Perhaps one of the biggest obstacles we face in life is peer pressure. It doesn’t matter what kind of goal we’re trying to achieve. Peer pressure has a way of influencing our decisions, and this can be truly frustrating. Take eating and drinking, for example. Going on a diet is hard enough as it is, but it’s even more difficult when we’re surrounded by others who enable us. Here’s why peer pressure makes it so difficult, and what we can do to fix it.
We Love Our Peers
The reason peer pressure is so hard to ignore is because we love our peers (most of the time). If these were people we disliked, it would be a lot easier to walk the other way and eat something healthier. But when our best friends or loved ones go out for a drink at a bar, or go for a pie of pizza, we have a hard time saying no because we love sharing experiences with them.
How To Fix It
If your peers truly care about you, and if you’re serious about eating right, then you need to have a serious talk with them. Explain why it’s important for you to stick to this nutrition routine, and why it’s hard for you to reject them when they eat certain things. If they love you, they’ll understand—and they may even join you in solidarity!