A “bootcamp” approach to personal development
When it comes to stress relief, many programs, books, and advisors these days push for high intensity, massive action, and an almost bootcamp-like approach. So does that mean you need a ton of energy, time, or willpower to change your life for the better? Do you have to take “massive action” to manage the stress in your life? Not necessarily.
Like most extremes in the personal development world, a high-effort approach works great for some people, but terrible for others.
When looking for solutions to stress in your own life, it helps to evaluate approaches based on your own personality, preferences, and challenges.
What “massive action” looks like in the stress management world
High-Intensity Programs and Advice
Intensity-driven philosophies suggest that getting results requires a strict and often extreme approach. And with good reason; some of us are puttering through life in slo-mo, and need a real jolt of action and discipline in order to see meaningful change.
This approach definitely has its benefits when used in the right way. However, it can also be holding you back in surprising ways, despite your best efforts.
Anytime you run across advice that dictates a very specific, or intentionally extreme routine, it’s likely to be a part of a high-intensity philosophy.
This could include:
- Very prescriptive daily routines such as pre-sunrise goal-setting sessions
- Crazy levels of physical challenge like long polar swims, extensive hours in sitting meditation, etc.
- Highly restrictive regimens like extended fasting, limited diets, etc.
- And similarly extreme approaches
These programs aim to give you structure, challenge, and motivation, for more control over your life, which in theory makes you happier and less stressed.
Cultural Norms and Societal Pressures
Beyond specific programs, there’s also plenty of “common knowledge” reinforcing the pressure to take an intense approach.
We’re so conditioned to associate success with hard work, hustle, and effort, that even in managing stress, we can instinctively set out on a bootcamp-style path.
Consider these ingrained cliches:
- Early bird gets the worm!
- Nothing worth having comes easy!
- No pain, no gain!
Adding to this, there’s plenty of content that tries to take a fun and funky spin on putting your nose to the grindstone. Social media is permeated with “motivational” pieces that basically say something like,
“Grab some coffee and handle your sh!t”…
Cute thought…but at the same time, not always the most effective. And here’s why.
Why a “massive action” approach won’t work for everyone
First of all, it’s important to recognize the benefits of going all-in on a new program to see if it works for you. Many intensity-based programs draw from successful characteristics of human nature: There’s inertia in our habits, and it can take a hard push to break through those and build new habits.
At the same time, the approach can stifle your efforts to cut out stress too. Advice like this can be….
- Overwhelming. When advice is super-intense, it can be too much to take in, especially for those who are under the most stress. When you’re overwhelmed with daily responsibilities, a tough new routine can be way too much to add to the to-do list. It can be so intimidating that some people avoid the programs all together, regardless of the potential benefit.
- Focused on the wrong things. It’s easy to get wrapped up in just taking any action, without stopping to figure out what’s the right action for you. Diving headlong into busy-ness can be very draining with minimal results, if it’s not focused and intentional action. It’s important stop and reflect, and identify actions that will help you the most.
- Inflexible. Every one of us has unique life circumstances and unique reactions to stress. Regardless of the passionate testimonials from others, there’s no guarantee a program will work in your life.
- Highly discouraging. If you’re under the weight of a lot of stress, and desperately seeking remedies, content telling you to just “handle your shi!t” can be super discouraging. It can even feel dismissive. There’s a risk this stuff can sound like, “things will never get better, so you better get used to it.”
But rest assured, there’s hope. If a program doesn’t work for you, there are many other ways to alleviate stress. It just takes creativity to find an approach that resonates with your individual needs.
When it’s good to take massive action against stress
There can be a lot of benefits to super-intense, all-or-nothing thinking when it comes to stress management.
- Sometimes we need a wakeup call. The reality is, the amount of stress in your life is impacted by your daily routines. Sometimes it takes massive effort to break the inertia of these habits. A little bit of hard work can be effective to knock ourselves into better patterns.
- Habits are hard to change. There’s a (not entirely proven) theory that it takes at least 21 days to form a habit—more if it’s a really tough one. If you’ve been trying to adopt new stress-busting habits and they just aren’t taking hold, consider a bootcamp-style approach for yourself.
- Action is required. You do usually have to put in some level of dedication, commitment, and action, to move your life in a new direction. Even many “woo woo” gurus concur that results require some kind of action. The distinction is, progress rarely requires difficulty, strain, or struggle. Seek action that feels natural and genuine—not forced.
Consider these benefits as you try different approaches in your own life—even if you don’t think of yourself as a high-intensity person.
Seek action that feels natural and genuine—not forced. Share on XGo super-intense to jump start change
Stress management is a highly personal journey, and, knowing yourself is critical to success. Take a close look at your own tendencies, to identify whether a bootcamp-style, high-intensity program will work for you.
You might find a lot of value if…
- You’re the kind of person who follows recipes to a T
- You do best when there are very clear directions
- Productivity and milestones motivate you to action
- You have trouble creating structure on your own, and appreciate well-defined guidance
Even if these don’t apply to you, ideas behind a bootcamp-style philosophy still might help you jump-start change in your life.
For example, despite not being an early riser I’ve found a lot of great nuggets in Jeff Sanders’ 5 a.m. miracle philosophy. And we can’t talk about intense personal development without mentioning Tony Robbins: the face of a no-holds-barred, “massive action” approach. It’s worth browsing his material to see what resonates for you.
No matter what, forge your own path
In fighting stress, no two of us are alike. Your stress is unique, and so your methods for overcoming it will be too. There’s a lot of rhetoric these days about the “hustle and grind,” but remember it’s only right for you if it feels natural.
Take your time, explore many options, and give something a try. Whatever you choose, give it your best effort. But it if that doesn’t work, rest assured there are many different paths to a less stressful life.
Next: 3 Surprising truths about stress to empower you in tough times
