How to Set Wellness Goals Based on Your Personality Type
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Transcript
If you've ever set a New Year's resolution and struggled to stick with it, today's episode is for you. We're diving into Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies framework and how it can help you reach your wellness goals this year.
Gretchen's framework explains how people respond to expectations, both from others and from themselves. And understanding your tendancy can make all the difference when it comes to setting goals that actually stick.
Let's break it down.
So Upholders respond well to both internal and external expectations. If you're an Upholder, you likely thrive with clear plans and love checking things off a to-do list. For you, set specific routines or schedules for your wellness goals and stick to them.
Questioners need things to make sense before committing. This is me. I am a Questioner. I've taken this quiz multiple times, and I'm always the Questioner. So if this is also you, focus on the why. For example, instead of just saying "I'll exercise three times a week," research how movement boosts energy or supports weight loss. The more logical it feels, the more likely you are to follow through.
Obligers are great at meeting external expectations, but they struggle with internal ones. If this sounds familiar to you, get accountability. Whether it's a workout buddy, a coach, a trainer, or a supportive community, having someone to check in with will keep you on track.
Rebels resist both internal and external expectations. So if you're a Rebel, you value freedom and choice. For you, frame your goals as empowering decisions, like "I'm choosing to eat more whole foods because it makes me feel amazing" rather than rigid rules.
So, how do you apply this? First, figure out which tendency fits you. You can go to Gretchen Rubin's website, gretchenrubin.com/quiz, and just scroll down until you get to the Four Tendencies quiz. And you'll have to enter your email address, but you'll get the results right away and I think it's super informative.
Then, tailor your wellness or weight loss goals to match your natural motivation style or tendency.
It's not about forcing yourself into a system that doesn't work. And I especially find this true for Obligers. They feel guilty for not being able to uphold their own expectations and having to rely on a coach or a trainer in order to work out or stick to their nutrition plans, for example. But really, it's just about understanding what motivates you and working with that system so that it feels really good and really right.
If you want to dive deeper into the four tendencies, I definitely recommend her book. And if you're trying to apply this framework to your New Year's goals, let me know how it goes! I'll see you next week.
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