A Break Isn't a Setback. It’s Strategy

Because Sometimes Growth Looks Like Walking, Not Running

I learnt a lesson sometime during the month and I think it’s something worth sharing.

Back Story

With the help of my phone’s health app, I discovered a running routine designed to make running 10km feel more easily achievable and I committed to it with excitement.

I found myself pushing harder than usual. The app became a real motivator (with a little extra encouragement on the side too 😊), and I was proud of how far I was going.

Then came the shift...

Sometime in the month, I wasn’t feeling 100%, but I was determined to keep going. Surprisingly, my pace actually improved. I couldn’t believe it; how was I getting faster when I wasn’t at full strength? My body seemed to rise to the challenge… until it didn’t.

One leg started to ache. The strength I’d been leaning on was now “shaky”. So, I paused. I stepped back. I traded my runs for walks.

At first, it felt like I was giving up on progress but then I realized: this was progress. This was me choosing longevity over ego.

Well,

In life, in careers, in dreams, we often think that stopping means failure. That slowing down is weakness. That starting over is embarrassing. But the truth is:

Knowing when to step back is wisdom. Knowing how to pivot is power.

I took walks for a week and guess what? I didn’t lose my fitness. Because a pause is not a period it’s a comma so I used it to catch your breath

Maybe you're building a business, navigating a career shift, recovering from burnout, or just trying to keep up with life. Maybe things were finally beginning to flow and now you're forced to pause.

Don’t see it as the end. See it as a recalibration.

Sometimes, walking is the most courageous thing you can do, especially when the world expects you to keep running.

So wherever you are on your journey, remember; it’s okay to step back, to slow down, to catch your breath. The path forward isn’t going anywhere. And when you return, you’ll return stronger.

And A Final Thought…

There is strength in stillness.
There is purpose in the pause.
There is power in your pace even when it’s slower than you planned.

Keep going. Keep growing. Whether you're walking, running, or simply standing still; you’re still in the race. And that matters more than how fast you’re moving.

You’ve got this!

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes… including you." - Anne Lamott