Ending And Keeping Streaks Alive

Yesterday, I allowed a 64-week workout streak on our Tonal end. 

Going into the day, I knew it was my last chance to keep the weekly streak alive; since we were at Disney for most of the week, I couldn’t log my routine weekday workouts. As the day slowly passed and it got closer to taking Roman to his basketball games, I told my Self I’d run downstairs after a late dinner and knock out a short workout just to keep the streak alive.

As I sat in the gym between Roman’s games, I thought about the workout I would choose when we got home and realized that I would only be going through the motions to keep the streak alive. I wasn’t thinking about a workout to help me get stronger–I was just thinking of a workout to check the box and not see the 64 get replaced with a 1 the next time I turned the Tonal on.

What was the point of my streak?

Was it to see how high I could get the weekly number? Or, was it to continue to keep my Self in shape? 

The argument could be made that even a workout just to check the box is better than no workout at all, and I wouldn’t disagree from a physical standpoint. But, from a mental standpoint, realizing that the streak had lost its importance and having the awareness to allow it to end so that I could re-establish a new one with intention behind it was more valuable to me yesterday.

So, the streak ended.

A streak of anything—working out, creating content, meditating, etc.–requires discipline, commitment, and perseverance; continuously showing up and getting the work done is something to be proud of and to strive for. However, if the streak becomes a part of your identity or you’re willing to compromise the quality of the work done just to keep it going, it might have lost its importance to you.

Since I don’t live in the world of absolutes, you will notice I said it might have lost its importance to you. There will be times when the thought of allowing your streak to end is actually a challenge to push through discomfort. In those situations, just showing up and putting in the work, even if it is not your highest quality, is required.

But how will you know if the streak should end or if you should push through?

You’ll feel it. 

You will know the right answer if you are aligned in spirit, mind, and body. Your intuition will tell you what you should do, but you have to be able to pick up that signal AND have the willingness to follow it.

This evening, I’ll head downstairs, turn the Tonal on, and start a new streak feeling no less about my Self than I would if the count was going to 65 weeks.

See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,

JC