The Power of 85%: Fostering Sustainable Excellence in Child Development

By First Habits Team Blog May 14, 2024

FH Summary: The blog post advocates for adopting the 85% rule in child development, emphasizing effort over perfection to promote healthier and more balanced growth. It presents evidence that striving for achievable goals rather than perfection reduces stress and increases engagement and resilience in children. By focusing on sustainable effort and realistic achievements, the 85% rule helps children develop essential life skills and fosters a growth mindset, making it a powerful tool in effective parenting and educational strategies. In a society that often prioritizes high achievements and absolute perfection, an alternative approach is gaining recognition for its effectiveness, especially in child development. The philosophy at First Habits, a leader in child behavior and development resources, centers on a seemingly unconventional wisdom: focusing on 85% effort rather than striving for the elusive 100% can oftentimes lead to better outcomes, but also promotes sustainability in personal growth and encourages a healthier, more balanced lifestyle for our children.

Introduction to the 85% Rule

The 85% rule is a principle suggesting that aiming for this level of effort in tasks can lead to optimal performance and well-being, avoiding the pitfalls of perfectionism. In the context of child development, this approach helps children to strive for excellence in a realistic and healthy way, which fosters long-term success and happiness. This principle first came to our attention in the form of an anecdote regarding Carl Lewis, a legendary Olympic track and field athlete. Lewis utilized the 85% rule in his racing strategy by starting races in a relaxed manner and conserving energy while others exerted maximum effort from the start. This method, which involves maintaining a calm and loose posture throughout the sprint, allowed Lewis to surpass his competitors towards the end of the race. The 85% rule, as highlighted in the book Everyday Dharma: 8 Essential Practices for Finding Success and Joy in Everything You Do by author Suneel Gupta, advocates for applying less than maximal effort to remain more aware and present, enhancing overall performance not only in sports but also in everyday life situations.¹ As Gupta writes, “Many of us have been conditioned to believe that nothing good comes without maximum pressure. In order to get great results, you need to put the most pressure into a situation as possible. But that mindset has been debunked and not just in sports.” He goes on to reference a study from the City University of London, which followed over 50,000 employees across various industries, and revealed that neither extended hours nor increased intensity of work significantly enhanced career advancement or income levels.² According to Gupta, there were instances where excessive overtime and heightened work intensity actually diminished the quality of the output, primarily due to increased burnout rather than success. The study suggests that better results can be achieved by moderating the length and intensity of work efforts. This principle can be particularly beneficial in child development, where the constant push for perfection can lead to stress and burnout. By encouraging children to adopt the 85% rule, we teach them the value of moderation and the importance of conserving mental and emotional energy. This approach helps children focus on steady and sustainable effort rather than peak performance, promoting a healthier, more balanced approach to achieving success in their activities and long-term development.

The Science Behind Sustainable Effort

Research has shown that when individuals, especially children, are encouraged to achieve perfection, it can lead to stress, anxiety, and a decrease in overall performance. Various studies by developmental psychologists found that children who are taught to value “personal bests” over “being the best” have higher engagement in activities and better emotional resilience. These findings highlight the importance of focusing on achievable goals and celebrating the journey towards them, rather than just the final outcome. Melbourne Child Psychology points out similarly that having high expectations for our children is generally a good thing. When expectations are high that sets up a pathway to increased confidence and effort, which is exemplified in our upward spiral logo – a small increase in ability leads to increased motivation which then sets up a loop of increased effort and growth in abilities. But where do we as parents draw the line between high expectations and high pressure. As psychologist Jessica Levetan explains, “Pushing kids, not being empathetic to their struggles, not being supportive of their struggles, and to make winning or being the best the be all and end all… that’s not what having high expectations is about.”³ Said another way, “Aim for personal bests and fulfilled potential. Not every child can get into the top sporting team… Nor can every student get into their first university preference. But they can still play sport, improve and even excel in it, and they can still find a pathway to their desired degree. It is reasonable and beneficial to expect fulfilled potential… But putting high pressure on numbers and ranks is unproductive, and often detrimental.”³

The Impact of Good Habits on Development

First Habits emphasizes the importance of establishing positive behaviors early in life. These habits act as the foundation for what is described as an “upward spiral” in personal development. When children learn to set and achieve realistic goals, they develop essential life skills such as self-confidence, perseverance, and the ability to cope with challenges.

Negative Spirals Caused by Unattainable Standards

On the contrary, setting unrealistic expectations in high pressure situations can create negative spirals. Children faced with unattainable standards may develop avoidance behaviors, a fear of failure, and a persistent sense of inadequacy. These can lead to a decrease in trying new activities and a withdrawal from challenging tasks, stunting emotional and intellectual growth.

Implementing the 85% Rule in Parenting

Adopting the 85% rule in parenting involves several actionable steps that can significantly benefit child development: § Setting Achievable Goals: Encourage children to set goals that are challenging yet attainable. This promotes a healthy approach to achievement and growth. § Celebrating Effort Over Outcome: It is crucial to appreciate the effort put into tasks rather than the success of the outcomes. This approach teaches children that persistent work is more valuable than fleeting results. § Encouraging Reflective Practices: After completing tasks, engage with your child in a discussion about what they did well and areas for improvement. This reflection enhances learning and fosters a growth mindset, crucial for personal development.

A Real-Life Application

Consider the story of Emma, an eight-year-old aspiring pianist. Her parents and music teacher decided to focus on her enjoyment and effort in practice sessions rather than her ability to play pieces perfectly. This shift in focus led to a noticeable increase in her engagement and a gradual improvement in her skills, demonstrating the efficacy of the 85% effort rule.

Why Choose First Habits?

First Habits offers a plethora of resources that support the implementation of healthy, sustainable habits for children. From educational materials to workshops and seminars, First Habits provides parents and educators with tools to promote effective learning and development strategies based on the latest research.

Educational Resources and Support

First Habits provides a variety of tools including: Weekly Newsletters: Offering tips and insights on child development. Interactive Workshops: Helping parents learn effective strategies for habit formation in children. Social Media Content: Quick and easily understood content that works with your daily schedule. Adopting the 85% rule can have far-reaching effects beyond individual success. It promotes a healthier society by reducing the pressures associated with perfectionism, which are prevalent in today’s high-stakes environments. By instilling these values in children, we prepare them not only for academic and professional success but also for a fulfilling, balanced life.

Conclusion: A Call to Embrace Good Enough

The journey toward adopting the 85% rule is a transformative process that emphasizes “good enough” over perfect. By teaching our children the power of sustainable effort, we equip them with the resilience and adaptability needed for lifelong success. Let us shift our focus from flawless execution to continuous improvement and from perfect outcomes to meaningful efforts. Join us at First Habits to learn more about empowering your child with habits that lead to an upward spiral of growth and development. Sign up today to start your journey towards nurturing a resilient, happy, and healthy child. With these insights and strategies, First Habits aims to transform parenting approaches worldwide, ensuring that our children grow into well-rounded, capable, and thriving adults. References: 1 https://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Dharma-Essential-Practices-Everything-ebook/dp/B0BP2DSN5M 2 https://www.city.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2018/09/working-long-and-hard-it-may-do-more-harm-than-good 3 https://melbournechildpsychology.com.au/blog/5-ways-to-set-high-expectations-without-high-pressure/