Blog
Reasons You Should Stop Trying to Be Perfect
As runners, many of us are Type-A personalities who strive for perfection in every area of our lives. Whether we seek to perform our best, eat as “clean” as possible, do all the “little things,” or never miss a day of our prescribed training plan, we sometimes take our perfectionism a step too far. Instead of focusing on unattainable flawlessness, runners (and all other perfection seekers) should aim to be better than before, but never perfect, as discussed below.
Decreased Mental and Emotional Stress
Often we build up certain ideals in our heads, such as “clean eating,” certain training plans, or weekly goals), and we turn these arbitrary objectives into end-all, be-all scenarios. One slip-up can cause emotional stress when we feel like failures for having chosen to enjoy a piece of cake on a friend’s birthday or because we were too tired to hold that final plank pose. Instead of continually searching for an “A+” in your health regime, concede to yourself that perfection is unattainable. As an alternative, strive to be better than you were before, whether that is eating one fewer serving of sugar than yesterday (as opposed to attempting to cut out sugar cold turkey), or performing one more core routine this month than previously.
Reduced Injury Risk
Runners often avoid listening to their bodies in order to follow their set training plans. However, when you decide not to be “perfect” and to instead allow your body to dictate when to take days off or when to cut a workout short, your risk of injury is drastically reduced. At the end of the day, no one wins an award for showing up to the starting having completed all of the assigned workouts at the sake of his or her health.
Greater Happiness
When you give up the pursuit of perfection, you give up the unhappiness that comes with such an unattainable goal. Runners who seek perfection in their lives often associate their daily satisfaction with how well they were able to control factors that are typically difficult to control, or uncontrollable altogether. For instance, small deviations, such as having to take a day off from training due to excruciating shin pain, can lead to a ruined day because of the mental anguish associated with purposely avoiding exercise. By rationalizing that it’s better to be healthy than perfect, this self-imposed unhappiness disappears.
Why I Run
People run for many reasons, whether it’s to get exercise, for the competition, or to relieve stress. We asked a few Tiux Ambassadors, “Why do you run?”
Here’s how they responded.
"Running brings me so much joy all around which motivates me intrinsically. It’s my quiet time but then again when running as a group it’s my social time too! I love the feeling of just running for fun just as much as I love following a training plan and pushing myself in a race. I have lots of running goals! The benefits are limitless and the goals can vary from one month to the next sometimes but bottom line – it’s my happy place, my reset, my confidant and my friend. I’d be lost without it! As a Girls on the Run coach I hope to inspire and motivate others too!" - Christine Piscitella
"Running has become a part of my lifestyle and I can’t imagine who I’d be without it. I love the Me that running has created! One of my biggest motivators are my running friends. We are definitely better together!" - Heather Lee Callaghan
"My mom was my biggest motivation to run, that is how I started. Once I did though I fell in love with it. It became a way to connect with people with similar interests, and be part of a wonderful community. It keeps me fit, relaxes me and is an escape from my day to day stressors and that’s what motivates me now to get out there." - Hufsa Mushtaq
"I run to inspire my community. I think representations matter and I didn’t grow up a runner so just having young girls of color see me as a role model gets me going out the door. It’s the same as when I notice disabled athletes running the races that I do. It shows me that everyone can do it in their own way. It also allows me to have at least a singular thing in common with others. So I run mostly for comradery. A mile is a mile, no matter how you do it." - Jerlyn Thomas
"For me, running is not just a hobby or a way to stay in shape, it is part of me. It helps relieve stress and brings so much joy to my life. I run for the beautiful scenery, the amazing friendships and to inspire my children. I run ultra distances to push my limits and go beyond my comfort zone. I truly believe that it’s in darkest of places where we are truly challenged that we grow and learn just how tough we are." - Michelle Corbett
"There are so many motivating reasons to run for me! It’s my time to quietly connect to myself if I run alone, to connect with friends and other runners, to connect with nature & the beauty all around me. I love signing up for a race and having that be my reason to get out and increase my mileage or challenge myself with a tough terrain! Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that I also have a sweet tooth!" - Laura Swenson
"I run because it connects me to myself and my community. Running is my meditation AND my social time. It also humbles me more than any other sport I’ve ever participated in and that feeling of reaching for goals and working hard is worth it every single time." - Lindsay McClelland
Finding Motivation to Run
Often, the hardest part of running is taking the first few steps out the door. In fact, sports psychologists have discussed the psychology of motivation at length, citing that motivation can be difficult because running is an energy-intensive exercise, historically reserved for evading danger or finding food. How can you find motivation to get out the door? Tried and true methods are discussed below.
Remind Yourself Why
Runners tend to fall into a trap of feeling as though they have to run every day, which can cause them to lose motivation. One way to avoid these feelings is to remind yourself daily why you run. Is it because you love it? Because you have a goal you want to reach? Or, perhaps it is because you simply feel great and more energized afterwards. Whatever your reason is, reminding yourself why you run can help improve your motivation.
Write Down Your Goals
If reminding yourself why you run is difficult, write down your goals and display them prominently in the house, such as on the bathroom mirror or on the refrigerator. In this way, you are continually reminded of your aspirations, which will make it more difficult to intentionally avoid working towards them.
Set Up a Reward System
When motivation is low, set up a system for which to reward yourself for completing your daily workout. One example is to assign a monetary value to each mile that you plan to run. This approach is especially useful on long run days when the motivation to start the run is limited. For instance, each mile can be worth $0.25. At the end of your run, add up how much money you banked, and then treat yourself to a reward, such as a special coffee. Another way is to set a goal for the week or month, such as accomplishing a certain number of runs for the week or a monthly mileage. If you reach your goal, give yourself a predetermined reward, such as an indulgence or a new pair of running socks.
Enlist a Training Partner
When all else fails, finding a running partner can drastically improve motivation. Look for someone who has similar goals and schedule as your own. If you are unable to find a running partner, look for running crews in your neighborhood to keep you motivated. Knowing that someone is counting on you to show up is a great boost to ensure you complete your workout!