Breaking through life’s plateaus: Lessons from the gym

Welcome to Love Mondays More: the weekly Linkedin newsletter that delves deeper into the ideas and concepts driving my Love Mondays email newsletter series .

Why ‘Love Mondays’? Mondays are usually anything but lovable. Studies show it’s typically our week’s low point and Guinness World Records has even dubbed it the "worst day of the week”. So I aim to provide a 4-minute caffeine hit of content to fire up the other 10,077 minutes of your week and stave off the Monday malaise. Don’t just live Mondays, Love Mondays!

Are you feeling like you're doing all the right things, but not seeing the progress you want? Life is often described as a ‘hamster wheel’ or a ‘rat race’ (what is it about rodents?) and sometimes it can feel all too real - like we’re running our behinds off, sweating and panting away, but not actually getting anywhere. There’s nothing pleasant about feeling ‘stuck’.??

Interestingly, we can learn a lot from the world of physical fitness that can help us break through those plateaus in life. Just like in the gym, there are reasons why we hit those sticking points, and with a bit of discipline and tweaking, we can push through to the other side.

So while some of you might sit more in the ‘hate it’ or ‘it’s complicated’ part of the spectrum when it comes to the gym, let’s push our feelings to one side for a moment and go to the gym of life together to see what we can learn.

5 reasons we're not making progress

If you trawl physical fitness literature for why progress plateaus these (the boldened phrases) are the big 5… but let’s see if the description extends beyond the weight room.?

1. Not getting enough sleep: Like muscles, rest is essential for peak performance. But sacrificing sleep to get more done is a common trap for many leaders. According to an HBR study over 40% of leaders get less than six hours of sleep a night yet studies show that less than seven hours hurts decision-making and productivity. Prioritise sleep to power through plateaus.
2. Using junk volume: In fitness, junk volume is like doing a million bicep curls instead of focusing on the exercises that actually matter. In life, it can look like taking on too much and not prioritising what's important. Don't spread yourself too thin! The Eisenhower Matrix can help you focus on results-producing activities.
3. Not taking rest days: Rest days are essential for physical recovery and growth, and they're just as important in daily life to avoid burnout... We can’t all find days at short notice but we can find hours and minutes…and with burnout on the rise , ‘unplugging’ from our always-on world is essential. Put down the phone, step outside, and recharge your human batteries.
4. Realising the switching costs: While it's beneficial to switch between weights and cardio in the gym, constantly switching tasks in daily life can be counterproductive. Research has found that task switching can reduce productivity by as much as 40%. Instead, try batching similar tasks together to stay focused and make progress.
5. Hitting a wall: As James Clear points out in his book Atomic Habits, sometimes we hit a plateau because we've maxed out our skills or knowledge. Don't get stuck there - take time to learn new things and develop new skills. Remember, progress is all about challenging yourself and growing.

Don’t let plateaus hold you back! These four strategies can help you overcome plateaus and achieve your goals:

1. Be more consistent: Consistency is key in both fitness and life. Make a plan and stick to it, even when it gets tough. Consistently taking small steps towards your goals can help you make steady progress and break through plateaus.
2. Be more accountable: Just like a personal trainer keeps us accountable in the gym, finding someone who can hold us accountable in our personal lives can be incredibly helpful. With someone else in your corner, you'll be more likely to break through plateaus and achieve the progress you want.
3. Be more reflective: Take time to reflect on your progress and what you've learned along the way. Reflection can help you appreciate the steps you've taken and the challenges you've overcome. Embrace the journey, even when it's not perfect. Again the Eisenhower Matrix can be a useful tool for productive reflection.
4. Be more adaptable: Sometimes plateaus are a sign that you need to change your approach. Being adaptable and willing to try new things can help you break through the plateau and continue making progress.

Remember, the story we tell ourselves during a plateau can either hold us back or propel us forward. So be positive, be kind to yourself, and keep moving forward!

How have you successfully overcome plateaus in your own personal growth journey? What strategies have worked for you??

Thank you for reading this edition of Love Mondays More. Here are some ways to access more leadership learning and inspiration:

• Join my Epic Leadership Challenge and get actionable leadership lessons that will give you unstoppable momentum toward your goals this year. Delivered through our custom epic app, you’ll have my expert advice and guidance right in the palm of your hand! Read more here .
• Join over 15,000+ people and subscribe to receive my weekly Love Mondays newsletter.