If you are a type A overachiever, I see you. You are disciplined, ambitious, and driven. These qualities help you succeed in school, in your career, and in life. But when it comes to health and wellness, those same qualities can sometimes backfire, especially if you fall into an all or nothing mindset about health.
Perfectionists often carry an all or nothing mindset.
- If I cannot do a perfect workout, I skip it.
- If I eat one off plan meal, the whole day is ruined.
- If I cannot give one hundred percent, I give nothing.
Sound familiar?
Here is the truth I remind my clients every single day. Your health is not built on extremes, it is built in the gray space in between.
Why the Gray Area Matters
The body does not operate in black and white. Progress is not about perfect streaks or flawless choices. It can’t be. That’s impossible to maintain. It is about showing up consistently enough that the small, imperfect actions add up.
Think about it.
✨A twenty minute walk is still movement even if it is not a full workout.
✨Choosing protein at lunch counts even if dinner includes dessert.
✨Stretching for five minutes before bed supports your recovery even if you did not train that day.
None of these things are perfect. But together, they move the needle.
Shifting the Mindset
When I coach women and student athletes, one of my biggest goals is to help them let go of the all or nothing mindset and step into flexibility. Their worth is not tied to flawless execution. It is rooted in the unmeasurable parts of who they are – their personality, their soul, and their unique way of showing up in the world. Progress can still be measured through persistence, growth, and balance, but breaking free from rigid belief sets requires a mindset shift.
That shift looks like this.
All or nothing ➔ Something is always better than nothing.
I failed ➔ I practiced.
I have to ➔ I get to.
The Hope I Have for You
My hope is that you begin to treat your health like a long game, not a short term project.
I always say, “Your health journey is a marathon, not a sprint.”
You will have wins, setbacks, and everything in between. The people who succeed are the ones who learn to thrive in the gray space, the space where life actually happens.
Your health is not about perfection. It is about progress, compassion for yourself, and the courage to keep showing up over and over again.