Now what?
If you've ever participated in any endurance sport like cycling or running, you know all about hitting the wall. Hitting the wall is a thing in real life too. The difference? Whether you run or cycle, as a trained athlete, you know that you have to be prepared so you don't "hit the wall". That preparation may include a proper plan that encompasses; training, nutrition and rest, to name a few things. This is important leading up to the event and, probably, most important, on the day of the event. Fuelling at just the right time, pacing yourself and listening to your body, which may mean walking for a minute here and there.
Seems to make sense, doesn't it?
But what usually happens in "real life" when someone's hitting a wall? Sometimes, they're told to "push through" or worse, they tell themselves to do that. It may sound like: "I'll stop (fill in the blank here) once I/they, (fill in the blank)". Or, maybe this is your rendition of it: "It's only for another three months, six months" etc. Muscling through and not paying attention to the signs until, well, wall.
What can you do?
Prevention is always best however, if it's too late for that, and you find that you're hitting a wall, read on...
As you approach the end of the year, so many things can pile up and lead to overwhelm and ultimately, hitting a wall of some sort. Awareness is information, a chance to "call it", before it gets out of hand. When you're able to recognize the signs for yourself, you'll be able to put some tactics in place to manage.
Good athletes know their limits, they're able to recognize where their wall is and train accordingly to be able to cope when they see it coming. They have their toolkit ready to go.
For non-athletes?
Let's get to it...
You're challenge for the next week...
Before you hit a wall:
Develop a coping strategy.
What do you know you need when you're feeling overwhelmed? Make a list before you're in the situation. It might mean taking an hour for yourself to regroup.
If you find yourself at a point where you are hitting a wall, it's good to be able to recognize that it's happening and then:
Stop:
Recognize the signs and stop. Take a breath and ask yourself: What do I need now?
An athlete may decide that they need some water or fuel or they need to walk for a few minutes. What do you need?
Reassess:
After you figure out what you need and take steps to get it, check in.
An athlete will decide their next steps. Maybe they change their pace or schedule a fuel break to prevent the wall from coming again. What can you incorporate in to your plan to prevent another wall coming at you?
Get a different perspective:
An athlete may check in with their coach or trainer for some perspective. For you? Maybe it means having a conversation with your boss, your partner, best friend or someone else you trust.
Recalibrate:
Once you've taken the time to stop, assess and get a different perspective, where do you want to go now? Sometimes, the break is enough for you to see things more clearly. You may notice that when you're rested and have a new perspective, there's a door that was always just over there, right beside the wall...
Ready to be more intentional with your time and energy? Contact me You have all of the skills, strengths and capabilities you need. Let’s work together and reconnect you with them!
Stay safe and well.
Warmly,
Ann
Are you hitting the wall?