The Trick to Balance Between Giving Up And Staying On.
Running is helping me become better at maintaining balance.
The habit of distance running has helped me learn a lot about myself.
- Deep breathing,
- Slow breathing,
- the rhythm of running,
- listening to my thoughts,
- eating well,
- sleeping well,
- experimentation,
- using running as a motivator to write more,
- accepting more challenges,
- being more disciplined, and so on.
Additionally, running has taught me to take breaks.
When do we take breaks?
- When breathing is very fast and not able to come with the pace,
- When my heart rate is above normal,
- When the body tells you to stop and take a breather,
- When hydration is necessary.
Taking breaks helps the body recover and do better in the next lap and the next. It's a cycle that I have learned over time.
The Balancing Scale
Giving up and pushing oneself is like a balancing scale. You will never know the right balance until you experiment by keeping different weights on both sides.
All my outdoor runs don't yield the same results. Sometimes, we run slow, sometimes very fast, and there are days when we run intervals, hills are involved, and exercises are important. They are all important for the race day. Because on that day, everything culminates and prepares my mind & body to perform well.
- Yes, I have given up on my runs a lot of times.
- Yes, I have pushed my boundaries a lot of times.
- Yes, I have seen stopping as a failure. And, yes, I have learned gradually to treat it as part of the journey.
- Yes, my body & mind break down. But they also grow strong with consistency.
Pushing the body to go beyond the normal and create a new normal is as important as taking breaks at multiple and frequent intervals.
Breaks don’t mean we stop or give up; taking breaks means we pause, calm down and restart. It’s the process of creating a subtle balance in my running regime.
Here is How to Build a Balance Between Giving Up and Staying On
When I am on the road, it’s all about creating a balance.
- Balance between breathing and running pace
- Balance between hydration and sweating
- Balance between how much weight to carry and how much to drop off
- Balance between heart rate and speed
- Balance between distance and time
And, during all these years of going out and spending time with myself, I have gathered these learning to stay balanced.
1. Purpose and Meaning
The purpose of my long-distance running is not one — there are many. And that’s why when my mind doesn’t support me to meet those purposes, I have learned to feed it with the purpose it is most hungry for.
- Sometimes, the itch to eat ‘anything’ is very uncontrollable. Fine, I give it the purpose of social interaction.
- Sometimes, the itch to take the shorter route takes over. Fine, I give it the purpose of exploring a new route.
- Sometimes, the itch to skip the training session takes over. Fine, I give it the purpose of good and deep sleep to recover.
If your pursuit aligns with your core values and life goals, it may be worth continuing despite the hurdles. And that’s how I manage a balance between giving up and staying on.
2. Feasibility
When contemplating a balance, assess the practical aspects. Are the time, resources, and energy required justifiable?
If the answer is yes, do not step back. Take a break, take a few deep breaths, and then tell yourself, ‘Let’s go.’
- When I am sick, I don’t run.
- When I am on vacation and sleep is a constraint, I run, but I cut down the distance.
- When I am with family, it’s fine to let it go.
Else, I tell myself — Let’s Go!
3. Progress
Are you moving closer to your goal, however slowly? If yes, it may be worth pushing through.
My running journey started with a modest target of running 5 kilometres. Then, my friend nudged me to register for a 10-kilometer run. I never thought I would be able to challenge myself, but then we both finished our first-ever 10K race hand-in-hand.
From there on, multiple half-marathons, numerous full-marathons, ultra-marathons — they kept coming and kept experimenting.
Is there an end to this journey? NO. The progress is what keeps us alive on the road.
4. Physical and Mental Health
Take stock of how your pursuit affects your well-being. Is it energizing you or draining you?
- When the office schedule is tight, family functions are a priority, and the festive season is going on — it’s fine to relax.
- When someone is sick or you need physical and mental rest, relax.
- When something is burning your mental energy, it’s time to relax and take a break.
Else, fight back.
5. Feedback and Counsel
Running has given me one huge benefit that a lot of my peers don’t have — A big social connection. I fall back on them over WhatsApp, during our training sessions, and on channels like Strava. Our job is to keep pushing and motivating each other to do our best.
When I get slow on the road, my fellow runners join me. When I am too fast, my trainer lets me know. When my heart rate is not right, my online community warns me.
Feedback is essential when we are in our pursuit to challenge our physical abilities. The same goes for the balancing act of when to get down and when to stand up.
6. Instincts
Trust your gut feeling. If it feels off, it probably is.
While I am on the road, my mind and my heart work in tandem. The confusion signals they give me are extreme. The heart wants to go all out and win the race. Meanwhile, the mind lets me know my limitations.
My habit of journal writing has helped to create a balance between these two. It has also helped me create a deep relationship with my heart and mind. And that’s why they lose track. I make sure they agree on a common path to help me achieve my big goal.
Creating a balance between mind and gut is similar to the balance we need when we are confused about giving up or going on. What’s required is a time of self-introspection, some writing and moments of silence.
7. Joy and Passion
If you are no longer passionate about your pursuit, reevaluate its worth.
Thankfully, I have yet to reach that stage with my outdoor running habit, and I hope I never will.
Recently, I joined a local running club. I have yet to open up and make a good friendship. But there is one person who always catches my eye. A 63-year-old gentleman who runs at a pace that is better than the majority of people in their 40s. The guy is disciplined, hard-working, light-hearted, fun-loving and competitive.
The sight of this person tells me to keep my passion alive in the joy of outdoor running and hope that when I turn his age, I match him in his energy.
When your mind is playing under the confusion of giving up and going on, ask yourself — is this what gives me joy and passion? If yes, never give up.
Give Up or Push — Closing Thoughts
When to give up and push yourself has no set formula or answer. As every run is different, every life is different.
- Give up when your mind and body are genuinely tired. Push yourself that extra bit when you feel there's more to give.
- Give up when your environment is toxic or not supportive. Push yourself after changing your circle or situation to one conducive to growth.
- Don't give up too early, and don't push yourself beyond measures is the formula that can help you grow well.
Ultimately, every life journey is different, much like every run. There's no set formula for when to give up or keep pushing. Yet, the wisdom lies in recognizing the signs, learning from experiences, and applying them as you move forward. The ultimate aim is to grow and become better, bit by bit.
Nishith is an author and creator of a unique self-development platform — “Be Better Bit-By-Bit.”
Grab your copy of his books — Be Better Bit-By-Bit and My Daily 5-Minute Gratitude Journal. Also, listen to his podcasts Be Better Bit-By-Bit and 10 Bullets — 100 Words Book Summary.