Motivation is overrated; Environment Often Matters More

Managing Type 2 Diabetes Requires a Lifestyle change that includes discipline, Self Control and that is all tied to Motivation- But Motivation is a short-term strategy, not a long-term one, and once your understand the environment correlation, it will be easy

Your Environment is the Secret Hand That Dictates Your Choices and Habits- This Statement is even more prevalent with individuals with Diabetes. -

Let's start with a little story to drive the point home.-

"Ann Thorndike, a primary care physician in Boston, had this wild idea that she could change the eating habits of thousands of hospital staff and visitors WITHOUT UTTERING A WORD TO THEM! She didn't need to boost their willpower or motivation; all she did was tweak the cafeteria's "Choice Architecture."

She began with the drinks- Initially, the fridges near the cafeteria were a soda lover's paradise. But Ann and her team decided to throw water into the mix, literally. They also placed water baskets next to the food stations. Soda was still there, but the water was now in plain sight.

In just three months, soda sales dropped by 11.4%, while bottled water sales shot up by 26%. All this without anyone saying a word – it's like a magic trick, right?"

This experiment tells us something vital- (and as a Diabetic, I know this will resonate with you)

People often choose products not because of WHAT they are but because of WHERE they are.

If I walk into the kitchen and see a plate of cookies on the counter, I’ll pick up half a dozen and start eating, even if I wasn’t craving them beforehand and didn’t feel necessary hunger. It's the same at the office; if doughnuts and bagels are on the communal table, resisting the temptation is a real challenge.

Diabetes isn't like a broken Arm; You cannot isolate the problem and let it heal while you go on with your life as usual.

Managing it requires making lifestyle changes, which include proper food choices, smart medication, exercising, and much more- All the right decisions must be made on a daily basis to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, avoid complications, and enjoy an excellent quality of life, these characteristics come with an insane discipline, motivation and the ability to resist temptation when it comes to food choices. (And to be honest, this is not easy, but this perspective you about to learn, will put you in the top 3% who can beat this disease)

You may be able to resist temptation once or twice, but it is unlikely you can muster willpower to override your Desire every time; instead of summoning a NEW DOSE OF WILLPOWER WHEN YOU WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, your energy will be better spent optimizing your environment -

This is the Secret of self-control, managing your cravings, and following through on what is necessary to manage this disease.

The Goal of this Blog is to show you how to use your environment to be the unsung hero against your diabetes. With this method, you won't need high levels of motivation or willpower to make the right choices and manage your Diabetes - Let's Dive In

Your Environment is the Secret Hand That Dictates your Choices and Habits

Your Habits changes depending on the room your’re in and the cues in front of you(cues include cookies in the kitchen, Doughnuts in office, Free Candy at convention, etc.)

Despite your unique personality and motivations, certain behaviors tend to pop up again and again in specific environmental conditions. For example, in churches, people talk in hushed tones, and on a dark street, folks tend to be cautious. If you went to the Fair with your family, you might consume more carbs and sugar than planned. (because you're in an environment where these things are prevalent)

In Other Words small changes to what you SEE, can lead to a big shift in what you DO

The most common form of change is NOT internal but external:

This means when it comes to making the right choices to stabilize your Blood sugar, it is tough to use willpower and discipline to stay on the right track; instead of fighting an uphill battle, you should position yourself to thrive in your environment. This way, there will be no resistance when making choices-

WE are CHANGED by the world around us. We like to think we're in control, but many of our daily actions are shaped by the most OBVIOUS option-Author James Clear

Science backs all this up; here is a snippet of

The Power of Vision and How It Drives Our Behaviour

Human beings are visual creatures, no doubt about it. Our vision primarily guides our sensory nervous system. Out of over 11 million sensory receptors, roughly 10 million are dedicated to sight. So, it's no surprise that visual cues are the Jedi masters of our behavior. A small change in what you see can lead to a monumental shift in what you do

So in other words, you will make a choice of what to eat not because You want to but because it is Presented to you

Knowing this, you can see why it is so hard NOT to drink the Soda in the Fridge or grab the chips on the table. Willpower can help, but it is difficult, and you won't be able to win most times.

Here is an actual example of the Power of "Making things obvious in my environment" to help me make better choices - I Wanted to Eat More Apples

"I Used to buy apples from the store, put them in the tray at the bottom of the fridge, and forget about them.

By the time I remembered, the apples would have gone Bad! (I Never Saw Them)

Eventually, I made adjustments to my environment.

I Bought a large display bowl and placed it in the middle of the kitchen counter; the next time I bought Apples, that was where they went - out in the open "Where I could see them. Almost like magic, they were gone-

Knowing the information you have read so far, you CAN imagine how important it is to live and work in environments that are filled with productive cues and devoid of unproductive ones.

Thankfully, there is good news. You Don't have to be the victim of your environment. You CAN also be the architect of it.

How to Design Your Environment For Success and reduce temptation to make bad food choices

Every habit or choice starts with a cue, and we're more likely to notice cues that stand out. (Think about my Apples Example)

First, let's remember what cues are – they're the triggers in your environment that make you do things, whether they're good or bad. Take smoking, for example; cues for smokers can include being around friends who smoke, stress, or even at the casino.

Answer this question as a start.

What is the Cue that makes me eat junk food when sitting on the couch?

What changes can I make in my environment to encourage healthier habits

With this being said, you need to create cues in your environment that encourages the desired Habit to benefits your Diabetes

Here is a Few Ways You Can Redisgn Your environment and Make Cues for your preferred Habits More Obvious - (you will need to create your own)

If You want to remember to take your medication each night, put your pill bottle directly next to the faucet on the bathroom counter.
If You want to go to Gym More often, put your workout clothes in the Vehicle so can stop at gym before going home
If You want to eat more fruits, place them on the counter or in the fridge where you can see them more prominently
If you want to drink more water, fill up a few water bottles each morning and place them in common locations around the house

The examples above are there for you to spark your imagination and get you to create your own.

Think about the things you need to do more off and create visual cues in your environment to help push you in the right direction.

If you want to make a habit a big part of your life, make the cue a big part of your environment, by sprinkling triggers throughout your surroundings, you increase the odds that you'll think about your habit throughout the day

Make sure the best choice is the most obvious one- Making a better decision is easy and natural when the cues for good habits are right in front of you.

Here is a summary of what we discussed

What if you're doing everything right, but your blood sugar is still not stabilized?

So, you've been doing the work, eating right, and trying to keep your blood sugar in check, but it still feels like an uphill battle? Don't worry, you're not alone. Sometimes, even when we do everything right, our bodies have a mind; sometimes, we are moving fast, but it is in the wrong direction.

If you focus on reducing blood sugar instead, you should focus on ways to reduce your insulin resistance. This perspective can explain why there isn't much improvement with so many people fighting diabetes.

If you want to be great, selecting the right place to start is crucial -

Starting with what you put in your body is essential because that will impact you immediately and in the future.

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