Move
HOW TO PUSH PAST ANY PLATEAU
A plateau, a rut, a dead-end. Whatever you call it, we’ve all experienced that feeling of total inertia. Sometimes it sneaks up on you (things are coasting along—until suddenly they’re not); other times you see it coming a mile away (a big project or big event comes to an end, you settle into some much-needed down time for a bit, but then, voila: you’re in a rut).
For inspo on how to push past these plateaus, we turned to three women we’re hugely inspired by: our very own Sadie Lincoln, whose incredible drive and energy never cease to amaze us; Alexia Brue, co-founder and CEO of Well + Good; and Lucy Reynolds, certified life coach and founder of Olerai Leadership. Read on to hear how these successful women push past plateaus in their lives, plus their tips to help you reach your next goal.
WHO: SADIE LINCOLN, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF B3
ADVICE FOR PUSHING PAST PLATEAUS: BE A STUDENT OF LIFE
For me, the root of feeling stagnant or stuck has to do with not being open to learning and forgetting to be be a student of life. A love of learning is what helps me push beyond my comfort zone. I find myself from time to time going through the motions of life with an attachment to legacy or what I once experienced versus seeing things with fresh eyes.
I think everything we do in barre3 class is a mirror of life and a good example for what I’m talking about here. I could go to class today and just turn on autopilot, dutifully following the instructor as I move through each posture, as I have done thousands of times. Or, I can walk into class as if I am brand new to barre3 with a sense of awe and wonder about my body. Even though I’ve done Plank pose a million times, I can relearn what it feels like in my body in that moment and experience it completely differently. My body, after all, is so very different today than it was yesterday. I could also study Plank and learn from experts about the latest research about what happens in the body when we do this pose. What are the benefits? How can I understand it better so that when I do it again, I do it empowered with this new knowledge?
This idea of having a love of learning to break plateaus extends into life as well. This year I have surrounded myself with consultants and devoured books on leadership. Even though I have presented in front of people many times, each time I take the stage I do it as if it were my first time. What can I learn about myself and other people before I present, as I present, and then afterwards? How can this presentation push be beyond what I know and make me a better leader?
When I approach life as a student with a love of learning, all the things that were once a challenge to me, like presenting at a meeting, holding Plank for a minute, or whipping up a new recipe with unfamiliar ingredients, can continue to help me grow and extend beyond what I know.
WHO: ALEXIA BRUE, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF Well + Good
ADVICE FOR PUSHING PAST PLATEAUS: SWITCH IT UP
When I hit a wellness-related plateau, I have to give my routine a major major shake-up. Usually this involves changing up both my workouts and my nutrition. So I’ll look at my calendar and plan out my workouts very precisely at times I know I can commit to. Additionally I’ll add to them on the margins so my body has to adapt, for example adding a 20-minute daily run in addition to an hour-long studio workout of some kind (which is my stress release and my personal time).
Switching it up isn’t always fitness-related. I recently did the 10-day nutrition program of someone we featured on Well+Good—essentially a sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free program that helps identify cravings and that reset my body and helped me reevaluate what I’m eating.
I also find the change of seasons and adapting my activities to the new season really helps to amp up my fitness level. So running more often when the winter ends and taking advantage of being able to hike and paddleboard on the weekends during the summer.
WHO: LUCY REYNOLDS, CERTIFIED HEALTH COACH AND FOUNDER OF Olerai Leadership
ADVICE FOR PUSHING PAST PLATEAUS: GO BACK TO YOUR CORE VALUES
When we feel stuck, we generally are out of balance with our core values, which are the guiding principles for how we want to live our lives.
Realigning with your core values can help pull you out of the plateaus in life. When we make decisions that align with our core values, it give us the liberty to say a resounding “yes please!” to those areas of our life that honor who we at our core. Pay attention to the clear and confident, “Oh yes – I really want to do….” When we hear the “want tos,” we hear clarity of our voice telling us we are on the right path.
Once you know what you want to do, the next step is having the courage to say, “yes” to a clear direction. Oftentimes we allow ourselves to believe it’s impossible to go after a dream or to put ourselves first in a situation. When you change your perspective and align around your core values, possibilities start to emerge and you will have choices. You will be able to tune your inner compass and the path will start to unfold for you.
The more self aware of who you are at your core and understand that one of the greatest gifts of being human is the freedom to choose, the more you will find your plateaus are fewer and much farther apart.
A plateau, a rut, a dead-end. Whatever you call it, we’ve all experienced that feeling of total inertia. Sometimes it sneaks up on you (things are coasting along—until suddenly they’re not); other times you see it coming a mile away (a big project or big event comes to an end, you settle into some much-needed down time for a bit, but then, voila: you’re in a rut).
For inspo on how to push past these plateaus, we turned to three women we’re hugely inspired by: our very own Sadie Lincoln, whose incredible drive and energy never cease to amaze us; Alexia Brue, co-founder and CEO of Well + Good; and Lucy Reynolds, certified life coach and founder of Olerai Leadership. Read on to hear how these successful women push past plateaus in their lives, plus their tips to help you reach your next goal.
WHO: SADIE LINCOLN, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF B3
ADVICE FOR PUSHING PAST PLATEAUS: BE A STUDENT OF LIFE
For me, the root of feeling stagnant or stuck has to do with not being open to learning and forgetting to be be a student of life. A love of learning is what helps me push beyond my comfort zone. I find myself from time to time going through the motions of life with an attachment to legacy or what I once experienced versus seeing things with fresh eyes.
I think everything we do in barre3 class is a mirror of life and a good example for what I’m talking about here. I could go to class today and just turn on autopilot, dutifully following the instructor as I move through each posture, as I have done thousands of times. Or, I can walk into class as if I am brand new to barre3 with a sense of awe and wonder about my body. Even though I’ve done Plank pose a million times, I can relearn what it feels like in my body in that moment and experience it completely differently. My body, after all, is so very different today than it was yesterday. I could also study Plank and learn from experts about the latest research about what happens in the body when we do this pose. What are the benefits? How can I understand it better so that when I do it again, I do it empowered with this new knowledge?
This idea of having a love of learning to break plateaus extends into life as well. This year I have surrounded myself with consultants and devoured books on leadership. Even though I have presented in front of people many times, each time I take the stage I do it as if it were my first time. What can I learn about myself and other people before I present, as I present, and then afterwards? How can this presentation push be beyond what I know and make me a better leader?
When I approach life as a student with a love of learning, all the things that were once a challenge to me, like presenting at a meeting, holding Plank for a minute, or whipping up a new recipe with unfamiliar ingredients, can continue to help me grow and extend beyond what I know.
WHO: ALEXIA BRUE, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF Well + Good
ADVICE FOR PUSHING PAST PLATEAUS: SWITCH IT UP
When I hit a wellness-related plateau, I have to give my routine a major major shake-up. Usually this involves changing up both my workouts and my nutrition. So I’ll look at my calendar and plan out my workouts very precisely at times I know I can commit to. Additionally I’ll add to them on the margins so my body has to adapt, for example adding a 20-minute daily run in addition to an hour-long studio workout of some kind (which is my stress release and my personal time).
Switching it up isn’t always fitness-related. I recently did the 10-day nutrition program of someone we featured on Well+Good—essentially a sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free program that helps identify cravings and that reset my body and helped me reevaluate what I’m eating.
I also find the change of seasons and adapting my activities to the new season really helps to amp up my fitness level. So running more often when the winter ends and taking advantage of being able to hike and paddleboard on the weekends during the summer.
WHO: LUCY REYNOLDS, CERTIFIED HEALTH COACH AND FOUNDER OF Olerai Leadership
ADVICE FOR PUSHING PAST PLATEAUS: GO BACK TO YOUR CORE VALUES
When we feel stuck, we generally are out of balance with our core values, which are the guiding principles for how we want to live our lives.
Realigning with your core values can help pull you out of the plateaus in life. When we make decisions that align with our core values, it give us the liberty to say a resounding “yes please!” to those areas of our life that honor who we at our core. Pay attention to the clear and confident, “Oh yes – I really want to do….” When we hear the “want tos,” we hear clarity of our voice telling us we are on the right path.
Once you know what you want to do, the next step is having the courage to say, “yes” to a clear direction. Oftentimes we allow ourselves to believe it’s impossible to go after a dream or to put ourselves first in a situation. When you change your perspective and align around your core values, possibilities start to emerge and you will have choices. You will be able to tune your inner compass and the path will start to unfold for you.
The more self aware of who you are at your core and understand that one of the greatest gifts of being human is the freedom to choose, the more you will find your plateaus are fewer and much farther apart.
