How to Plan for a Roadblock <em>Before</em> It Happens

Weekly Technique

By Weight Watchers

Published 21 June 2022

How to Plan for a Roadblock <em>Before</em> It Happens

Worried about how you’ll stay on track during a weekend at a friend’s house, a work trip, or a big celebration? Don’t be. You don’t always have to stick to your usual script. Pencil in a rehearsal beforehand so you’ll know exactly what to do in the moment.

Try This!

Roll camera. Pretend you’re watching your typical day play out like a movie. What’s going on? Who else is there? How is it different from your usual routine? Notice the hiccups. List anything that might get in the way of the healthy habits you rely on now. Maybe your friend doesn’t have a treadmill or you can’t cook your favorite morning oatmeal in the hotel room. Find (realistic) solutions. Think of things you can do to stay engaged with your journey. You could stream workouts in the WW app or try a recipe for no-cook overnight oats. Revise the script. Use your answers from Step 2 and 3 to make an action plan for how you’re going to support your goals. Be specific about the what, where, how, and when. Think ahead. Fast forward to after the credits roll. How will you get back to your regular routines? Write down the first thing you’ll do and when.

Let’s dive a little deeper...

Don’t get us wrong, we love routines. But the truth is, your routine isn’t going to work every single day because life isn’t the same every single day. Think of all the things that could shake up your flow—parties, holidays, or friends staying the weekend. Do you have to give those up to stay on track? No way. You also don’t have to force your usual habits to work in a different environment. (Square peg, meet round hole.)

Instead, make shifts that work with your new day-to-day. It’s like taking a detour. You’ll still get to the same destination, but it might take a bit longer or look different than your usual route. And that’s nothing to worry about.

Remember, this journey isn’t about depriving yourself of anything—and that includes foods, drinks, and experiences. The secret is giving yourself permission to be flexible and adjust your routine when you need to so you can enjoy every delicious moment.

Week one of our monthly theme, Live Flexibly.