[wcc_switcher]

The 80/20 Incremental Rule – Keys to Success and Health

Man Cutting Grass
Easy Print
  • 2 years ago
  • 7Minutes
  • 1345Words
  • 375Views

Incremental Change Brings Success

One of the keys to building a stronger physical body is lifting weight. It has been found to reduce bone and joint diseases, and I highly recommend it, having healed my busted spine personally over many years of incremental change.

In order to get continually stronger, it has been shown that increasing the weight being lifted gradually over time is most effective.

Progressive loading. 
For example, a common goal for strength-training programs is to increase or to maintain one’s physical strength or muscle mass. In order to achieve more strength, as opposed to maintaining current strength capacity, muscles (see skeletal muscles) need to be stressed in such a way that triggers the body’s natural, adaptive response to new demands placed on it.

Progressive overload not only stimulates muscle growth, but it also stimulates the development of stronger and denser bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. Progressive overload also incrementally increases blood flow to exercised regions of the body and stimulates more responsive nerve connections between the brain and the muscles involved.

step by step blocks

Another example is Business.
Even ordinary, incremental progress can increase people’s engagement in the work and their happiness during the workday. Across all types of events our participants in one study reported, a notable proportion (28%) of incidents that had a minor impact on the project had a major impact on people’s feelings about it. Because inner work life has such a potent effect on creativity and productivity, and because small but consistent steps forward, shared by many people, can accumulate into excellent execution, progress events that often go unnoticed are critical to the overall performance of organizations. (4)

We’ve all heard of big businesses going belly up because they grew too big too fast. It is much safer and more reliable to grow in small steady stages over the long-term.

You can imagine how this gradual ‘steady as she goes’ approach could apply to many other areas of our life, including diet and mind-body practices.

Remember, Slow and Steady Wins the Race!

man smiling

The 80/20 Rule

You may have heard of the 80/20 rule when it comes to business. Usually, it means that 80% of your revenue comes from 20% of your customers. Sometimes it can be used to describe our society, for example, 20% of the people do 80% of the work.

The rule is also called the Pareto Principle. Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto showed that approximately 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the population; Pareto also observed that about 20% of the pea pods in his garden contained 80% of the peas.

This rule is also called a Power Law. Power laws appear widely in physics, biology, earth, and planetary sciences, economics and finance, computer science, demography, and the social sciences. For instance, the distributions of the sizes of cities, earthquakes, solar flares, moon craters, wars, and people’s personal fortunes all appear to follow power laws. (1)

The original observation was in connection with population and wealth. As mentioned previously, Pareto noticed that 80% of Italy’s land was owned by 20% of the population. This means that the 20% is far outweighing the 80% in wealth and power. We know that in the world today it’s actually less than 10% of the population who hold up to 90% of the money.

But how can this law be used in our everyday lives, especially with regard to our health?

Tipping the balance

When it comes to your health it’s normally a case of what you do 20% of the time that is causing 80% of your problems. i.e. the binge drinking on the weekends, those late-night snacks, or that morning coffee instead of breakfast. Whatever it is, the power of that 20% is enough to throw your body off balance and potentially make you sick in the long-term.

Why is 20% ultimately allowed to rule the roost? There is a simple answer to that, it’s called ‘distraction’. If we’re not paying attention 80% of the time, if 80% of the people are distracted by gimmicks, advertising, and being sold up the garden path, then 20% of the people will be making the money. If 80% of people were paying attention and focused on their own higher purpose and personal progress, then the balance would be restored.

If we’re too busy 80% of the time with work, family, and other commitments, we are distracted from our health most of the time, and the bad habits creep in. The 20% bad becomes all-powerful and starts to rule our lives. We look forward to those bad things and we become slaves to them. This is how addiction starts and before long the 20% has become 30% or more. We lose our power and our health begins to suffer

Of course, the 80/20 rule can be conquered and work for us if we know-how.

woman raising her two hands

Restoring control

On the flip side, what if we were 80% super kind to our body, provided amazing nutrition and superior foods, herbs, and healing thoughts. What power would this have? It would be like some kind of revolution by the people. An uprising of sorts, where 80% of the population said ‘enough is enough, we’re assuming control’. Would the 20% be able to maintain control? I don’t think so.

When you are extra good 80% of the time your body will become powerful, and your cravings diminish. This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy Christmas, birthdays, celebrations, or any other party time without restriction. What it means is that your body will cope much better and you will find yourself feeling in control of the situation.

Yes, you can eat chocolate, have a barbecue, or go to the movies and eat popcorn. It’s what you do the next day and the three days after that which will determine your balance. If you’re extra good 80% of the time then you will stay in control.

It’s when you get distracted and let your guard down 80% of the time and allow yourself to get distracted that the 20% sneaks in the back door and takes over.

 

The 80/20 Diet

In fact, there is now an 80/20 diet that recommends you eat clean, whole foods for about 80 percent of your calories in the day, and you treat yourself for about 20 percent of the calories in the day.

I would recommend trying this out on a daily basis during the holidays, but then also trying it out on a weekly basis long-term i.e. go healthy for 6 out of 7 days which is 85% clean. You will notice the change in how your body feels.

Conclusion

So here is my 80/20 incremental rule for health.

If you’re extra good 80% of the time you can be a little naughty 20% of the time. This way you can still enjoy life without feeling guilty. You can eat your cake and have it too! Over time you will find that you will automatically be good 90% of the time and love it.

Take one step at a time, and try improving life in small steps. I recommend trying to improve on one habit per year, start some new ‘good habit’ which enables you to replace something not so good. Don’t beat yourself up and have patience with yourself. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

I hope this has been helpful and enjoy yourself on the journey,

Many Blessings

Brett

More To Explore

Cabbage Health Benefits

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) Health Benfits

2 days ago4Minutes1252Words8ViewsCabbage, a cruciferous vegetable, offers numerous gut health benefits, largely due to its rich nutritional profile. It provides dietary fiber, antioxidants, and important vitamins that contribute to maintaining a healthy digestive system. Here’s an overview of the key gut health benefits of cabbage, along with the role of glutamine: 1. Rich in Dietary Fiber Cabbage is an excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Fiber plays a crucial role in supporting gut health by: Promoting healthy digestion: Insoluble fiber helps bulk up stool and move it through the intestines, preventing constipation and ensuring regular bowel movements. Supporting beneficial gut bacteria: Soluble fiber is fermented by gut bacteria, which produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate. These SCFAs fuel the cells of the colon, promoting a healthy gut lining and reducing inflammation. 2. Antioxidants and Anti-inflammatory Properties Cabbage contains antioxidants such as vitamin C, beta-carotene, and flavonoids, which help reduce oxidative stress in the gut. This is important because chronic inflammation in the gut can lead to digestive disorders like IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. Cabbage’s anti-inflammatory properties help soothe the gut lining and maintain a healthy gut environment. 3. Supports Gut Lining and Mucosal Health Cabbage, especially when consumed in its raw form, contains glutamine, an amino acid that has been shown to support gut health. Glutamine is essential for maintaining the integrity of the intestinal lining. It helps to: Repair the gut lining: Glutamine supports the epithelial cells of the intestines, aiding in their repair and regeneration. This is especially important for those with leaky gut syndrome or those suffering from inflammation-related digestive disorders. Enhance gut permeability: Glutamine aids in maintaining the balance of the gut’s permeability, ensuring that nutrients pass through properly while preventing harmful substances from entering the bloodstream. 4. Helps in Digestive Enzyme Production Cabbage contains a significant amount of vitamin U (also known as S-methylmethionine), which can help boost the production of digestive enzymes. These enzymes aid in breaking down food and absorbing nutrients, which is vital for optimal digestive health. 5. Supports Detoxification Cabbage, particularly the variety known as sauerkraut, supports detoxification through its high content of glucosinolate compounds. These compounds help activate detoxifying enzymes in the liver, which supports the overall health of the digestive system by helping the body eliminate waste more efficiently. Role of Glutamine in Gut Health from Cabbage: Cabbage as a Glutamine Source: While glutamine is found in various foods, including meat, fish, and dairy, cabbage is one of the plant-based sources that can contribute to its intake. Glutamine in cabbage supports gut cells and helps to maintain a healthy mucosal layer in the intestines. This, in turn, protects the gut from irritants and helps heal the gut lining after it has been damaged by inflammation or stress. Intestinal Health: Glutamine is the preferred fuel for intestinal cells (enterocytes), which helps maintain the integrity of the gut barrier. This function is critical for individuals suffering from gut disorders like IBS, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis, as glutamine helps reduce gut permeability and improve overall digestive function. Conclusion Including cabbage in your diet, whether raw, cooked, or fermented, offers numerous benefits for gut health. It provides dietary fiber, antioxidants, and glutamine, which help support healthy digestion, reduce inflammation, repair the gut lining, and maintain optimal gut barrier function. This makes cabbage a powerful ally for anyone looking to improve their digestive health naturally. Would you like more information on how to incorporate cabbage into your diet for gut health, or perhaps explore additional glutamine-rich foods? Try this Recipe:Mung Bean Coleslaw 10% Off BodiClenz – Ultimate Herbal DETOX Drink $152.10 – $259.00 View Info 10% Off Ultimate Herbal DETOX Body Cleanse Program $195.75 – $197.10 View Info Digezaid Digestive Support 120 Capsules $59.00 View Info 10% Off BodiTune Detox n Slim 500g or 1kg Pot $116.10 – $197.10 View Info No products found

Using Heat To Encourage Detoxification

Super Hot Winter Detox

The balance between our inner and outer environments play a major role when considering health from the holisitc standpoint, and can be why we become more susceptible to certain ailments at different times of year.
Let’s explore some of the key reasons to use heat as part of a mid-winter detox.