Health Influences Pace
Have you ever faced a health challenge?
I have.
And there is nothing pretty or convenient about it.
Whether the challenge is mental, physical or spiritual, when our health changes, our pace changes too.
A few years ago, I struggled significantly with my health. Tests were carried out, but for a long time there were no clear answers.
What became increasingly difficult to ignore was the accumulated pressure of living a very busy life.
I was a single mum, working full-time, trying to promote my book and navigating challenges at home and work.
I kept going.
Until my body began to tell a different story.
And I know my experience isn't unique.
Across the NHS, 42.4% of staff reported feeling unwell because of work-related stress, while almost a third, 31.47%, said they often or always felt burnt out because of their work. [nhsemployers.org]
For younger adults entering and building their careers, the challenge is just as concerning. 35% of employed 18–24-year-olds reported needing time away from work because of poor mental health or stress. [youngminds.org.uk]
These aren't just statistics.
They represent people whose pace has collided with their capacity.
For me, my health affected everything.
My social life.
My ability to plan.
The quality of time I spent with people I loved.
Even my confidence in myself.
I have also watched people I love face health challenges. Suddenly, priorities shift. Time, energy and resources move in one direction.
That is why Health Influences Pace.
And it takes me back to the first move in my PACE Framework:
P — Pause & Pay Attention
What is changing?
What is your body telling you?
What is your mind telling you?
What has become harder to sustain?
What might need more care?
Sometimes sustainable progress isn't about finding the strength to maintain the same pace.
Sometimes the strength is recognising that your pace needs to change.
Health isn't something we should accommodate after setting our ambitions. It is one of the things that should help shape the rhythm in which we pursue them.
So this week's reflection is:
Is the pace of your life supporting your health, or is your health constantly trying to keep up with your pace?
Your Pace. Your Purpose. Your Presence.
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