Today is one of those days where it’s been challenging to maintain good habits. I try to run most days, and I try to blog at least four times per week. Today there were a lot of little things that needed to happen. But I put on my running shoes and jumped on the treadmill and ran a slow mile. Just a mile! (And change for a cool down). I was watching the seconds the whole time, not feeling particularly good. But I figured something was better than nothing.
Same thing with blogging. This is going to be a very short post. Mostly to convey the idea of just doing a mile. I set that as a goal, and most days I want to do much, much more. But some days it’s just a mile, and that’s OK. Sometimes, letting go of big expectations in the short run can allow for more productivity in the long run. And the long run is really what it’s all about.
That reminds me of the saying “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good”. Sometimes the habit of the habit is the most important part.
And done is better than perfect!
yes, indeed. or “Don’t let perfect ruin good”….
Just run into this:
http://gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2007/02/tip_dont_let_th/
Hi Laura — That really is insight and perspective that we all need to keep in mind on our tough days. (i do feel that the length of the blog is not as important)…
It reminds me of what Nastia Liukin, the all-around Olympic Gymnastics Champion in 2008 (w/ five olympic medals), has said leading up to the Olympics: “… you have to get through the hard days. Anybody can train on the easy days, but if you get through the hard days, when you don’t feel good, … that’s when it pays off.”
i believe that is what sets apart those who succeed (in life (or in their endeavors) and the rest who don’t…
@Cheryl – yep, anyone can train on the easy days. That’s a good observation. Aiming for just a little something on the tough days is probably when the real progress happens.
Hi Laura — i suppose yesterday ended up being a something-is-better-than-nothing day for myself. n so i was thinking about this throughout the day.
i remember having read somewhere that according to the law of physics, more often than not, it is as difficult it is to stop once you have gotten started than it is to just stay put, if one chooses to. such that on more difficult days, if we keep going, it is possible that it can perhaps make the following day easier momentum-wise.
many marathon runners toward the end of the race choose to keep going and finish b/c it hurts if they carry on, but it hurts if they were to stop. if we choose action instead of inaction, at least at the end of the day, we’d feel better b/c we’ve accomplished some — b/c as you have said, something is better than nothing!
I am trying to run everday too. But yesterday was just bleh. This post makes me feel better. Absolutely correct, long term is what matters.
Laura, I saw the following joke yesterday which sort of sums up this message and also the one in the guest blog earlier in the week.
“There are three birds sitting on a fence. Two of them decide to fly away. How many are left?
The answer is three.
Deciding to fly away is not the same as actually doing it!”
Hi Katherine — yes, “actions speak louder than words” a quote on my “action items!” notepad from who’s there/knockknock