THREAD - Why we struggle to lose weight, act on our ideas and achieve our goals.
The Information-Action Fallacy:
The assumption is this: If we give people the relevant information, it will change their attitudes, which in turn will change their behaviours.
The Information-Action Fallacy:
The assumption is this: If we give people the relevant information, it will change their attitudes, which in turn will change their behaviours.
An example: The UK government for years has recommended that adults do at least 150 minutes of exercise a week to stay healthy, yet, 13 million adults were obese as of 2017.
As @sivers said, "If more information was the answer, then we'd all be billionaires with perfect abs.”
As @sivers said, "If more information was the answer, then we'd all be billionaires with perfect abs.”
We have too much Information:
The problem today is rooted in an abundance, rather than scarcity, of information, and of ease rather than the difficulty of access to it.
In turn, information has become a key form of procrastination.
The problem today is rooted in an abundance, rather than scarcity, of information, and of ease rather than the difficulty of access to it.
In turn, information has become a key form of procrastination.
As @jackbutcher says "Without a channel for output, obtaining more information will just make you sluggish.”
We are all dining in a 24/7 digital buffet, the problem is we've all got too greedy.
We are all dining in a 24/7 digital buffet, the problem is we've all got too greedy.
Too much information = Too much choice:
The growth of choice and opportunity has caused three things:
1. It means that decisions require more effort.
2. It makes mistakes more likely.
3. It makes the psychological consequences of mistakes more severe.
The growth of choice and opportunity has caused three things:
1. It means that decisions require more effort.
2. It makes mistakes more likely.
3. It makes the psychological consequences of mistakes more severe.
Why choice matters:
We are all afraid of making the wrong choice therefore, we put off making decisions. Whether it be choosing what type of workout to do, or what action to take next.
(I'll let you into a little secret, there is no 'right' choice)
We are all afraid of making the wrong choice therefore, we put off making decisions. Whether it be choosing what type of workout to do, or what action to take next.
(I'll let you into a little secret, there is no 'right' choice)
But, here’s the kicker.
When decisions require more thought we use information consumption as a way to convince ourselves we are making progress on these decisions.
When decisions require more thought we use information consumption as a way to convince ourselves we are making progress on these decisions.
Tyler Cowens Talismanic actions:
@tylercowen says "Most voracious readers read because they want to have a Talisman (something that gives them emotional comfort), not purely for the knowledge.”
@tylercowen says "Most voracious readers read because they want to have a Talisman (something that gives them emotional comfort), not purely for the knowledge.”
This talismanic action creates a feeling of pseudo-progress, where the act of consuming information distracts you from actually making headway.
This consumption is procrastination masquerading as productivity.
This consumption is procrastination masquerading as productivity.
The Truth:
Consuming more information on a problem you have, won’t solve it. Just like reading about health won’t make you healthier. Only taking action will manifest the outcomes you want.
Remember, many people can show you the door but only you can walk through it.
Consuming more information on a problem you have, won’t solve it. Just like reading about health won’t make you healthier. Only taking action will manifest the outcomes you want.
Remember, many people can show you the door but only you can walk through it.
So, let’s reframe the problem:
If the issue isn’t the lack of information than what is it?
The overabundance of options and information has created confusion around how to achieve a goal 'best'.
So, the abundance of information has created an abundance of confusion.
If the issue isn’t the lack of information than what is it?
The overabundance of options and information has created confusion around how to achieve a goal 'best'.
So, the abundance of information has created an abundance of confusion.
What if there was no best way to achieve your goal? Just a wide range of possible actions?
Wouldn't it then be smart to figure out the actions that best suit you? Not what some fitness celebrity or marketing guru tells you?
Then all you would need is commitment to a plan.
Wouldn't it then be smart to figure out the actions that best suit you? Not what some fitness celebrity or marketing guru tells you?
Then all you would need is commitment to a plan.
Each individual is different and has different aspirations so each action plan should theoretically be different.
But, all action plans are the same in the sense that only consistency will get you the results you want.
But, all action plans are the same in the sense that only consistency will get you the results you want.
A quick note on aspirations:
Aspirations are abstract desires, like wanting your kids to succeed in school. Outcomes are more measurable, like getting an A in a test. These are both lagging measures of actions/behaviours that you do.
Aspirations are abstract desires, like wanting your kids to succeed in school. Outcomes are more measurable, like getting an A in a test. These are both lagging measures of actions/behaviours that you do.
The Problem with Aspirations:
People don’t naturally think in terms of specific actions, and this trips up almost everyone.
Remember, actions are concrete. They are the handholds and footholds that get you up the rock face.
People don’t naturally think in terms of specific actions, and this trips up almost everyone.
Remember, actions are concrete. They are the handholds and footholds that get you up the rock face.
So, start with your aspirations then be Specific:
Aspirations like 'be fit and healthy’ are too abstract. To combat this brainstorm 10-15 specific actions that would make you fit and healthy.
Pick your top 2-3 that are most appealing to you, or you think will be easiest to do.
Aspirations like 'be fit and healthy’ are too abstract. To combat this brainstorm 10-15 specific actions that would make you fit and healthy.
Pick your top 2-3 that are most appealing to you, or you think will be easiest to do.
A funny quote to illustrate why you have to be focused:
"I am rather like a mosquito in a nudist camp; I know what I want to do, but I don't know where to begin." -Stephen Bayne
"I am rather like a mosquito in a nudist camp; I know what I want to do, but I don't know where to begin." -Stephen Bayne
Now the hard part. Taking Action.
But, luckily we have behavioural change experts, who have proven ideas that can help with taking action.
But, luckily we have behavioural change experts, who have proven ideas that can help with taking action.
Taken from @JamesClear, Optimise for the start, by making the action easy.
Examples of making action easy.
Have your gym clothes ready for when you arrive home from work or wake-up.
Purchase chopped up vegetables for convenient cooking.
Examples of making action easy.
Have your gym clothes ready for when you arrive home from work or wake-up.
Purchase chopped up vegetables for convenient cooking.
Taken from @bjfogg - Make the action Tiny:
The smaller and easier the action is the more likely you will do it.
Examples: Floss one tooth, do one press up, meditate for one minute.
By making is small you make it doable, every day. Consistency is what matters.
The smaller and easier the action is the more likely you will do it.
Examples: Floss one tooth, do one press up, meditate for one minute.
By making is small you make it doable, every day. Consistency is what matters.
Anchor that behaviour into your current routine:
Write down all the things you do currently from day to day.
Now try and link your new action to regular behaviour.
Examples include: As you make a coffee, do 2 press-ups.
Write down all the things you do currently from day to day.
Now try and link your new action to regular behaviour.
Examples include: As you make a coffee, do 2 press-ups.
Don’t feel bad when you miss the mark:
We all miss the mark from time to time. But, this can provoke deep feelings of shame and guilt.
Why?
We all miss the mark from time to time. But, this can provoke deep feelings of shame and guilt.
Why?
In many cultures, there is a lot of weight put on personal responsibility — the idea that if you can’t do the action you want then, you must be suffering from some weakness of character.
How do you fix this?
How do you fix this?
Change Your Mindset:
Stop judging yourself. You’re not broken, your system is.
As @JamesClear says ‘you do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.'
Remember, mistakes reveal flaws in your system, not you.
Stop judging yourself. You’re not broken, your system is.
As @JamesClear says ‘you do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.'
Remember, mistakes reveal flaws in your system, not you.
End Note: A handy rule of thumb for consuming.
I personally love @ipickbrains rule taken from his great book ‘The Self Help Addict:
"I have a rule: for every chapter I read or any material I consume, I must produce something.”
I personally love @ipickbrains rule taken from his great book ‘The Self Help Addict:
"I have a rule: for every chapter I read or any material I consume, I must produce something.”
