Destination Vs Journey
I have a confession to make.
I’m definitely more of a destination than a journey girl, but lately I’ve been trying to change that
At the moment, there are a few big-ticket objectives that I am working towards.
They can feel overwhelming because I’m just sweeping through the journey markers, rather than taking time to pause and celebrate them
One of the things on my list is my first (maybe last) 100-kilometre race in three weeks.
It is a very long way to run, and most of this year has been spent preparing myself to complete it successfully.
I’ve been following a plan; it has me working out in the gym, practising my nutrition and hydration, as well as running - a lot!
A couple of weeks ago, I ran the longest run in my plan, a 50-kilometre (31-mile) race, but because in my mind it was JUST a training run, so I didn’t plan any recovery activities - no massage, Epsom salt bath, or day off work, so that I could sleep in and miss the school run!
You should have seen me navigating stairs for the 3 days afterwards!
I literally didn’t stop to acknowledge what I’d achieved.
Which meant my recovery took longer than it should have.
As a run leader, I would never recommend doing what I did to another runner, and I always advise the founders that I coach to break down large projects for themselves and their team, to prevent burnout and keep motivation high.
So why didn’t I?
I get hyper-focused on a project, and my fear of not completing it pushes me to keep moving, so that I don’t lose momentum.
But rest is essential for our physical and mental health.
And too much pressure can turn a fun project into something that you dread.
Whenever you are working towards something big, it’s important to create project plans with milestones that can be used to review, pause and celebrate.
That’s how you keep energised for the long haul!
As you are putting all your plans for greatness into place, remember to:
Set realistic timelines, taking into consideration things like public and school holidays.
Celebrate hitting key milestones and show appreciation to your team (and yourself).
Plan rest breaks and put them in your diary, so that you don’t forget them!
Enjoy the journey! That’s where all the lessons are learnt and the victory is won!
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