‘Hitting The Wall’
Hitting The Wall
Have you ‘hit the wall’ on a project you are working on? Runners coined the term, ‘hitting the wall’ to identify the experience of dramatic fatigue while running. ‘Hitting the wall’ is basically running out of physical and mental energy, says, David Martin, PhD, Emeritus Regent’s Professor of Health Sciences of Georgia State University in Atlanta. ‘Hitting the wall’ also includes the psychological stamina required to ‘go the distance.’
A ‘runner’s’ primary fuel sources are carbohydrates (in the form of blood glucose and glycogen, a polymer of glucose stored in the muscles and liver) and fats (free fatty acids in the bloodstream and muscle triglycerides, molecules containing three fatty acids.)
When you are working on a project you need to prepare yourself for the ‘distance’ required to reach the finish line. Runners learn to pace themselves to not only conserve energy, but, to have the mental stamina to ‘go the distance.’ Working on a project requires the same intricate planning.
During prolonged periods of extended physical and mental energy demands, the brain’s production of neurotransmitter (a chemical that carries signals from neuron to brain cells to another ) serotonin increases steadily, then peaks. Elevated levels of serotonin contribute to feelings of tiredness, sleepiness and lethargy.
To make matters worse during extended physical and mental energy demands, the production of dopamine (neurotransmitters responsible for generating feelings of excitement, reward, motivation, and pleasure) begin to drop as serotonin levels rise.
Rising levels of serotonin is created by increased delivery of tryptophan to the brain. The increase in free tryptophan is related to the increase in free fatty acids in the blood. “While many people believe that the increase in free fatty acids is very important to delaying fatigue in the muscle,” says Davis, “we think it has a negative effect in terms of central fatigue.”
If you believe you are inadequate for the task you might feel pressured to step it up a notch to accomplish things in a timely manner. Stressing yourself with thoughts of inadequacy will sap your energy and slow you down. Thus, making it difficult for you to concentrate on what you want to create.
You need to work more efficiently by pacing yourself and having adequate physical and mental energy (stamina). When you work more effectively and pace yourself, you will find that you work better when you are relaxed. Think about focusing your attention on each step of every task and you will work more efficiently and the full scope of any project will unfold effectively.
When you take your time attending to each task, you will notice you make easier progress toward the finish line. Pacing yourself allows you the time to perform each task well, as you give each step your undivided attention. As time passes, you can see how your thoroughness and attention to all the details is bringing you closer to the project completion.
Knowing that you have given full attention to each detail decreases the likelihood you will be concerned about your ability to complete the project. Taking time to focus completely on each detail as you move the project forward will increase the likelihood that you will feel calm and satisfied with your steady progress to the finish line.
Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Metaphysician – Certified Hypnosis and Regression Practitioner, Author and Speaker. Dr. Dorothy facilitates clearing blocks, fears and limiting beliefs. You can live the life you desire. She facilitates Past Life Regression and Future Life Progression. She was a World Regression Congress faculty member in the Netherlands, India, Brazil and Turkey. https://drdorothy.net http://facebook.com/DrDorothyNed