Managing the Extremes

Are you someone who goes all or nothing? Do you get the triple scoop ice cream cone as well as ski the triple diamond slope? While some people are able to go with the “nothing to excess” attitude, some of us are naturally geared towards the extremes. The question is how does this affect our quitting game plan and how can we use our natural tendencies to our advantage.

Extreme mindedness is somewhat perspective driven. The person who runs 5 miles a day may think your habits are excessive, while his running habit could possibly cause injury or interfere with family time. The important thing to realize is that in most cases the thing you are most passionate about or most addicted to may not feel extreme to you, even though it is.

The best way to know if something you are doing is too much for you is asking yourself if it interferes with other aspects of your life. For instance if you are not able to climb a set of stairs without panting, you may want to cut back on trips to the ice cream shop. If you are experiencing multiple injuries as a result of your training program, you most likely need to cut something out. The trick is when you cut back on one thing, be sure to insert something else in its place. This habit replacement technique makes it easier to handle the transition because you are not just focusing on not doing something. In turn, this technique can help you quit smoking by taking the focus off the cigarettes. If you find a habit that you can do without detriment, and even benefit from, you’ll be much healthier in the long run. For ideas on what to do instead, see my “Get your Mind Off it…” blogs.