3 Steps to Stop Digging Your Hole

Have you heard the first step is to stop digging?

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That statement ranks with “Move more, eat less” or “Spend less than you make.” We would have put down that shovel long ago if it were so easy. Unfortunately, one last hurrah turns into a month of hurrahs. We say, “I’ve already spent this much; what’s another dollar?” Or my personal favorite, “I’ll start Monday.” Quite a few Mondays have come and gone. Once ready for a change, follow these three steps to stop digging and get out of that hole.

Step 1 — Get a complete picture of your hole.

The first step is to take an honest, objective look at where you are. If extra weight is the hole you’ve been digging, get on the scale and see what you weigh. If you’re in debt, look at all of your bank, credit card, and loan statements. If your house is a mess, take a picture of each room.

Along with a quick snapshot, keep a record of what you do for a week, or two. For example, if your weight is an issue, write down everything you eat and how much you move/don’t move. If you’re overspending, track all of your purchases. Don’t do anything differently; record everything you do regarding the pit you’ve been digging.

The goal of measuring our actions is to give us a starting point and ensure we cannot deny we’re in a hole…