How to Pace Yourself to Get Ahead

In life as in sports, some people are natural sprinters and some are natural long-distance performers. The American work ethic seems to favor long-distance style. And we've all heard the story of the tortoise and the hare. But what if you were born a hare? Are you doomed to be a loser in life's long-term pursuits? Definitely not. You just have to learn to pace yourself differently from the tortoises.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Determine your natural style and rhythm. Hares--or sprinters--tend to work hard in short bursts, pull ahead of the competition and then need a nap, or do a great job for a year before losing interest and momentum.
2. Pace your activities consciously around your natural rhythms. If you're a hare, don't do an all-nighter. Do 6 hard hours on that project, get a good night's sleep and race to the finish line in the morning. Give yourself plenty of breaks during a long project to re-energize yourself. Stop after 8 hours of work and take weekends off. You'll work faster and better than if you work longer hours.
3. Switch jobs every 2 or 3 years. Really! Change companies or departments or positions within your company to keep yourself motivated and focused. If you plan out your job-jumping, you can develop a strategy that will increase your experience, income and position.
4. Expand this approach into other areas of your life. How does a sprinter really want to spend his vacation? Try alternating active days with lazy days. In the gym, try interval training to accomplish your goals more easily. If a relationship is bogging down, take a business trip or a trip with friends to give yourself a chance to recharge and return to your partner with a fresh attitude. Work with your own strengths and weaknesses and you can succeed in any arena of life.

Tips & Warnings

• Your natural rhythms also can affect how your body reacts to supplements and even some healing herbs. They may work better for you if you take breaks in your dosing schedule to allow your body to fully absorb and make use of these substances. Also consider switching up the supplements you take from season to season.
• Going against your nature is a bad idea. Don't try to force yourself to act like a tortoise when your brain and body are chemically programmed for sprints, not marathons. Try to pull an all-nighter and you'll probably perform poorly. Force yourself to stay in a job too long and you'll likely fail to achieve the success and recognition you desire.

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