WHY KNOWING WHAT TO DO IS NOT ENOUGH FOR BEHAVIOR CHANGE
FREE Ebook
||| Why Knowing Isn't Enough
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FREE Ebook ||| Why Knowing Isn't Enough 〰️
Subtitle: Understanding the gap between health knowledge and consistent action
Series: From Knowledge to Action
You’ve probably noticed that we’ve never had more access to health information than we do today. The amount of health information we have is even overwhelming. A simple google search about your symptoms, and you already know your life span. You can find advice on what to eat, how to exercise, how to sleep better within seconds. From doctors to social media to wellness apps, the information is everywhere. You would assume that, with this amount of information, lifestyle-related disease should be lessened. But in reality, the opposite is happening.
This raises a fundamental question: If we know what to do, why aren’t we doing it?
For a long time, health advice has focused on one main idea: If people know better, they’ll do better. And while that sounds good in theory, real life doesn’t always work that way. Most people already know the basics: eat balanced meals, exercise, and get enough rest. But knowing those things doesn’t always translate into actually doing them consistently. So maybe the problem isn’t just about knowledge. Maybe it’s about what happens after we know. So why does this matter?
If this is hitting a little too close, I’d love to walk you through it step-by-step. You can start here:
The gap between knowing and doing is Execution
Execution in Behavior change isn’t a single decision. We often think of execution as a simple choice, like flipping a switch. “I’ll start eating healthy.” “I’ll go to the gym.” But to be honest, it’s not that simple. How many times did you plan on preparing a healthy dinner, but at the last minute, ordered a happy meal from McDonald’s? Have you experienced this before? Execution happens in phases, and each phase comes with its own challenges:
-Understanding information
-Figuring out how to apply it to your life
- Staying consistent, even when it’s hard
-Maintaining it long-term
At any one of these phase, things can fall apart. That’s why someone can be informed, motivated, and even serious about change, and still struggle to follow through.
Conditions that affect Execution in behavior change
Imagine you’re building your dream house. You have a plan and actionable goals. You have all the building materials, tools and equipment. But the construction workers aren’t meeting your targets. The weather is getting in the way. Building permits and other regulations are being delayed. The challenge here is that all these things are interfering with your progress. But, here’s the kick. You may or may not have control over these factors. But, you can choose to work with or against them. You can see that it’s not just about willpower, there’s also more going on beneath the surface. Let’s unpack. Your ability to turn knowledge into action can be influenced by things like:
-How you think (cognition)
-How you feel (emotions)
-Your environment (what’s around you and available to you)
-And even your metabolic state, which is often overlooked.
Think of your metabolic state as the engine of your car, it runs the whole system. Your metabolic state can actually influence your energy levels, decision-making, mood, and overall capacity to act. What does this mean for you? It can shape how you think and feel. This then affects what you do. So it’s not just about “trying harder.” Sometimes, your body and mind are working against you in ways you don’t even realize.
Final Thought
A better question to ask: Instead of asking,“Why aren’t people doing what they’re supposed to do?” A more helpful question might be: Where is the process failing? What could be causing this gap? Because once you understand where things are going wrong, you can start to address it more effectively. If Execution in behavior change is a process, then solutions need to go beyond just giving information. It’s not enough to tell people what to do. We also need to consider what actually helps them do it.
The gap between knowing and doing isn’t a personal failure. It’s a sign that execution is more complex than we’ve been taught. And once you understand that, everything shifts. Because now, instead of blaming yourself, you can start identifying what’s actually getting in the way, and work with it, not against it.
In our next article, we will talk more about the multi-step process of behavior change.
“Excellent, impactful, and precise. A refreshingly straight-to-the-point piece.”
If you’ve ever felt like you’re the problem, this will help you see what’s actually happening. I’d love to send you the full breakdown of the Framework: Understanding the Knowledge to Action Gap