Matt Hogan's Blog

When “Regressing” Is Actually Improving

Published on March 8, 2022

When exercising: dropping weight to improve form isn’t regressing.

When dieting: eating more calories to improve nutrition isn’t regressing.

When learning: slowing reading speed to improve comprehension isn’t regressing.

In a world that’s hyper focused on vanity metrics (e.g. 1RMs, calorie counting, reading x books / year)—doing something in the opposite direction might feel like backsliding.

When in reality, it’s being hyper focused on vanity metrics that’s causing us to backslide.

Don’t get it twisted.

Urgent Victims

Published on March 7, 2022

There’s ALWAYS something that could be placed more urgently above the important tasks of the day.

Which means you could easily NEVER get to the important work.

In fact, this is precisely the case for far too many.

Don’t be a victim of urgent.

Simple (Powerful) Ideas

Published on March 6, 2022

Some simple ideas:

Write in a journal each morning.
Take a 1-mile walk on your lunch breaks.
Read 20 pages from a book every night.

Simple ideas become complicated when we ceaselessly collect and pivot to other (simple) ideas.

What makes simple ideas powerful is our relentless commitment to them.

Even when other shiny, new ideas come into view.

Take a simple idea and take it *seriously.*

Pace, Posture, Breathing…

Published on March 5, 2022

This was my mantra during my second marathon.

It was a constant call of my attention to revisit the fundamentals of what was going to get me across that far and away finish line.

And they’re fundamentals that can help you cross the far and away finish lines in your life, too.

Pace: Resist the urge to run your marathon at your 1-mile pace. When you’re fresh, of course you can run faster. Those who can resist this temptation and can force themselves to run their marathons at their 26.2 mile pace are the ones who will be able to keep running even when they’re no longer fresh. This is the pace you must plan for.

Posture: When you have to repeat around 39,733 consecutive strides, even a slight break in posture or form can cause repetitive use pains/injuries—as is the case in daily life. And not just breaks in physical posture (i.e. hunching your back), but breaks in mental posture, too. On average we have around 12,000 – 60,000 thoughts per day—marathons in their own right. Is your mind chronically “hunched over” or “postured upright?”

Breathing: Erratic, shallow breathing drowns the body in carbon dioxide and forces fatigue. Having a consistent, adequate supply of oxygen is the fuel that allows the muscles to keep working optimally. Set a pace in your life that allows you to stay fresh; that allows you to breathe deeply. Listen to your body.

Reflect: Which area of your long-term goal achievement game could use the biggest improvement? What’s a small, but impactful action you can take that will help you improve in that category? Can you start today?

(Distracted) Experts

Published on March 4, 2022

Surround yourself with people who are growth-minded.

Readers
Creators
Experimenters

Not people who are distraction-oriented.

Haters
Partiers
Netflixers

Being around growth will make you want to grow.

…Even more than being around (distracted) experts in your field.

Those Feelings Though

Published on March 3, 2022

What could possibly feel better than getting that new car?

Or that new phone?

Or those new shoes?

…The answer?

Whatever we decide we’re going to feel better about.

That’s the thing about feelings—they’re signals created by us as a result of what we tell ourselves about the world.

“I’m the type of person who always rocks the latest.” Versus: “I’m the type of person who knows how to rock whatever I have.”

Once we realize that our feelings are a byproduct of the stories we tell ourselves we can begin to move our pens differently—as the author of our story—and better influence the feelings that result.

Done

Published on March 2, 2022

When you’ve done your best
Return to gratitude—
Not your to-do list.

Matt Hogan's Blog Posts