Why We Should All Be Living By The 80/20 Rule

So instead of aiming for short-term, stringent health and fitness goals, let's integrate wellness choices and habits that will last. Here's where the 80/20 rule—80 percent healthy living and 20 percent indulgence can help. If 80 percent of the time you practice a healthy routine, and 20 percent of the time you allow yourself a few indulgences, the net result is a healthier, happier you!

Research has shown that living this way can be effective for diets, exercise routines, and health resolutions that often only work in the short term. We often fail to sustain our health goals because they stem from a place of deprivation and punishment. It's one thing to drop 5 pounds or commit to a no-sugar diet for a few months, but it's unrealistic (and no fun) to imagine the rest of your life feeling deprived of the indulgences that surround us. It's better to strike a balance; I use chocolate as a reward on the weekends and it's so much easier to say "no thank you" when you know that an indulgence is just around the corner.

If you plan to try the 80/20 route to wellness, keep in mind that you'll need to stay motivated even if you don't see immediate results. We've all been there, fired up to make a positive change only to find our excitement and motivation slowly wane. Here are 10 tips to ensure you stay on the path toward optimal health:

During the transition to an 80/20 lifestyle, it's useful to write out your primary health goals and then keep notes on the ratios you've achieved. It could be as simple as charting days of exercise or hours of sleep. Keeping a record will help you stay motivated and give you a clear picture of how you are doing.

This saying—from none other than Mark Twain—means tackling your most challenging goal first. For some, it's establishing an exercise routine; for others, it's cutting down on sugar and red meat. Attack one goal first, gain some confidence, and then integrate other wellness goals into your daily routine.

Join forces with a friend or family member who is also interested in making a lifestyle change. Inspire each other to stay on track; collaboration and competition are wonderful motivators.

Don't keep your 80/20 lifestyle goal a secret. Tell anyone and everyone! If family, friends, and co-workers know, you'll gain both social encouragement and feel a little bit more pressure to stay on your new path.

You can further motivate yourself to stick with this change by making it in honor of a loved one. Dedicating your lifestyle changes to a close family member will give meaning to your journey and reduce the likelihood that you will give up on achieving your healthy ratio.

It's a great feeling when you've integrated clean living into your routine to the extent that you don't consider one night of indulgence with friends or family as a setback. Strict routines will make you feel guilty for "cheating" by eating ice cream or mac 'n' cheese—but not so much with the 80/20 plan. Instead, these indulgences are a reward for a healthy stretch and a job well done.

Psychological research shows that if you expect to fail, you will. By contrast, if you visualize and expect success, it's likely that you will also experience it. The good news is that once you're eating, drinking, and sleeping well 80 percent of the time, you will feel and see the health benefits of your new lifestyle and be less likely to slide into bad habits. And if you do—no big deal! Just chalk that up to a 20 percent indulgence and keep moving.

Too often, we get psyched for a change and charge forward without restraint. This is especially true with exercise programs. How many times have you decided to push yourself, only to become injured or exhausted? Use the 80/20 rule to your advantage. If you decide to use the elliptical trainer or start yoga classes, begin with 80 percent effort and build up. For example, every 10 days be sure to take two days off for recovery, because exercising every day will lead to burnout and exhaustion. Health is a marathon, not a sprint.

The 80/20 rule allows you to avoid the unrealistic expectations that often make us feel like failures. Don't get hung up on the fact that one night you didn't get eight hours of sleep. It's OK. Avoiding bad habits most of the time is a huge step toward well-being!

If you've struggled to fully integrate a wellness routine, it's time to try the 80/20 rule. Incorporating a framework for long-term health promises you a life well-lived without resentment or regret. So go for it!