As an avid cyclist, I have watched more than my fair share of cycling videos. Along the way, I stumbled upon the NorCal Cycling YouTube Channel. The channel is run by a cyclist who races as part of a team and analyzes videos that people send in. I was watching a video of his and one of his guests said the following line: “slow is smooth and smooth is fast”. The idea of this phrase is that staying at a consistent power output helps cyclists save energy, and consequently to go faster in the long run.
I was accustomed to speeding up and relying on short bursts of energy, so it was an interesting and unexpected concept to stumble upon while watching cycling videos. I had never thought of how much more effective I could be by expending a consistent amount of energy. I tried implementing a constant level of output while I was cycling and, to my surprise, it helped me become a better cyclist!
The phrase also stood out to me because it paralleled my habits outside of cycling. In the past, I would pour all my energy chasing praise. I went at a blistering pace and never stopped to take care of myself because I thought that accolades defined who I was, and I didn’t see any point in taking care of myself since I was not going to receive an award for self-care (I talk more about chasing accomplishments and using accolades to define who I am in my past articles). I decided to also begin incorporating the essence of the phrase into my personal and professional life.
I realized that sprinting through life is not sustainable and it just left me burnt out every few months. I was not using my energy effectively; I focused entirely on my goals, leaving no energy to maintain relationships, enjoy hobbies, or focus on my personal growth. I decided to slow down, spend more time living in the present, and see where each day would lead me.
This does not mean that I have cut back on the activities that I want to do, but rather that I no longer sprint headfirst to finish an objective without enjoying everything else around me. I have grown more patient. Seeing that “slow is smooth, and smooth is fast” worked in cycling helped me to trust that slowing down and using a consistent amount of energy on personal and professional projects would also work better.
As I finish writing this article, I am two days away from ACL reconstruction surgery, a surgery that requires a grueling six to nine months of recovery. I hope to read this again in a week, a month, and in six months, to remind myself not to over-exert myself during the recovery. No matter how much I itch to get back out to the world and go on my next great adventure: slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
