I have been a distance runner for a large part of my adult life and really enjoy it, but, naturally enough, there are times when I don’t feel like going for a run. Nevertheless, if I gently coax myself to simply get out the door, once I get going I’m very glad that I have done so.
As part of my running, I keep a journal describing how I felt on each run, any injuries that might be starting to develop and my times for each kilometre of the run. I often find that I’m composing that journal entry while I run, which gives me a greater awareness of how I am feeling and experiencing the run, in the moment, making it even more meditative.
I rarely go back to them to read these journal entries some time in the future, but still enjoy the practice because it gives me a chance to reflect on the run and to make it something important in my day, which then adds to its significance in my life
But another important part of this practice is that, on a day when I don’t get out the door, I expect myself to write down the reason for missing the run. Of course, there are generally really good reasons why I don’t have my run on a particular day, but, I nevertheless find this practice keeps me honest and accountable to myself. If I feel that I’m just being lazy, thinking about what I’m going to write in my journal can be just enough to get me out the door once again.
Do you have ways of making yourself accountable to yourself for things that are important to you?
#anxiety #stress #overwhelm #procrastniation #selfconfidence #selfesteem #worry #burnout #shorts
