When did we forget that life is a marathon and not a sprint.
What is it about society that seems to want us all to be in a speed race to get somewhere. Who will get there first? How long does it take to achieve the goal? Is it expected that we all have the same goal to reach?
Are we on the same track? So many questions and yet many people do not even think about it really.
Sprinting has its benefits in some cases. Rushing to get somewhere or to get something done is necessary at times. Who can race non stop and keep their stamina up?
So what does it mean life is a marathon, not a sprint.
Longevity over speed
We all want to be here for a long time and to be able to live our lives as fit and healthy as we can. Who wants to sprint at full speed and not even enjoy the ride or worse be so unwell as you have burned yourself out to get there.
Goals in life such as relationships, career and personal growth all take years and not weeks. Who has the stamina to achieve all of these in a short time. This leads to illness, missed opportunities and unsustainable habits. The basic one is looking after your own health.
Steady progress matters
Small and consistent actions are the best approach to achieving your life goals. These may include exercising a few times a week, reading a chapter a day, enjoying some hobbies and nurturing friendships or building a community.
Resilience through life's ups and downs
Marathons have hills, water stations, changes in the weather and “the wall”. This is the same for life it has a tendency to throw us challenges and setbacks along the way. Having a marathon mindset teaches us to keep moving forward by adjusting our pace. Allowing ourselves time to recover when things get hard to gain strength to carry on.
Enjoy the journey
In a marathon the person enjoys the experience, the scenery, the moments. They build up a camaraderie with other runners. They make the time to celebrate any personal milestones they have achieved along the way. For those who sprint through life they are only focused on the finish line and have blinkers on to what is going on around them. They miss the moments of life.
How to live with the marathon mindset
- Set some long-term but flexible goals
They are goals you want to achieve but allowing yourself the time to achieve them. Learning a new language cannot be done in a week. So telling yourself you will become fluent in the new language within 3 years sounds better that I want to speak perfectly in a month. Who knows you may become fluent in 2 years as you were not stressed about a short time frame.
- Build some sustainable habits
Choose some activities that you can maintain and are realistic. o for a 30 minute walk on most days. Don’t expect it to be every day. We all know life has a way of getting in the way of things. Building up the habit gradually makes it become a routine and soon enough you cannot do without your daily walk.
- Schedule some regular refuel or recharge breaks
We are only human and need our rest as well. All work and no fun is not a healthy life. Don’t forget to plan in some rest and vacations. They do not have to be long or expensive just a break away from it all. Enjoy your hobbies. Focus on some self care such as the water stations in a marathon. If you enjoy luxurious bath times then go for it. Snuggling down with a good book. So many possibilities.
- Track your progress
Don’t wait for the end result to celebrate. Mark the weekly or monthly milestones and enjoy the motivational feeling of achieving the small wins. Every step counts on your journey to your goals.
- Accept setbacks in life
Life happens and that means illness, injuries, job losses or the breakdown of relationships can happen to anyone. They are traumatic in the moment but they do not define your race. They may slow you down temporarily. Rest and recover and get back in marathon even if you have to go at a slower pace for the moment.
- Cultivate patience
Patience is important to have and to practice. Life skills are learned over time. Deep connections and wealth are not over night options. Developing self compassion is also vital. Being patient with yourself while you are on the marathon of your life.
The marathon of life
Both marathons and speed races do have value, however life is long and changes all the time. Racing through life deprives us of so many opportunities and moments. We need to learn how to be adaptable and durable to endure it. Thinking of life as a marathon helps us to embrace the perspective of long haul and the need to build up resilience and stamina to get through it. Life throws us a curve ball or two so having patience and remaining healthy helps us feel motivated to ultimately reach the finish line on our own terms.
