Slogging…but in a good way.
Slogging. It’s kind of a terrible word, isn’t it? Even its definition feels uninspiring and heavy: “Working steadily at something that takes a long time and is boring or difficult.”
How about you stop hunching your shoulders and ditch the grind because I’ve got a much different interpretation that may just make you love slogging.
Slogging Reimagined
Running is one of my favorite stress busters, but lingering injuries have kept me from my usual blistering pace (so much sarcasm right there). Instead of hanging up my shoes I’ve discovered a workaround: slow jogging or “slogging” for short.
The principle behind slogging is simple. Run a shorter distance than usual and run it at 60-65% of your usual effort. Slogging has long been a tried-and-true trick for distance runners. In the final days before a big race, it delivers efficient tapering for a strong finish. For injuries that don’t require full rest, it keeps joints moving and muscles limber.
In my mind, the best part about slogging is that it offers all the things I love about running, without full exertion. Breathing fresh morning air, waving at other early risers, hearing nothing but the steady thump of my feet on pavement. I remember why I lace up and get out there and I forget the aches and pains.
Switch Your Stride to Slogging
If you’ve been working (and maybe worrying) like crazy lately you’ve got a lot of company. In this shifty climate the desire to make hay while the sun shines makes total sense, from a business perspective anyway. But going 110% all the time is unsustainable unless you want to completely burn out…and you will, probably at the most inopportune time.
What would happen if you applied slogging to your work instead?
Try slogging after the hustle of a big launch. It will set a sanity-saving pace while you wait for the fruits of your hard work to roll in.
Plan a quarterly slogging week and use the block of calm in your schedule as a welcomed opportunity to think freely and strategically.
Do a little slogging this sunny season so you can enjoy the lazy days of summer people keep talking about. Who knows what amazing ideas might float into your mind while you’re bobbing in the pool or your favorite lake!
Slogging is not completely taking your hands off the wheel. It’s an intentional, planned downshift that gives you room to breathe and time to reflect. Still steady, just slower. This is the real benefit of slogging. You will view your work differently when you observe it at a reduced speed. You will swap the aches and pains for fresh eyes and renewed purpose. And that means you’ll come back stronger…because you remember why you do – and love – what you do.
