She has also had 16 wellness books published by major publishers including the bestselling Easy GI Diet, The Macro Method, Quit Alcohol (For a Month) and Eat 5. Her books have sold over one million copies.
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Have you ever struggled to stick to a healthy eating plan or maintain a consistent exercise routine? Yep – me too! Constantly. But there’s an idea that might change that – and that’s asking yourself, ‘What would ‘future me’ do in this situation?’ Let me explain…
Let’s take a classic scenario. You’re on the sofa; there is cake in the cupboard, and you’re three days into your new healthy eating regime. A craving hits, and the dialogue starts – shall I have a slice or not? Will it really hurt my efforts? Another loud voice pipes up, saying ‘Nope – cut it small, it won’t mess things up’ – Next thing you know, a large piece of cake has vanished, and you’ve started to feel annoyed with yourself.
That loud voice is Present You – they’re all about the now!
Now, let’s look at this scenario again. You think about the cake and whether you should have some. The part of you that wants to be eating healthily so you feel great on that trip you have coming up, at your wedding, or so you can run about with your kids says, ‘Erm, that’s not going to help us get where we want to go.’
This voice is Future You. They’re the sensible mate you wish you had with you that time you got the tattoo you now hide at all family functions, or that would have taken the last glass of wine off you last night, helping you avoid today’s hangxiety. They’ve got your back – if you listen to her (or him)!
The problem is, we don’t.
The Problem
You see, Present You is a lot louder and more persuasive than Future You. They offer immediate gratification – and, usually, sugar, and more importantly, we understand their behaviour. It feels normal to us because it’s how we act every day,
Conversely, Future You can sometimes feel like a different person. Their behaviour feels odd, even a bit sanctimonious. Instead of realising they’re just you, acting differently, you might almost see them as this perfect stranger that you’ll magically turn into in six months when you reach your goals.
Instead, you need to start looking at them as the part of you that will ensure you meet those goals in the first place.
Remember, Present You’s behaviour is what got – and keeps – you into the habits, shape and lifestyle that you’re trying to change. Listening to them all the time ain’t gonna help! To reach your goals, you have to start listening to and acting like the person you want to become instead. But how…
How to Connect With Future You
Here’s some tips that can help you find your future self, and get them speaking louder than your present one!
1. Know Who They Are
You can’t use Future You as a motivator if you don’t know who they are and how they’d behave. So, sit and think about it. What does your Future You look like? How do they act in different situations? What do they wear? What foods do they like? What do they do at the weekends or on Friday night?
By the way, Future You doesn’t have to be a paragon of virtue. They don’t need to spend Friday night sitting in a room full of candles saying ‘ommm’ – but maybe they only have two drinks with friends or say no to the naan with their curry. Be positive, be ambitious – but also, be realistic!
2. Let Future You Make Decisions
You’ve heard of WWBD – What Would Beyonce Do? as a motivating tactic. This is the same thing, with fewer Grammys.
The next time you’re tempted to skip a workout, give in to a chocolate craving or indulge in an unhealthy meal, pause and ask yourself, “What would Future Me want me to do right now?’ Chances are, they’d encourage you to stick with the thing that will take you closer to your goals.
This simple pause is the key to the whole process. Embrace it, even if, right now, you feel angry, grumpy and resentful of the decision.
Over time, Future You will start to feel more like a natural part of your personality – one whose choices move you one step forward, not two steps back – you might even start to like them, and it will definitely become easier to listen to them.
RELATED READ: Why simply going for a walk could kill your food cravings fast.
3. Check in With Them – Often
Visualisation is a powerful tool used by athletes and high performers. Take a few minutes each day to close your eyes and picture your future self living their best life. Imagine how they feel, what they look like, and how grateful you are that you made the positive choices that got you to finally meet them.
If visualisation isn’t your thing, then try a mood board. Add clear images that represent all the behaviour that Future You carries out without thinking, the life they live, the clothes they wear, the exercise they enjoy, and the foods they turn to without feeling deprived.
And stick it somewhere really noticeable. Every time you see it, your subconscious will get a little nudge as to who is in charge here.
4. Set Up Reminders and Cues
Sometimes, we just need a little nudge in the right direction. Place sticky notes with messages from your future self on your fridge, pantry, or bathroom mirror. Set reminders on your phone that say things like, “Future You will thank you for this workout” or “Your energy tomorrow depends on today’s choices.”
You can also set your phone screen up with a reminder on it. We actually have a Future You screen ready to download in our post on how your lock screen can motivate you.
5. Dear Diary
Think of Future You as your own accountability partner. Keep a journal where you check in with your future self on a regular basis. Write about your progress and the small wins you’ve achieved that take you closer to meeting them.
This practice helps you get into the habit of thinking more about the benefits ahead rather than the instant gratification you’ll get today.
Embracing the concept of Future You takes a bit to get your head round, and a little bit of time to bed in, but once you start thinking this way, it’s a really powerful way to make better decisions for your health and fitness – and eventually it can change the whole way you think, so, Future You becomes Present You (albeit maybe with better hair).