287 — Why Consistency Might Be Holding You Back: The Truth About Habits with Coach Jonathan Goodman

Do you feel like you’re constantly failing at work-life balance? Or maybe you’re tired of advice that tells you to optimize every second of your day and track every single habit? If you want a fresh, unconventional approach to building a life you love, this episode is for you.
 
My guest is Jonathan Goodman, the author of Unhinged Habits. He’s a fitness industry veteran who challenges the idea that slow and steady always wins the race. Instead, he explains why periods of intensity — followed by rest — are actually the key to transforming your life.
 
Some of the things we discuss are:
 

• Why you should stop trying to balance money, health, and relationships simultaneously
• The problem with trying to get “1% better every day”
• How to use “seasons” of intensity to level up your life
• The simple “Hats vs. Tattoos” rule for making faster decisions without regret
• Why having fewer friends might actually make you happier and less lonely
• How to create an “off-season checklist” so you don’t feel guilty about the things you aren’t focusing on right now
• How to launch a “micro-season” to tackle your biggest goals in just 30 days

Key Takeaways:

• Embrace the Imbalance: Money, health, and relationships, should not be perfectly balanced at all times. Focus on two.
• Utilize Seasons of Intensity: Short, intense periods of focus can reset baselines and lead to significant progress, unlike slow, consistent effort.
• Simple Decision-Making: Understand that most decisions are reversible (“hats”), which reduces overthinking and indecision.
• Prioritize Deep Friendships: Invest more in fewer, meaningful relationships rather than spreading efforts thin across many connections.
• Lifestyle Design: Define your desired lifestyle properties and work backward to determine the best path forward.