Nick Johnston-Davis' take on Michael Easter's book - Scarcity Brain.

Many of us set out with the best of intentions to achieve our health and fitness goals, only to find ourselves caught in the web of the scarcity trap. This psychological snare is more than just a minor setback; it's a pervasive force that can undermine our most earnest efforts to live healthier, fitter lives.

Now, more than ever, the chase for more seems unending, scarcity is a silent prowler—affecting decisions, shaping our behaviours, and ultimately, defining us. This is at the source of Michael Easter's concept of the "scarcity brain," a psychological state triggered by perceived lack or fear of missing out. But here at Unstoppabl, we’re all about flipping the script on limiting beliefs. And that's exactly what Easter's work empowers us to do.

What is the scarcity brain?

Imagine you're at the supermarket, and there's a sign that says "Last day for sale on eggs!" Even though you didn't come in for eggs, you might feel a sudden urge to grab a box or two. Why? Because suddenly, eggs seem like a scarce resource, and you don't want to miss out.

The "scarcity brain" is like that feeling but stretched out over different parts of our lives. It's how our brain reacts when we think there isn't enough of something we need or want, whether it's money, time, or even love and attention. When we feel this way, our brain starts to focus really hard on what's missing. It's like putting the blinkers on, where all we can see is the thing we're running really low on.

This focus can help us in some ways, like how you might find extra energy when you're close to a project deadline or at the end of a race. But it can also make it harder to think about other important things. For example, if you're worried about money, you might be so focused on not spending that you miss out on opportunities to make more money.

In simple terms, the scarcity brain is our mind's response to not having enough of something, and it can make us act in ways that aren't always helpful in the long run.

The Grip of the Scarcity Brain

Scarcity isn't just about empty wallets or calendars filled to the brim - it's about how our brains respond when faced with less. Easter's compelling research shows us that when we're down to the wire - be it finances or time—our brains switch into a survival gear. This isn't just philosophy; it's biology. When the scarcity alarm rings, our brains, those masterful but sometimes overzealous organs, narrow our focus so we can deal with the pressing "threat."

A Tale of Two Scarcities

Let's talk about Sarah, an entrepreneur whose startup is in the make-or-break phase. Capital is tight, and every decision feels like a high-stake bet. The scarcity brain kicks in, and suddenly, she's fixated on immediate fixes, losing sight of her long-term strategy. Or consider James, a software developer facing a looming deadline. He pours every waking hour into work, sidelining his health and relationships. This tunnel vision is the scarcity brain at play, and it doesn't discriminate based on bank accounts or job titles.

The Hidden Costs

The true cost of the scarcity brain goes beyond bad decisions. Easter warns us that prolonged scarcity can rewire the brain, dimming the brightness of our cognitive functions and weakening our willpower. It's a bit like running a marathon with a backpack full of bricks—the longer you run, the more exhausting it becomes to simply keep pace.

Strategies to Dodge the Scarcity Bullet

Here at Unstoppabl, we don't just identify problems—we conquer them. And so does Easter with his actionable strategies to counteract the scarcity brain's squeeze.

1. Awareness is Your Ally

The first weapon in our arsenal is awareness. It's about catching yourself when you're spiralling into scarcity's narrow alleyways. Becoming keenly aware of our bodies and minds is key to maintaining good health. Often, we ignore the subtle signals of burnout or stress, pressing on until the body forces a timeout. Awareness means listening—to the ache in your back or the stress in your mind.

Tips:

Implement a mindfulness routine to check in with your body and mental state daily. For instance, a quick morning meditation can alert you to stress levels, allowing you to adjust your day's intensity.
Use a fitness tracker to monitor sleep patterns and physical activity. If you notice you're consistently hitting less than seven hours of sleep, it's time to reassess your evening routine.
If you don’t already, try journaling. It can be a game-changer, helping you track patterns and triggers.

2. Create Your Cushions

Buffers are our safety nets. For example, in your personal finances, this could mean setting aside a small percentage of your income into an emergency fund. For time management, it might look like deliberately blocking out an hour a day as "unscheduled" time, giving yourself the breathing room to think and plan which helps move you from a reactive mindset to a more reflective one where you can make better decisions.

When it comes to your health these buffers mean creating safety nets for when your life gets hectic. It’s about having fallback plans that keep your health on track, even when time and resources are scarce.

Tips:

Stock your freezer with healthy prepared meals for those crunch times when cooking is out of the question. This helps you avoid the scarcity-induced fast-food trap.
Establish a "minimum viable exercise" routine for busy days, such as a 10-minute high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout, a resistance band home workout, or a running route you don’t even have to think about so you can maintain your fitness even when you can't hit the gym.

3. The Power of a Plan

Michael Easter isn't just preaching caution; he's advocating a plan of attack. Establish your priorities, set your sights on your goals, and reverse-engineer the steps to get there. This could mean automating your savings or carving out dedicated time each week to strategize your business growth without interruptions.

As far as your health is concerned, a proactive approach, with clear-cut plans and routines, means you're less likely to be derailed by scarcity brain. This is one of the key reasons Unstoppabl clients reach their goals. With a plan you know what to do, and you’ve set up systems to make it happen.

Tips:

Schedule your workouts like any other important appointment. By having them in your calendar, you're more likely to treat them as non-negotiable.
Plan your food shop based on a set of nutritious meals for the week. This keeps your nutrition on point and reduces the decision fatigue that often leads to less healthy choices.
Prioritise your sleep by having a wind-down routine that starts at the same time each night, signalling to your body that it's time to rest.

4. Rally Your Troops

Isolation amplifies scarcity. By building a network of friends, mentors, coaches, and peers, you create a support system that can offer both advice and resources. Get leverage from those that can help you break free from this scarcity mindset.

This is never truer than in your health, fitness, and wellbeing journeys. Success is rarely a solo endeavour. Having the right support network can offer encouragement, share the burden of stress, and provide accountability.

Tips:

We would say this but get a coach. Having an expert that can, provide the resources you need, keep you accountable, and be there to answer your questions helps ensure you reach your goals.
Exchange nutritious and easy recipes and strategies for eating well with friends, especially when time or funds are low.
For stress management, have a go-to friend, counsellor, or therapist to talk through your challenges, or participate in stress-relieving activities like yoga or group meditation.

The Journey to Abundance

In conclusion, transitioning from scarcity to abundance in our lives is less about changing our circumstances and more about transforming our mindset. Michael Easter's insights guide us to understand the "scarcity brain" and how it can hijack our intentions, particularly when it comes to our health, fitness, and broader life goals.

The scarcity brain compels us to focus narrowly on immediate needs, making us lose sight of the bigger picture. It's a survival mechanism that served our ancestors well but can lead to a series of counterproductive behaviours in modern life, like neglecting long-term health for short-term gains.

To outsmart the scarcity brain, we need to adopt strategies that keep us grounded and focused on abundance:

Awareness is Your Ally: Regular mindfulness practices and self-monitoring can prevent us from falling into the scarcity mindset trap, ensuring we stay attuned to our health and well-being.
Create Your Cushions: Building buffers, such as an emergency fund for finance or a stash of healthy meals for hectic days, can keep us from reverting to scarcity-driven choices.
The Power of a Plan: Having a proactive plan for our finances, time management, and health routines insulates us from the scarcity brain's reactive impulses.
Rally Your Troops: Establishing a strong support system is crucial. No one achieves greatness alone. A network of support can provide not just assistance, but also the necessary accountability to keep us on track.

Implementing these strategies requires deliberate action and commitment. For instance, setting aside time to prepare for the upcoming week, whether it's meal planning or scheduling workouts, can help maintain momentum towards our goals. It's about making strategic decisions that align with our long-term aspirations, not just the immediate demands of the scarcity mindset.

In essence, by becoming more mindful, planning ahead, and seeking support, we can outwit the tricks our brain plays on us due to perceived scarcity. It's through these measures that we can reach a state of abundance, where our health, fitness, and life goals are not just dreams but realities we live every day. Unstoppabl's ethos reminds us that it's possible to break through the barriers of scarcity, embrace abundance, and achieve the extraordinary in our everyday lives.

Want to make this a reality?

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