There are a few directions this topic can go: Reread what you post of social media before you hit “Send.” Consider your internal dialogue: Be nice to yourself. And those can certainly be future topics (Makes notes), but I’ve got something else in mind.
I love making lists and keeping track of things. The calendar over my desk has marks on it for every day I get out and walk, every day I write something, etc.
But there are some days where I just can’t (or shouldn’t) do those things. Take getting out and walking for example. I really enjoy that and have built up the endurance to really take extended treks. The usual weekend consists of back to back 10k walks (right around 6.2 miles). The problem here is that I’m not a machine. Ok, it’s not that simple it’s also that I’m getting up there is years and it takes me longer to recover when some part of me starts feeling the wear and tear.
But then I look at the calendar and see the uninterrupted string of days and I start to wonder whether I really need to take that break.
The answer is almost always a resounding “YES!” but it’s hard sometimes to accept that – to listen when my body says “You need to take a break to repair.”
Competition can be a huge motivating factor – which is why just about every fitness tracker and exercise app has a social component where you can compare your stats with others, see how you stand amongst them – and for the most part this is a good thing. The pressure to compete against yourself – and what you perceive your limits are – is important, perhaps even crucial, to growth.
But you’ve got to pay attention to yourself. It doesn’t do you any good to push yourself when the time has come to ease off and repair. There’s a cycle to it that, in the long run, will keep you going much longer that grinding yourself to dust will.
And that’s what I’m doing today.
Thanks for reading.
Be safe out there. Be Excellent to Each other – and yourself.
I’ll see you on Thursday.
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