You know that feeling you get when you set out on a project—you come out of a meeting energized with clear goals and a roadmap to success? I love that feeling. You’re off and running, jumping hurdles, pushing through challenges, and reaching milestones. Then you get to the finish line only to discover the race has been extended and expectations are higher. It happens all the time doesn’t it? The finish line continuously moves. You never feel like you’re “done.”
The truth is, we’re never done. There’s so much upside, potential and pressure. Competition is super fierce. The market is moving so fast. And even though we’re accomplishing our goals and reaching our milestones, it can feel like we’re never doing enough. It can be frustrating and exhausting. Believe me, I know.
But here’s what I’ve learned: You need to consciously recognize when the thing you set out to do has been accomplished. That is why clear goals and markers are so important. You have to take time to celebrate those milestones and reward yourself for your achievements. Ideally, your manager and co-workers will recognize them too. But sometimes they don’t, because they’re in an endless race of their own!
I look at it this way—life is a marathon, not a sprint. And the marathon is made up of a series of milestones. So, celebrate when you reach a milestone! Take yourself to the spa, or treat your family or friends a fancy dinner. That’s what I do. I find it gives me back the energy I need for the next leg of the race, which can appear even harder than the previous one. But when you celebrate your accomplishments, you recognize that you’ve done this before and you can do it again.
