Ever wonder why your habits feel like a constant battle between all-or-nothing? Curious if there’s a way to make flexible habits stick without burning out? 

Join Jenn Trepeck on Salad with a Side of Fries as she dives into the world of perfectionism and habits with Monica Packer, a recovering perfectionist who’s cracked the code on sustainable growth. In this episode, Monica and Jenn unpack how to ditch rigid rules for baselines that support you, redefine consistency as doing your best most of the time, and build momentum with small, courageous steps that lead to exponential growth, all while keeping it real for your unique season of life.

The Salad With a Side of Fries podcast is hosted by Jenn Trepeck, who discusses wellness and weight loss in real life, clearing up myths, misinformation, and bad science surrounding our understanding of nutrition and the food industry. Let’s dive into wellness and weight loss for real life, including drinking, eating out, and skipping the grocery store.

IN THIS EPISODE: 

• (00:00) Intro: Perfectionism is a spectrum
• (06:12) Monica describes her shift from perfectionism to flexible habits
• (13:38) Monica redefines habits as supportive actions that help you show up as yourself
• (16:05) Choosing ‘shoulds’ that align with your life, making habits flexible 
• (18:22) Consistency is doing your best most of the time. Flexibility makes sustainable habits possible
• (26:07) Baselines are the smallest version of a habit, building momentum for sustainable progress
• (32:39) Baselines reduce reliance on motivation, enabling habits to persist even on busy or low-energy days
• (35:51) Small, courageous steps in habits lead to exponential growth beyond perfectionism

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Perfectionism is a spectrum rooted in fear, driving an all-or-nothing approach. Flexible habits support sustainable growth by prioritizing progress over rigid perfection.
• Baselines are small, achievable versions of habits that build momentum and consistency, allowing you to show up as yourself even on low-energy days.
• Consistency in habits means doing your best most of the time, rather than striving for rigid perfection. Flexibility enables sustainable habit formation, allowing us to adapt to life’s seasons and challenges.

QUOTES:        

(00:00) "I've learned that perfectionism really is a spectrum. The root of it is the same though regardless of where you're on the spectrum. It's an all or nothing pendulum swing, and the root is fear." - Monica Packer

(10:36) "If only this were different. If only that were different. And the truth is maybe a hard pill to swallow, it's us, not all of these other things." - Jenn Trepeck

(20:17) "Flexibility is what makes consistency possible." - Monica Packer

(21:45) "Consistency and intensity are inversely related." - Jenn Trepeck

(30:38) "The ‘how’ might be two minutes here, two minutes there. Today, it's touching my toes. Tomorrow it's walking to the mailbox to get the mail." - Jenn Trepeck

RESOURCES:

Become A Happy Healthy Hub Member

Jenn’s Free Menu Plan

A Salad With a Side of Fries

A Salad With A Side Of Fries Merch

A Salad With a Side of Fries Instagram

Healthy on the Road

Fitness Habits to Train for Life

GUEST RESOURCES:

About Progress Ep. 695 - Fat or Fact - The Truth Behind Protein and Fiber -  Jenn Trepeck

About Progress - Website

About Progress - Podcast

About Progress - Instagram

About Progress - Facebook

About Progress - YouTube

BIOGRAPHY: 

Monica Packer is a recovering perfectionist who uncovered the truest model to lasting growth: it's progress made practical. As a writer, podcaster, and coach, she guides women to find sustainable growth by adopting progress over perfection. Monica’s popular podcast, About Progress, is a top-rated show with millions of downloads. She has served thousands of women online as a certified habit and identity coach. Monica is a mom of 5, a former middle school teacher, a sourdough obsessive, and a beginning gardener. You can find more about Monica at aboutprogress.com.

KEYWORDS: Perfectionism, Flexible Habits, Consistency, Baselines, All-Or-Nothing Mindset, Fear, Sustainable Growth, Habits, Progress Over Perfection, Identity, Momentum, Rigid Perfection, Small Wins, Courage, Mental Health, Meal Planning, Day Planning, Non-Negotiables, Season Of Life, Motivation, Pendulum Swing, Personal Development, Realistic Habits, Supportive Habits, Burnout, Ideal Version, Smallest Version, Energy Levels, Failure, Exponential Growth, Unlearning, Self-Identity, Health Factors, Time Factors, Movement, Journaling, Circumstances, Recovery, Practical Progress