Why "Good Enough" Beats Perfect Every Time
Why "Good Enough" Beats Perfect Every Time
Here's something that'll probably piss off every wellness influencer on Instagram: The secret to lasting health isn't optimization—it's mediocrity.
I know, I know. That's not exactly the rallying cry you'd expect from someone who coaches people on behavior change. But stick with me here, because this might be the permission you've been waiting for.
The $100 Supplement That Changed Nothing
Three months ago, my friend Jessica texted me a screenshot of her latest Amazon order. A $100 bottle of some adaptogenic mushroom blend that promised to "unlock cellular energy and transform metabolic function."
This is the same Jessica who:
- Hasn't had a consistent sleep schedule in two years
- Eats lunch at her desk while scrolling emails
- Last went to the gym when Obama was president
When I asked her about it, she said, "Well, I figured if my metabolism is broken, I should fix that first before trying to exercise."
Sigh.
Look, Jessica's brilliant. She runs a marketing agency and can spot BS in a client pitch from across the room. But when it comes to her own health? She's fallen into the same trap that's keeping 94% of us stuck.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Health
Here's what the wellness industry doesn't want you to know: Only 6% of Americans consistently do the basic five things that keep humans healthy.
Not the advanced stuff. Not the biohacking protocols or the elimination diets. The basics:
- Move your body regularly
- Don't smoke
- Drink alcohol in moderation (or not at all)
- Sleep at least seven hours
- Maintain a reasonable weight
That's it. And 94% of us can't even manage that.
So why are we obsessing over whether our protein powder has the right amino acid profile when we're eating it with three hours of sleep and a side of chronic stress?
The Three Lies Keeping You Stuck
After working with hundreds of clients, I've noticed the same three barriers show up again and again. And honestly? I've fallen for all of them myself.
Lie #1: "If It's Not Perfect, It's Not Worth Doing"
This one almost killed my running habit. I had this beautiful plan: run five miles every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Perfect weekly schedule, perfectly spaced recovery, perfectly calculated mileage progression.
Know what happened?
Week one: Crushed it. Week two: Missed Tuesday, felt guilty, skipped Thursday. Week three: "I'll start fresh on Monday." Week four through infinity: No running.
The truth is, three 20-minute walks per week would've been infinitely better than zero perfect runs. But perfect or nothing was the only language I spoke back then.
Lie #2: "Everyone Else Knows the Secret I Don't"
God, this one's insidious. Every time we see someone looking fit and healthy, we assume they must be doing something we're not. Some advanced protocol, some cutting-edge supplement, some morning routine we haven't discovered yet.
But here's what I learned after interviewing dozens of people who've maintained their health for years: they're boring as hell.
They eat vegetables most days. They move their bodies regularly. They sleep. They don't do anything Instagram-worthy, which is probably why you never see them posting about it.
The unsexy truth? The people who succeed long-term are the ones who've made peace with being basic.
Lie #3: "I Need to Overhaul Everything at Once"
Ah yes, the Monday Syndrome. Starting fresh with seven new habits, a detailed meal plan, and enough motivation to power a small city.
I used to design these elaborate life transformations for myself every few months. New workout schedule, complete dietary overhaul, meditation practice, journaling routine, early bedtime—the works.
These plans felt amazing to create. They were comprehensive, logical, optimized. They were also completely delusional.
Turns out, your brain doesn't care about your beautiful spreadsheet when you're tired on Wednesday and just want to order pizza and watch Netflix.
The Framework That Actually Works
Okay, enough with what doesn't work. Here's what does, based on both research and my own messy journey from perfectionist to functional human being.
Step 1: Pick One Thing (Seriously, Just One)
Not one thing per category. Not one primary thing plus a few small things. ONE THING.
For me, it was drinking more water. Riveting, right? But it was something I could actually do without restructuring my entire existence.
Ask yourself: "What's one health-related thing I could do tomorrow that would make me feel 5% better?"
Not 50% better. Not life-changing. Just 5%.
Step 2: Make It Pathetically Easy
This is where the magic happens. Take whatever you picked and make it so easy it feels almost insulting to your intelligence.
Want to exercise more? Don't plan hour-long workouts. Plan to put on your sneakers.
Want to eat better? Don't overhaul your entire diet. Add one vegetable to whatever you're already eating.
Want to meditate? Don't aim for 20 minutes of transcendental bliss. Take three conscious breaths before your morning coffee.
I know it sounds ridiculous, but there's something powerful about succeeding at small things consistently. It builds a different relationship with yourself—one where you actually trust that you'll do what you say you'll do.
Step 3: Create Your "Worst Day" Version
Here's my favorite question to ask clients: "What could you realistically do on your absolute worst day?"
The day when:
- You slept three hours
- Your kid is sick
- Work is on fire
- Your partner is traveling
- You're getting a migraine
What's your version of that habit when everything goes wrong?
For exercise, maybe it's walking to the end of your driveway and back. For nutrition, maybe it's drinking a protein shake. For sleep hygiene, maybe it's putting your phone in another room.
This isn't your goal—it's your floor. But having a floor means you never have to start over from zero.
Step 4: Dial It Up and Down Like Volume
One of the biggest mindset shifts I had to make was realizing that habits aren't binary. They're not "on" or "off"—they exist on a spectrum.
Some days I'm a 9/10 on exercise: perfect workout, ideal timing, feeling strong. Some days I'm a 3/10: five-minute walk around the block while taking a work call.
Both count. Both matter. Both keep the habit alive.
The 3/10 days aren't consolation prizes—they're the foundation of long-term success. They're what keep you in the game when life gets messy.
The Art of Strategic Laziness
Let me tell you about my friend Tom, who lost 40 pounds and kept it off for three years using what he calls "strategic laziness."
Tom hated meal prep. Hated counting calories. Hated complicated recipes. So instead of fighting his nature, he worked with it.
His entire nutrition strategy:
- Keep cut vegetables in the fridge at all times
- Always have rotisserie chicken on hand
- Eat a big salad before any meal he actually wants
That's it. No meal plans, no tracking apps, no Sunday prep sessions. Just three simple systems that made eating well easier than not eating well.
Is it optimized? Hell no. Does it work? Absolutely. Could a nutritionist improve it? Probably. Would Tom stick to a complicated plan? Not a chance.
Your Environment Is Rigging the Game
Here's something most people miss: willpower is finite, but your environment is working 24/7.
I learned this the hard way when I kept failing at eating less sugar. I'd have amazing discipline all day, then demolish a pint of ice cream at 9 PM while watching Netflix.
Turns out, willpower at 9 PM after a long day is pretty much non-existent. But you know what works? Not having ice cream in the house.
Revolutionary, I know.
Look around your space right now. What's your environment encouraging? If you want to exercise more, are your sneakers visible or buried in a closet? If you want to read more, is there a book on your nightstand or is your phone charging there?
Small changes to your environment can make desired behaviors ridiculously obvious and undesired ones ridiculously inconvenient.
The 70% Rule That Changed Everything
Here's the mindset shift that finally broke my perfectionist prison: Aim for 70%.
Not 90%. Not 100%. Definitely not 110% (which, let's be honest, was usually my target).
Seventy percent.
If I wanted to work out four times a week, success was three times. If I planned to meal prep on Sundays, success was doing it three weeks out of four. If I wanted to be in bed by 10 PM, success was managing it most nights.
This wasn't lowering my standards—it was setting realistic ones. Ones that accounted for the fact that I'm human, life happens, and some weeks are just harder than others.
Funny thing is, when I aimed for 70%, I often hit 80% or 90%. But when I aimed for 100%, I usually hit 0%.
What "Good Enough" Actually Looks Like
Let me paint you a picture of what embracing mediocrity has done for my life:
I exercise about five days a week. Sometimes it's a great workout, sometimes it's a 15-minute walk while listening to a podcast. Both count.
I eat vegetables most days, but not every day. Sometimes my lunch is leftover pizza, and I don't flagellate myself about it.
I'm in bed by 10 PM about 70% of the time. The other 30% includes date nights, good books, and the occasional Netflix binge—and I'm okay with that.
I meditate maybe four times a week, usually for five minutes. It's not Instagram-worthy, but it makes a difference.
Is this optimal? Nope. Is it sustainable? Absolutely. Am I healthier than I was when I was trying to be perfect? Without question.
The Permission You've Been Waiting For
Here's what I wish someone had told me years ago: You don't need to earn your worth through your habits.
You're not a better person because you wake up at 5 AM. You're not more disciplined because you never eat dessert. You're not more evolved because you meditate for an hour every day.
You're just human. And humans are beautifully, messily imperfect.
The goal isn't to become some optimized version of yourself that never struggles, never has bad days, never chooses the easy option. The goal is to build a sustainable relationship with your health that can weather the storms of real life.
Your "Good Enough" Action Plan
Ready to embrace the power of mediocrity? Here's how to start:
This week:
- Pick ONE health habit you want to improve
- Make it so easy you could do it on your worst day
- Do it for seven days, even if imperfectly
- Celebrate every time you do it, regardless of "quality"
This month:
- Notice when perfectionist thoughts creep in
- Remind yourself that 70% is your target
- Track consistency, not perfection
- Adjust your environment to support your habit
This year:
- Add new habits only after the current one feels automatic
- Expect setbacks and plan for them
- Focus on what you did do, not what you didn't
- Remember that maintenance is just as important as progress
The Radical Act of Being Good Enough
In a world that's constantly telling you to optimize, biohack, and level up, being consistently mediocre is actually revolutionary.
It's saying no to the myth that you need to be extraordinary to be healthy. It's choosing sustainability over intensity. It's believing that you're worthy of care, even when you're not perfect.
Your "good enough" might not get you featured in a fitness magazine or viral on TikTok. But it might just change your life.
And honestly? That's more than good enough for me.
What's one "good enough" health habit you could start this week? Hit reply and let me know—I read every single response, and I'm genuinely curious about what feels possible for you right now.
