not Either/Or

Now, I think it’s important to note that this isn’t about eliminating grace.

It’s about applying it intentionally. Grace should be:

• Time-bound. A pause, not a new lifestyle

• Purposeful. Used to recover, not avoid

• Aligned. Supporting your values, not drifting from them

And sometimes, grace doesn’t mean doing less. Sometimes it means adjusting the standard, not abandoning it.

A shorter workout instead of none. A simple meal instead of takeout every night. An earlier bedtime, even if it’s not perfect.

This is where grit comes in. The power to adapt. To persevere when things are going your way.

Not extreme discipline. Not perfection. Not totally optimized. Just the willingness to keep showing up, even in a modified way.

A Better Question to Ask

Next time you think, “I should give myself grace,” pause and ask:

What actually helps me feel better right now?

• Is it removing structure? Or is it keeping a small piece of it?

• Is it sticking to habits or deviating from them?

• Is it grace or grit that I need right now?

Because as we just learned, often, the things we’re tempted to drop…are the exact things that help us steady the ship.

Takeaways

• Grace is powerful, but too much can create unintended patterns

• Habits don’t just build momentum. They lose it too

• Stressful seasons increase the value of foundational behaviors

• Adjust the standard instead of abandoning it completely

• Use grace intentionally, not as an open-ended escape

• Sometimes what you need most is not less effort, but a different kind of effort

I’ll leave you with this. Life will always be busy. Messy. Unpredictable.

So the goal isn’t to wait for the right moment.

It’s to find a way to keep showing up within the moment you’re in.

Grace when you need it. Grit when it counts.

And the awareness to know the difference.

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Most people don’t fail because they don’t care. They fail because they think small efforts don’t matter.

A short walk feels insignificant. One healthy meal feels like a drop in the bucket. Five minutes of movement feels like it won’t move the needle.

So they wait. For more time. For a better time. For more motivation. For a better plan.

And in that waiting, they stay at zero.

But a friend once told me something that stuck: Anything over zero compounds.

That has been something that I’ve used daily ever since.

The Power of One

Every streak starts with one. One rep. One walk. One decision. One moment where you choose action over hesitation.

Research consistently shows that starting is the biggest barrier. Psychologists call it “activation energy.” Once you begin, the resistance slowly drops. The second rep is easier than the first. The second day is easier than the first day.

This is how momentum works. Not through massive breakthroughs, like movies, shows, and media like to portray. Through small, repeatable actions.

And over time, those actions stack.

Why Small Wins Matter

We tend to underestimate what small actions can do.

But physiologically and psychologically, they matter more than we think.

• A 10-minute walk after a meal can improve blood sugar regulation.

• Drinking 16-24 oz of water upon waking can shift your morning energy

• A few sets of bodyweight movement can maintain strength and mobility.

• A short wind-down routine can improve sleep quality.

• 2-3 minutes of daily mindfulness practice can improve focus and clarity

These are not massive inputs. But they create measurable outcomes. And maybe more importantly, they build identity.

Every time you show up, you reinforce a belief: “I am someone who follows through.”

That belief (along with a strong “why”) is what carries you when motivation fades.

From All-or-Nothing to Always Something

The biggest trap in health and performance is the all-or-nothing mindset. I’ve talked about this multiple times, but it’s worth repeating over and over again.

Here’s what I typically see:

• If it can’t be perfect, we skip it.

• If it’s not optimal, we wait.

• If we miss one day, we fall off completely.

News flash: Progress doesn’t work that way. Life doesn’t work that way.

Real progress is built on “always something.”

• Do what you can.

• When you can.

• With what you have.

Doing something compounds. Doing nothing does not.

What This Looks Like in Real Life

Instead of waiting for a full workout, go for a 10-minute walk. Instead of planning the perfect nutrition strategy, cook one solid meal. Instead of overthinking your routine, stretch for five minutes.

Then do it again tomorrow.

Consistency has never been about intensity. It’s truly about continuity.

Continuity creates momentum. Momentum builds capacity. Capacity makes everything else easier.

This should all sound familar because it’s what I constantly preach. Consistency is the secret sauce.

Takeaways

• Start with one. That’s where every streak begins

• Lower the bar. Make showing up easy

• Focus on frequency over intensity early on

• Replace all-or-nothing thinking with always something

• Let small actions build identity and momentum over time

There’s no shortcut here. But there is a simple path.

Show up once. Then again. Then again.

Over time, those small moments don’t stay small.

They compound into something much bigger.

So here’s the question to sit with: What’s one small way you can show up for yourself today?

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News flash: Most high-impact health habits don’t cost money. They cost a little time and a bit of intention.

We live in a world that constantly sells optimization.

We’re surrounded by products, protocols, and promises. But when you zoom out, many of the most effective strategies are the simplest ones. The ones that feel too small to matter. The ones we overlook because they don’t feel “advanced” enough.

But they work. And they work because they’re simple, free, and sustainable.

Research shows that small, repeatable behaviors drive long-term outcomes. This is what every habit guru preaches. Whether it’s movement, sleep, or stress regulation, consistency beats intensity when it comes to health.

So instead of chasing more, let’s come back to what works.

Low-Effort, High-Return Habits

Here are a few practices that punch above their weight:

• Morning phoneless walk: Movement and sunlight early in the day help regulate your circadian rhythm, improve mood, and sharpen focus. This is a game-changing habit that I can’t recommend enough.

• Physiological sigh: A double inhale followed by a long exhale can quickly calm your nervous system and reduce stress. Use it between meetings, after work, before a stressful event, or just to re-center.

• Pre-bed journaling: A quick brain dump helps reduce rumination and improve sleep quality. Get the thoughts and tasks out of your head and onto some paper or your phone notes.

• Exercise snacks: Short bursts of movement throughout the day improve blood sugar, circulation, and energy. If you want to learn more, check out my article on SBAEs.

• Eat without distractions: Slowing down improves digestion and helps you better recognize fullness cues. Turn off the TV, chew your food, and enjoy the meal in front of you.

• No phone in the bedroom: Reduces late-night stimulation and supports deeper, more consistent sleep. This one is hard. I struggle with it, but every time I go without my phone before bed, I sleep better.

• Dim lights after sunset: Signals your body to wind down and supports natural melatonin production. Cut overhead lights and shift to dim and warm lighting. Just match the natural light cycle going on outdoors with your indoor environment.

• Time in nature: Even 10 minutes outside can lower cortisol and improve mental clarity. Heck, even looking at nature can improve mood and well-being.

None of these requires a major lifestyle overhaul. They require awareness and repetition.

There are many more habits that aren’t on this list that also cost nothing. It’s up to you to find or notice them.

The 3 Habits I Come Back To

When life gets busy, these are the anchors that keep me grounded:

1. Morning Movement & Wake-Up Routine

This window is sacred. I (try to) keep my wake-up time consistent, even when the night gets messy. No phone, no notifications first thing. I lock my apps until after I move. Whether it’s a workout or a walk with my family, this time builds momentum. It goes way beyond the physical; it’s psychological. I start with a win, not with Slack, email, or news.

2. 5–5–5 Before Bed

Five minutes of gentle movement, five minutes of breathwork, five minutes of meditation. My wife and I adopted this after a yoga retreat in Cambodia. It’s now a ritual that anchors our evenings and resets our minds and bodies. Better sleep. Less stress. More presence. And a growing gap between stimulus and response in my day-to-day life. I always say a great day starts the night before.

3. Sunday Prep + Meals

Every Sunday, we map out the week: meals, schedules, and priorities. It’s 20 minutes of planning that saves hours of stress. We cook 90% of our meals. We know what’s coming. We adjust when needed. And we avoid decision fatigue when things (inevitably) go sideways. And trust me, they will go sideways.

Why This Matters

All of these habits don’t take super long. They aren’t perfect every day. Yet they are crucial to me for building capacity.

Capacity for energy.
Capacity for focus.
Capacity for your family, your work, and your life.

When the basics are in place, everything else becomes easier.

Takeaways

• Start small. Pick one or two habits and build from there

• Protect your mornings and evenings. They set the tone

• Reduce friction. Make the healthy choice easier to access

• Focus on consistency, not perfection

• Let simple habits compound over time

We’re all busy. Life is unpredictable.

But these small actions create stability in the chaos.

And over time, they shape how you feel, how you perform, and how you show up.

So I’ll leave you with this: What are the 2–3 habits that move the needle most for you right now?

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Yesterday I ran a half-marathon.

I shaved three minutes off my time. That might not sound like much, but it means a lot to me.

Let me tell you why.

Back in February, I signed up, thinking, I’ll be ready. I’ve done this before. I’ve even run a full marathon.

But life had other plans.

A cross-country move. A busy work season. A 17-month-old. A dog. A schedule that changed every week.

I’m usually someone who thrives on structure. Same workout time. Same meals. Same bedtime.

That wasn’t happening. At all.

At first, it was frustrating.

• Workouts at random times.

• Missed meals.

• Sleep all over the place.

• Less quiet time.

But then it clicked.

This is parenting. This is what we signed up for. This is what we wanted.

All it took was a shift in perspective. Two realizations changed everything for me:

1. In health, there are no solutions. Only trade-offs: And I’ll take the trade-off of two amazing boys. One human. One fur baby. Both bring energy, chaos, and a whole lot of joy that I can’t put into words.

2. I can’t control everything. And I shouldn’t try to: I can set systems. I can shape my environment. But life, especially with kids, doesn’t follow a perfect plan.

“Man plans, God laughs.”

Once I accepted that, the pressure started to lift.

I stopped chasing perfect. I stopped trying to optimize everything.

I leaned into something I say all the time: Be clear on where you want to go, but flexible in how you get there.

So What Happened?

My training wasn’t perfect. Not even close. But I didn’t miss a day.

My nutrition wasn’t dialed in, but I stayed hydrated, hit protein most days, and kept things simple.

My sleep? Let’s call it variable. But I made an effort where I could and supported recovery in other ways.

And somehow, through all of that, I got better.

I shaved three minutes off my time because I stayed consistent. Not because I did everything right. That’s the lesson.

50% of something beats 100% of nothing.

We fall into all-or-nothing thinking. And more often than not, that leads to nothing.

Instead, I just kept showing up. Doing what I could, with what I had.

It’s not flashy or glamorous. But it compounds.

A few months go by. A few years go by. And suddenly, you’re stronger. Healthier. More capable.

The Real Why

My goal wasn’t to shave three minutes.

My goal was to take care of myself. To show up daily. To be present for my family. To bring energy and vitality into my life.

That’s what kept me going.

And that’s what matters most.

Takeaways

• Let go of perfection. Focus on consistency

• Accept trade-offs. Choose the ones that align with your values

• Control what you can. Release what you can’t

• Show up, even when it’s not ideal

• Reconnect with your “why” when things feel off

So take a step back.

• What trade-offs are you willing to make?

• What are you trying to control that you need to let go of?

• What does showing up look like for you right now?

Because that might lead you somewhere better than you expected.

For the record… I won the half-marathon. And my wife and son were there cheering me on.

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Today is Earth Day.

A global moment that brings together more than a billion people across 190+ countries, all focused on one thing. Protecting the place we call home.

Since it began in 1970, Earth Day has grown into the largest civic event in the world. The first one alone mobilized 20 million Americans. That was about 10% of the U.S. population at the time. Today, tens of millions of people participate in cleanups, and hundreds of millions of trees are planted each year around this day.

But zoom out for a second.

Earth is about 4.54 billion years old. Humans have existed for roughly 0.004% of that time. A very small blip in a very long story. Yet in that short window, we’ve had an outsized impact.

Around 80% of all plastic ever created still exists in the environment. Sedentary habits, consumption patterns, and convenience culture have shaped both human health and environmental health in ways we’re still trying to understand.

And that’s why this day matters.

Not just as a celebration of this amazing planet. But as a check-in and a checkpoint for everyone who lives on it.

Appreciation Drives Action

Before we talk about doing more, it’s worth pausing to notice what’s already here.

The oceans.
The skies.
The sun.
The trees.
The animals.
The stillness. The noise. The rhythm of it all.

There’s growing research showing that time in nature improves mental health, reduces stress, enhances focus, and even supports immune function. The more connected we feel to nature, the more likely we are to protect it.

Awareness creates care. Care creates action.

What You Can Actually Do

This doesn’t have to be overwhelming. And it shouldn’t be. It’s our obligation, and it just requires some intention.

Here are a few simple ways to get involved:

• Reduce waste: Bring a reusable bag. Use a refillable water bottle. Small swaps add up. One reusable bag can replace hundreds of plastic ones over time.

• Conserve energy: Turn off devices when not in use. This can reduce energy consumption significantly. Something as simple as powering down your computer actually matters.

• Move differently: Walk. Bike. Carpool. Not every trip needs a car.

• Get involved locally: Join a park or beach cleanup. These are happening everywhere and make an immediate impact.

• Plant something: A tree. A garden. Even a few herbs at home. It builds a connection to the process.

• Be mindful with consumption: Buy less. Choose better. Support brands that align with sustainability.

• Support organizations doing the work: Groups like Arbor Day Foundation and EARTHDAY.ORG are leading large-scale efforts.

I’ll be the first to say I’m not perfect. I know I can be better. As I write this, I am thinking about all the different ways I can preserve the beauty of this planet.

One that my friends, family, and colleagues will continue to live and depend on, along with their kids, who will shape future generations.

The Bigger Picture

You don’t need to do everything. You just need to do something. Consistently.

Health works the same way. It’s never about one perfect day. It’s about repeated actions that shape outcomes over time.

The same applies here.

One person’s action might feel small. But collective momentum is powerful. It’s how 20 million people showed up in 1970. It’s how over a billion people participate today.

Yes, you read that correctly, one billion people.

A Simple Challenge

Pick one action from the list above.

Commit to it this week. Then build from there.

Today is a reminder.

To appreciate where you are.
To recognize your role in it.
And to take one step toward protecting it.

Because this planet has been here long before us.

And with the right choices, it will be here long after us.

Happy Earth Day 🌍

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The hardest barriers to break are often the ones no one else can see.

Overthinking.
Unrealistic expectations.
Comparison.
Doubt.
Fear.
Imposter syndrome.
Anticipation of what could go wrong.

They all feel real. They all feel heavy. But they all come from the same place. Your mind.

And this, actually, is an opportunity.

Why? Because if these barriers are created internally, they can be dismantled internally too.

There’s a reason this shows up so often in psychology. The brain is wired to predict and protect. It scans for threats, fills in gaps, and prepares for worst-case scenarios. That kept us alive in the past. Today, it often keeps us stuck.

Research on anxiety and cognitive patterns shows that much of what we worry about never actually happens. Yet we still experience the stress as if it’s real. We rehearse conversations that haven’t occurred. We anticipate failure before taking action. We create resistance before reality ever has a chance to.

As Seneca said, “Don’t suffer imagined troubles.”

Simple. But not always easy.

Thinking often “feels” productive. Planning “feels” safe. Waiting “feels” responsible.

But none of those move you forward if they aren’t paired with action.

The Shift That Changes Everything

At some point, you have to move.

Out of your head and into your body.
Out of prediction and into action.
Out of fear and into experience.

There’s a growing body of research showing that action regulates emotion more effectively than rumination. Movement changes your physiology. It reduces stress hormones, increases blood flow, and shifts your state.

That’s why something as simple as a walk, a workout, or even standing up and changing environments can break a spiral of overthinking.

Action creates evidence.
Evidence builds confidence.
Confidence reduces doubt.

That loop is how you break through.

What This Looks Like in Real Life

You don’t need a massive breakthrough. You just need a small interruption.

Instead of overthinking the perfect workout, go for a 10-minute walk.
Instead of waiting for the perfect idea, write one paragraph.
Instead of doubting yourself, send the message.

The goal is not to eliminate fear or doubt. The goal is to stop letting them dictate your behavior.

Things will go right. Things will go wrong.

That part is out of your control.

What is in your control is what you do next.

Action Steps

If you feel stuck, try this:

• Name the barrier: What’s actually holding you back right now? Be specific.

• Reality check it: Ask yourself: Is this happening or am I imagining it?

• Shrink the action: What’s the smallest step you can take in the next 5 minutes?

• Move your body: Change your state first. Then make the decision.

• Stack evidence: Every small action is proof that you can move forward.

You don’t need to think your way out of every problem.

Sometimes you need to act your way through it.

So here’s the question to sit with: What mental barrier is holding you back right now…
and what’s one action you can take to break through it today?

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Let’s be honest. Sticking to a workout routine can sometimes feel overwhelming. Life is busy. We all have a lot going on.

On the other hand, there’s no shortage of advice, programs, or opinions. And most of it pushes you toward doing more, harder, faster.

But as I’ve mentioned time and time again. It’s all about consistency. And consistency doesn’t come from complexity. It comes from clarity.

That’s why I love the FITTE principle. It’s a simple, research-backed framework for structuring exercise in a way that adapts to your life, not the other way around.

FITTE stands for Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type, and Enjoyment. Five levers you can adjust based on your goals, schedule, and energy.

Let’s break it down.

The FITTE Principle

Frequency: This is how often you move. There is no perfect number. Research gives general guidelines, but adherence is what matters most. Whether it’s three workouts per week or daily walks, the goal is repeatability. Build a rhythm you can sustain.

Intensity: This is how hard you go. Not every session needs to be a grind. In fact, constantly pushing high intensity can increase injury risk and burnout. Studies on long-term training show that varying intensity improves consistency and outcomes. Use tools like heart rate or RPE, but also trust your body. Some days are for pushing. Some are for maintaining.

Time: This is how long you move. Most guidelines suggest around 150 minutes per week of moderate activity, but that can be built in many ways. Ten minutes counts. Thirty minutes counts. What matters is accumulating movement in a way that fits your life. Short bouts done consistently often outperform long sessions done sporadically (Check out my article on SBAEs for more on this).

Type: This is what you do. Strength. Cardio. Mobility. Stability. All of it matters. A balanced approach reduces injury risk and improves overall health. Research consistently shows that combining strength and endurance training leads to better long-term outcomes than either alone. But don’t overcomplicate it. Start with what you enjoy, then layer in variety over time.

Enjoyment: This is the one most people overlook (Also the one I added to the original FITT principle widely known in the exercise realm). And it might be the most important. Enjoyment is one of the strongest predictors of adherence. If you dread it, you won’t do it. If you enjoy it, you’ll come back. That positive feedback loop is powerful. Find movement you like. Or at least movement you like the feeling of after.

Putting It All Together

The FITTE principle is not meant to be some rigid plan. It’s a framework. A way to adjust based on real life.

• Busy week? Reduce time, keep frequency.

• Low energy? Lower intensity, still show up.

• Feeling stale? Change the type.

• Struggling to stay consistent? Revisit enjoyment.

This is how you stay in the game long-term.

Action Steps

• Pick a frequency you can commit to this week

• Adjust intensity based on how you feel each day

• Remove time pressure. Focus on showing up

• Add one new type of movement this month

• Find one form of movement you actually enjoy

There is no such thing as a perfect program for everyone. The goal is not to build the perfect plan but one you can actually repeat.

Because the best program is one you actually do. So take a look at your routine.

Where are you strong? Where can you adjust? Start there.

Let The FITTE Principle be your guide!

If you want to learn more about The FITTE Principle, check out my podcast below!