It’s been a crazy few weeks between moving and working and trying to run in the middle, but we’re making it happen.
In any case, we’re safely settled in our new home and I’m trying to get back on track with both running and writing. And I realized this week, while having a bit of a struggle with both of them, that they have almost as many similarities as differences. And as such, my current approach to making them work, simply will not work.
Neither running nor writing nor any solitary endeavor that requires overcoming a challenge can ever be truly forced. While you might be able to get some version of a result, it’s often not the best and the methodology to achieve it is far from sustainable. And so that brings us to the question.
What can we do so we don’t force ourselves?
If you were to ask Chara (along with many of the philosophers that he follows), he would tell you it all starts with your perspective. If you see the scenario surrounding your effort as negative, it’s going to be hard. And as humans, we shy away from hard - it’s wired into our brains to do so.
Which means the real question is: how do we make our work, not work?
Here’s where the running and the writing start to intersect. Both of these things get easier the more you do them, but for a while you have to keep doing them with no expectation of enjoyment. Or do you? Can you blossom in the struggle and relish in the writer’s block?
This week I had two major tasks: write a blog for work and run consistently
Usually, both of these things, the solitary flow that they bring, come easily to me. This week, every step and every word has been a struggle. And it seems like no matter what I try, I can’t break out of the rut that my mind has fallen into.
I think I need more sleep, to start. The value of a good night’s sleep should never be underestimated. But physical needs aside, how can I:
Make myself enjoy running again
Find my rhythm to start writing again
Both of these things require some degree of mental relaxation for ideal results, but can be forced - to some extent. They also both require knowing when to stop thinking - something I could stand to practice a little more as well (overthinkers, unite).
What’s the point I’m trying to make in this somewhat pointless and mostly cathartic post?
You can’t get out of a rut the same way you got into it; which is slowly.