If you'd asked me a year ago to name two things I'd never do, I would have told you write a book and have a baby.

We all have high demands in our lives as high performers, but at least 4 times a year, more is required in the moment. This can range from a big project at work, a campaign, or a parenting event. Our cognitive load is consumed by these moments, and we make room for it by putting our health and well-being on the back burner. Next thing you know, you’re on the verge of a breakdown.

This is entirely avoidable.

With more than 15 years of experience working with elite athletes, executives, and military personnel, I applied those tools and skills to this high-intensity period of writing my book, For The Long Run.

In this episode I share

The story behind writing For the Long Run
Why I initially said no to writing a book
How becoming a parent shaped the message I wanted to share
Why rhythm matters more than balance during busy seasons
The framework behind my Daily Operating System
The five rhythms that underpin sustainable high performance
How I wrote a book while raising a one year old
The recovery strategies that helped me maintain focus and energy
Why working in performance pulses improved my cognitive output
The importance of brain breaks during intense work periods
Why sustainable performance sometimes includes short, intentional sprints
How to recognise when it's time to deload and recover
Why preparation is often years in the making
The power of asking for opportunities

Key Quotes

“You can achieve a lot more than you think when you get your rhythms right.”

“Sometimes sustainable high performance includes short periods of intentional intensity.”

“The goal isn't to avoid busy seasons. It's to move through them well.”

Timestamps

(00:00) Why I never thought I'd write a book

(02:38) Why I initially said no to publishing

(04:45) Becoming a mum changed my message

(07:08) How For the Long Run came together

(09:31) The Daily Operating System explained

(11:51) Why I chose rhythm over routines

(13:52) Agreeing to an impossible deadline

(16:27) Writing the manuscript in intense performance blocks

(18:44) The recovery strategies that kept me performing

(21:11) Why rhythm matters more than balance

(23:08) Four weeks versus four years

(25:35) Learning to ask for opportunities

(27:24) How to navigate your own busiest seasons

(29:40) The launch of For the Long Run

📖 PRE-ORDER For the Long Run by Jess Spendlove 👉https://amzn.to/4t33BPh

Take the High-Performance Profile Quiz https://jessicaspendlove.com/quiz/

Stay At The Top

🟩 Speaker Inquiries jessicaspendlove.com/speaking/

🟩 Follow Jess on IG https://shorturl.at/s7egp

🟩 Follow Jess on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaspendlove/

📩 Jess@JessicaSpendlove.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.