Make Work Easier Using the Out-and-Back Hack

Super-simple running hack makes tough chores feel half as hard

I used to be a serious runner. I still jog regularly, but nowhere near as much as I did back in the day.

There are many different ways to run and train for a long-distance race. No matter the distance or intensity, I prefer the simple Out-And-Back method. You run away from your starting point for half the distance or time you want to put in, turn around, and then run back.

I also don’t mind doing a single long loop around a course, but I dislike doing multiple laps around a short loop.

Why do I feel this way?

For some reason, I really hate the thought of having to count and keep track of lap numbers. Maybe I am lazy, but when I am on a long run, I prefer to turn off my mind, relax and float along.

Keeping track of laps is akin to trying to listen to your favorite mood music while doing math homework.

Out-And-Back makes things feel half as hard

With Out-And-Back running, you only need to remember where to turn back. Not only that, once you pass the halfway point of an Out-And-Back run, each step takes you closer back to home. This really helps keep you going, especially if you are reaching your limit at the end of a run.

I also employ the Out-And-Back mindset whenever I am confronted by a problem or challenge requiring a high level of endurance or discomfort.

If I have a large job to do within a tight deadline, I calculate how much of the job I need to finish each day during the allotted time. Once I hit the halfway point, I know each passing day brings me closer to the finish line.

The weekly mountain — climb up, then glide down

I even apply the Out-And-Back concept in my mental image of the five-day workweek. To me, the workweek is a mountain: Monday and Tuesday are the uphill, Wednesday the peak, Thursday and Friday the downhill.

On Monday of a difficult week, I never feel like I have five tough days ahead of me. Instead, I figure, “Make it to Wednesday, the day after tomorrow, and the rest is a piece of cake.” With that way of thinking, a five-day workweek does not feel very long at all.

So the next time you find yourself faced with some unpleasant task, simply identify the halfway point and enjoy the glide back home on the back end!

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