What to do when nothing works
There is a place called “I’ve tried everything, nothing works, I might as well stop trying…” We all visit that place now and then. I feel that people sometimes mail me about this place hoping I’ll say “It’s okay. I can see you’ve tried everything. You can stop trying now.” Of course, l won’t do that…
Recently I’ve found myself there. Yes, I also visit it – unfortunately.
I mean it when I say I work hard at becoming a better runner. I work incredibly hard! But despite trying my best, I don’t get the results I feel I deserve. None of my workouts is ever executed exactly like my coach wants them executed, and that makes me feel like I am constantly failing. One day I frustratedly exclaimed: “What is the point of being consistent when I am consistently wrong?”
We have since worked out a plan to see what we can do to get me back to feeling that I am pushed enough to improve but not pushed so much to become despondent.
What can you do when you find yourself thinking ‘What is the point of continuing, I might as well quit…’
- Speak up! Tell someone how you feel. Often voicing out loud or putting into words your feelings makes you feel lighter and better able to manage.
- Find an expert on your problem for an unbiased opinion.
- Focus on that which is going well or the other indirect results you might be overlooking.
- Don’t compare your progress to the progress of others. You can, and should, only compete against yourself.
- Ensure that your goals are realistic.
- Give yourself some grace – especially if you know you work hard and are trying your best.
- If you need a break, take a break. But before doing so commit to when you’ll start again. It is better to rest than to quit.
- Revisit the reasons why you started.
- Adjust your current methods or construct a realistic plan or solution, like working incrementally towards smaller targets, that you feel you are willing to try out while not able to reach your bigger goals yet.
- Don’t quit! When you started you were desperate to be where you are today. Don’t lose your way back there again.
Do you have any tips that you’d like to add to these?
