I think it's human nature that under stress we deal with what's right in front of us and forget about the long-range commitments we have. You know those commitments- eat well, exercise, get adequate sleep, spend time with loved ones...we've all got our personal versions of it. What happens is that we typically think that we're helping ourselves out by not doing these things. If I skip a run, I can get in an extra thirty minutes of work. If I work through my lunchtime walk, I can finish that report. If I spend Friday night working late instead of going home, I can get caught up. I would venture that we've all done this... and in some cases it might take the edge off, but at what cost?

Over the past several years I've really been trying to lean into my practices in stressful times, rather than abandoning them. And I've found that, while counter intuitive, it's actually helpful because it helps me ground myself and renew my energy which I can later apply to my work projects in a more effective way. Whenever I hear myself saying, "I don't have time to get outside for a walk", that's now a bell inviting me to question that response. Maybe the walk is exactly what I need in order to stop my mind from spinning.

I was working with an executive recently who said he was going into a crazy period. I asked how he wanted to 'be" during this time- did he also want to be crazy, or was there another way he could approach this intense work period? He responded that he wanted to be calm and connected to others, rather than him getting anxious and impatient with people. I asked what practices would help him maintain those qualities, and he said he wanted to keep up his morning walks though he knew the temptation to jump onto his emails would be strong. He held this commitment and found that this daily quiet time was actually indispensable for him to effectively navigate that period. Yes, the time pressures may be real, and we may indeed want to cut these practices out for the short-term, but I invite you to pause and reconsider. Maybe it will actually support you. Test it out and see for yourself. Let me know what you find out! 

Riveting! Inspirational! This book about nine Americans and their epic quest for the gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics is a rare gem. I kept saying to my husband, "You've got to read this!" each time I put the book down for the night. This historical novel brings us intimately into the lives of these young working-class men, gives us a glimpse into the magic moments on the water, and the incredibly hard work to get there. It is estimated that in four years of college rowing, each of them rowed approximately 4,344 miles (469.000 strokes) in preparation for the mere 28 miles of actual collegiate racing. A stunning testimony to practice and what it takes to be an exceptional team. Beautifully written, I will never look at crew the same way.