Does flexibility suit you?

Some people thrive on options, others do better having just one thing to do.

I was coaching someone today and we were coming up with a plan for her to look after her physical and mental wellbeing to help deal with work stress.

She had a good sense of what worked for her (running, yoga, and reading) but said that sometimes it wasn’t possible for her to fit a planned activity in and she found that really stressful.

So we agreed some easy options that delivered some of the benefits in an easier way. This meant that if she couldn’t fit in a run, she could take a really quick walk outside to get the benefits of movement and fresh air. If a full yoga session wasn’t possible, just doing one pose could still be helpful. And even on the most stressful day, she could take three calming deep breaths to recentre herself.

But I’ve also coached people who, when given options, would find themselves always taking the easier option, so they would end up not getting the full benefit. For them, having a specific plan with minimal flex is important to help them be consistent and accountable.

It comes down to your own motivation, and the extent to which you have perfectionist tendencies. Someone with strong motivation is unlikely to take the easy option unless absolutely necessary, and they may push too hard or be too harsh to themselves if the schedule is too prescriptive. But if your motivation isn’t quite that strong, a schedule with easy options can be too tempting.

And of course we all dip in and out of both sides from time to time as our motivation and circumstances change.

This is where working with a coach who understands how you tick can really help to get a plan that’s right for you. Which category do you fall into? And does your current plan for your work, life or fitness goals suit your needs?