Fit to Lead: The Marathon Mindset of Endurance and Creativity

"A career is a marathon, not a sprint," goes the popular saying. As I gear up for a new professional venture, my first thought is that I need to be "fit to lead". For me, fitness is not just a physical pursuit. Being "fit to lead" includes a strong foundation of mind, body, and spirit - all essential to sustaining creative performance over many career chapters.

As design leaders, creativity is one of our most valuable assets. But how do we sustain it over the span of a career?

How do we prepare for and enjoy the marathon of being design and creative leaders??

How do we find and stay in a steady creative flow state?

Part of the answer lies in getting "fit to lead" - and understanding what that means for each of us.

With the evolution of my career, in addition to regular mindfulness practices, I am increasingly focused on the physical aspect of being fit to lead. Gone are the days when fitting in a quick workout here and there was a nice-to-have. The importance of physical strength and endurance has only become clearer over time, and I know this resonates with those of you who are building your careers for creative longevity.

Research has uncovered a powerful connection between physical fitness and creativity. When we challenge our physical limits, we train our minds to lean into discomfort, push past perceived constraints, and develop the mental toughness to persevere despite adversity. Just as our muscles gain strength from "strain and recovery," our best creative work often emerges from venturing beyond our comfort zone and finding new capabilities.

The world's top athletes know this principle well. They approach training as a holistic practice of conditioning the mind and body to expand their capacity for resilience. As performance coach and endurance athlete Zach Newcomb? says, "We can elevate our performance in all areas of leadership through elevating our physical capacity."

So, how can we, as design and creative leaders harness the power of fitness to sustain our endurance and unlock our full creative potential? I am not a fitness trainer, but there are some experiments that have worked for me. I encourage everyone to find what works best for you.

Find Your Flow State Through Challenge

Identify physical activities that challenge you to consistently move out of your comfort zone, and into your stretch zone. Whether it's running, cycling, swimming, or strength training, choose a workout routine that requires you to dig deep mentally and physically. The key is finding an activity that is just challenging enough that it allows you to practice being comfortable with discomfort. Strain is a precursor to growth, and at times, will allow us to enter a state of "flow" - where your mind is present, your body is in sync, and you experience a sense of energized focus. Strengthening the habit of moving between your comfort zone and your stretch zone in the physical realm can translate to finding a balance of effort and ease in your creative pursuits.

Cultivate the Mind-Body Connection

Incorporate mindfulness practices into your physical activities. Learn to quiet your mind and stay present during your workouts by focusing on linking your breath with movement. Yoga, running, and Pilates are particularly effective for sharpening this mind-body connection. By training your brain to be more focused and present, you can better channel your ability to stay present and focused when designing and creating.

Leverage Movement to Spark Creativity

When you're experiencing a creative block, experiment with pairing physical movement with your creative ideation. When you encounter a block, go for a bike ride or a brisk walk to generate new ideas. Research shows that increased blood flow and oxygen to the brain can boost creative ideation. Physical mobility can provide the momentum you need to overcome creative obstacles and generate creative sparks for new ideas.

The Importance of Rest and Recovery

Just as creativity requires us to venture beyond our comfort zones, pushing our physical limits sharpens our creative fortitude and expands our capacity for resilience as leaders. Becoming "fit to lead" can unlock the endurance and creative potential to sustain our impact over the long haul. However, this works best when there are equal times for strain and recovery, a balance that is as crucial for the creative athlete as it is for the endurance athlete.

The journey of reaching our fullest potential is a marathon, not a sprint.?

What will be your first step?

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