Understanding Progress: Why It Feels Elusive Yet Exists
Written on
Chapter 1: The Nature of Progress
This past week has been quite fruitful for me.
I've made strides in the gym, refined my writing process, and improved my time management skills.
Surprisingly, I'm also noticing enhancements in my French, despite having set it aside for a while.
I recently pondered the concept of sunk costs, which can liberate you to pursue your writing goals.
But how can I ascertain that I've actually progressed?
For my workouts, I rely on a logbook to track my achievements.
In writing, the number of words I composed last week serves as a benchmark.
As for time management, I can finally anticipate my first free Sunday in five weeks.
With French, however, I'm uncertain.
What constitutes progress?
I believe having a clear goal is essential for progress. Without one, we can only speak of improvement. For instance, I sense an enhancement in my French speaking abilities, yet I also made a measurable achievement in my gym routine, hitting a 2kg increase in assisted pull-ups toward my 95kg target.
If we strictly adhere to this definition, my writing system has not progressed; it has merely improved, as there isn't a specific SMART goal associated with it.
I see two distinct types of progress.
Section 1.1: Linear vs. Occasional Progress
How does linear progress manifest?
Imagine aiming to bench press 100kg. If you increase your lift by 1kg each training session, you would reach your target in about 60 days. It seems straightforward, but the reality is often more complex.
What does occasional progress entail?
Consider the gym scenario again. On certain days, fatigue sets in before you even lift the barbell. You might doubt your ability to surpass your previous record, but consistency is key. This is where the concept of deloading comes in. Training hard creates fatigue, which needs time to build and dissipate.
So, on days when everything feels off, it might be wise to train without weights for a couple of sessions. This approach implies no major adjustments, just a reduction in overall workload.
An example of this could look like:
Week 1 — 54 kg, week 2 — 56 kg, week 3 — 58 kg, week 4 — 58kg
Week 6 — rest and deload
Week 7 — 60 kg ….
You get the idea.
I've come to appreciate that taking well-defined breaks can enhance the achievability of your goals. However, applying this insight to other areas of my life remains a challenge.
Subsection 1.1.1: Exceptions to the Rule
Conversely, some activities may not benefit from a “deload.”
Certain tasks may have such a low threshold that they don’t accumulate much fatigue.
For instance, if you’re proficient at your job, you could perform your duties quietly.
Similarly, learning just one word a day in a new language can be a sustainable way to improve.
It varies by individual whether taking a “deload” is necessary for stress relief.
I often feel like it takes about a week for progress to become evident, leading to a sense of stagnation.
This sensation is a significant barrier to advancement. You may be putting in the effort, but it can be hard to trust that progress will materialize.
I experienced this while pursuing French more goal-oriented; there were weeks when I learned 30 words and others when I struggled to remember just one.
Similarly, with dieting, the daily fluctuations in weight often led to frustration.
I found that measuring individual days and calculating an average helped ease this anxiety.
Section 1.2: Practical Strategies for Progress
How can I implement this understanding?
Relax
Taking intentional breaks is essential, especially before stressful events. Aim to define a minimum viable action that doesn’t disrupt your rest. For example, commit to learning one word a day.
Plate Spinning
There will be times when you can exert maximum effort, followed by phases where minimal progress is more realistic.
Combatting Stagnation
If your perceived progress feels like stagnation, consider taking a break and returning after a few days.
Discover the reasons why you might feel like you're not making progress, even when you are, and learn how to recognize hidden advancements.
Explore the psychological aspects of feeling stagnant in life and understand how to break through these barriers to progress.