Getting Unstuck.
Sometimes, it requires drastic action. And in my case, a bicycle.
Welcome back to the Weekly Hurdle! Every Friday, I’ll share a blog post, follow it up with a thought-provoking prompt to take you into the weekend, and finish things off with some content picks. Please, tag or DM me on social @hurdlepodcast and @emilyabbate with your thoughts. This newsletter is free and will stay free thanks to sponsors and the individuals that opt-in to give. Consider signing up as a paid subscriber.
This was one of those weeks where I felt like I was staring at my computer for far too long without doing anything. Have you ever been there? Who am I kidding, of course you have. I bet you know it well. It’s like the world is going 1,000 mph and 0 mph simultaneously. You have an obscene to-do list, but nothing is shifting. You feel a sense of urgency, but also extremely stuck. You hope to snap out of the malaise at any given moment, suddenly becoming insanely productive.
… But we all know it doesn’t usually happen like that.
After day two of experiencing minimal wins at my desk, I made the conscious decision to do something about it and step away. On Wednesday morning, I woke up at 5 a.m., lubed up my bike chain, put on a long sleeve jersey and my warmest socks, carried her down the four flights of stairs, and headed out across the George Washington Bridge to ride toward upstate. I’ve adventured that way a handful of times now, always with friends who really know how to change a tire if it pops (I’m working on it, I swear).
With someone else leading the way, I’m granted with the opportunity to stop worrying a little. Zone out a bit. Focus on the task at hand — whether that’s keeping an eye out for potholes are simply getting myself up a steep climb. Perhaps the best part? For the 4-or-so hours that it takes to cover almost 60 miles, my phone isn’t in my right hand or visible on my desk. Which means I’m not worried about:
Alerts.
Emails.
Texts.
DMs.
A lot.
On the ride, I can just be. Reclaim my time. Reclaim my sanity. There’s no judgement. It’s just getting from point A to point B (there are always donuts at point B), and then back to point A.
I got back to my place on Wednesday around noon, and felt good. Really good. Less angry. More confident. More capable. More like … me.
I used to get really frustrated about that scenario, you know? The one where I’m just not getting things done or feeling “stuck.” But I’ve come to realize that when there are things that feel like they are out of my control, there are inevitably going to be other things that are IN it. While I may not be able to immediately solve my brain fog, I can do something that will help me move past any particular hurdle (even if it’s slower than I’d like). Instead of getting down on myself, I can look at my toolbox and ask: “What is possible at this very moment?”
Of course, this concept applies beyond this particular situation. We have the chance to think bigger picture. Whatever you may be struggling with at this particular moment, remember that it’s only one part of your life.
Don’t forget the rest.
Refocus. Take a deep breath. Keep pushing forward.
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PROMPT: What are the important components in a life that you love? Get specific.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
LISTEN: The Tim Ferriss Show: #462: Guy Raz — Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs, The Story of ‘How I Built This,’ Overcoming Anxiety and Depression, and More
This episode really, really resonated with me. When I first got into podcasting, it was via How I Built This. I loved listening to Guy open up on the other side of the microphone from Tim. I never knew about his struggle with depression, and felt really comforted hearing that he’s had his fair share of difficulties as a podcaster, too. Overall, thought the interview was really well done.
EAT: Kaari Foods Dips ($9.29)
A good friend of mine and her sister launched Kaari Foods last year, a plant-based salad dressing, marinade, and sauce company. I’m talking vegan, gluten free, soy free, paleo, with zero preservatives, gums, or additives (AKA, it’s hard to find this type of stuff). They recently released dips, and oh-em-gee — delish! Options: Spicy romesco and lemon tzatziki.
WATCH: Certified Young Person Paul Rudd Wants You to Wear a Mask
This is ridiculous but also great. That’s all. Also, how has Paul Rudd seemingly not aged since Clueless?
BALL OUT: Book the Original House from The Fresh Prince
This is not a drill. Will Smith is getting into the AirBnb game: The real-life Bel-Air mansion from The Fresh Prince will host five separate one-night stays for just $30 a night on Oct. 2, 5, 8, 11, and 14. One tiny catch: The one-night bookings are only open to groups of up to two Los Angeles County residents who currently live in the same house (because, COVID). Starting at 2 p.m. ET on Sept. 29, guests who qualify to stay can request to book the mansion Airbnb.
SEND: Sugarwish ($20)
A few weeks back, I mentioned Piñatagrams. This is a close second gift. Sometimes, you just want to send someone you care about something to let them know that you’re thinking of them. How it works: Pick out how much candy you want to send, and an email goes out. The recipient gets said email with a sweet note, then pick exactly what candies they want (Reeses are my personal go-to), and then that’s it! Candy en route. Perfect when you’re in a gifting pinch.
BUY: Wearables: Garmin Forerunner 735XT ($229), Apple Watch Series 6 (launches today, starting at $429), Garmin Fenix 6 Solar ($769.95), Fitbit Sense ($329.95), WHOOP ($30/month)
One of my most popular DMs: Talk to me about why you wear both a WHOOP and a smart watch, and which smart watch should I buy? I mostly use the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar for running (the 735 up top is a great entry model), the Apple Watch for all other fitness activities and daily wear, and rock my WHOOP 24/7. In my eyes, Garmin and Apple both make really great fitness watches. While Garmin is safer to get a big banged up, Apple’s more sleek for all-around wear. And the WHOOP? It’s made me more accountable with my sleep than any other device I’ve ever worn. Last tidbit — my gift to you: The WHOOP link above gets you an additional $30 off your subscription.
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CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. Other upcoming sessions that I would love for you to be a part of:
Building a Social Media Presence, 9/23 at 7:00 p.m.
Media Strategy for Fitness Professionals, 9/30 at 7:00 p.m.
October Handling #HURDLEMOMENTS Workshop: 10/7 at 7:00 p.m.
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
HURDLE BOOK CLUB
This month, we’re reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle. Book club will be on October 20 at 8 p.m. Register to join, here! First come, first serve, up to 100 attendees!
ALSO! Don’t forget about our One Million Miles for Justice team! This time around, a portion of the race proceeds will support the Children's Defense Fund, a national child advocacy organization that works to uplift all children — especially poor children and children of color.
Click the link above to join team “Hurdlers” (or — make sure to enter the team name at checkout). First time joining in the fun? Use the code “HURDLERS5” for $5 off registration. If you participated previously, use “RETURNPHASE2” for a discount.
Another (weekly) Hurdle conquered. Catch you guys next week.
Disclosure: Some of the items above are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.