As the first sun began to peak over the little mountaintops, my partner and I pulled on our heavy wetsuits and waxed our surfboards. We had decided to celebrate the first day of 2024 with a splash in the Pacific and a hike.
The swell was my favorite size (small!) and as we paddled into wave after wave, the sun’s reflection on the water got so strong that my vision blurred. Just a few hours later, we were in an entirely different environment. Deep in the Muir Woods, only tiny streams of light filtered through the green.
We were beginning to climb a steep portion of the trail when a little human with flailing limbs blazed past us in a frenzy. Another kid, a young teenager, ran after him, disappearing around the corner.
A few minutes later, we came across the two kids again, resting on some large boulders. When they spotted us, they bounced back onto their feet and zoomed up the hill.
My partner and I kept our steady pace, and kept catching up to the boys as they rested between sprints. I admired the boys’ bursts of energy and silently giggled every time they saw us and took off like the wind. Eventually we rounded a corner and I got a good look at the boys. They were huffing and puffing, energizer-bunny-reserves depleted, and this time, they didn’t scramble to their feet.
I took this as a reminder.
In any endeavor, slow and steady rules.
In this new year, I hope you apply old adage this to all of your goals and resolutions. Tiny, consistent steps are the best pathway to sustainable change!
I hope you also apply this to your wellness at work: taking tiny, regular breaks can help you maintain energy levels and be your most efficient throughout the day.1
Let’s start with a slow and steady breath sequence. Practice with me at the top of the page.
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