Mind the knowing–doing gap
I was sitting in my GP’s waiting room recently and noticed a poster about healthy weight and healthy habits.
It struck me that we all know what we “should” do.
Exercise more.
Eat better.
Have that difficult conversation.
Follow up the training.
Start the project.
And yet… we don’t.
Knowing clearly isn’t the problem.
This is the knowing–doing gap.
We carry around long mental lists of things we ought to do, and every unfinished item quietly drains energy.
Now it’s February. The New Year enthusiasm has worn off a bit. Some resolutions are wobbling or already in the gap.
The gap is where guilt and stress live.
Perfect.
This is a good time to reset.
Write down a list of the things you think you should do, but haven’t.
Actually write it. You need a physical list, not just a mental one.
Then be honest.
Do you really want to do each one?
If not, cross it off. Give yourself permission to stop pretending.
If yes, decide the very next small action and schedule it today.
Call to action:
Pick one item and close the gap before the day ends. Delete it or start it. No middle ground.
Closing the gap feels much lighter than living in it.
My best wishes, Paul
