“Life is a Marathon, Not a Sprint.” -Phillip C. McGraw
On Top of the World, Chimney Rock, NC.
To cross the finish line or get to the top of any mountain, I “SelfPace” myself to conserve energy for when I need it the most. But, what does energy conservation mean to me? Energy conservation is a process in which one exerts only the amount of energy needed in relationship to the task-at-hand.
As such, my motto for energy conservation is, Contain-SelfPace-Conserve!
A great way to understand the concept of “contain” is as such. The French style of cooking uses a technique called, “mise-en-place” which translates as, “everything in its place.” Thus, contain your items together within your workspace. So, before cooking a meal, all the ingredients are cut up, on plates, and ready to be incorporated into the recipe in the proper order. No need to aimlessly walk around the kitchen looking for something you need that you’re not even sure you have on hand, thereby expending energy needed for more important and necessary tasks.
Now, to take this idea one step further, there’s a saying by Benjamin Franklin which goes, “there’s a place for everything, and everything in its place.” Meaning, I know where everything is located when I need it, and I put it back when I’m done. As a result, I can find it when I need it, thereby not wasting precious energy looking for something that I’ve misplaced, or even buried in a pile.
To me, SelfPacing means resting “before I’m tired.” If I take a “rest-break” when I’m already feeling fatigued, it’s too late. Instead, I rest as a preventive measure and not a “too little-too late” approach to feeling my best. Also, SelfPacing means I go, “slow and steady” through the steps of the task and not at varied peaks and valleys of upward spikes and downward lows. To SelfPace, I rest before I’m tired, and I work at a slow, sustained, and steady rate.
Getting through the day’s activities cannot only be harrowing and paramount for many of us, but can be even more challenging for those who have physical hurdles to overcome. As such, there are people living with symptoms from severe conditions, aliments, or diseases like multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, or amputations who may need even more time to complete activities of daily living than they would otherwise need. So, for folks with even more limited energy reserves, it is likewise necessary to conserve and disburse energy slowly to avoid being on “empty” before completing the day’s necessary tasks.
Agreed, instead of being benched, stay in the game-of-life with energy conservation strategies that allow for a real-life way to approach daily tasks with success, completion, and sense-of-pride.
So, to conserve energy, the pearl-of-wisdom I share here is to, “Contain-SelfPace-Conserve!©”
For more ideas and inspiration on how I apply Energy Conservation strategies into my daily routine, please come back to view my upcoming blog posts tagged with the key words, “Energy Conservation.”