William James – American professor of philosophy and psychology at Harvard University (1885 & ndash; 1907), who was convinced that most people do not reach their full potential. He explained why this happens and gave advice on how to implement it in everyday life. James believed that people easily quit what they started as soon as they encounter adverse circumstances, i.e. the so-called first level of fatigue. According to the professor, if you develop the habit of overcoming such circumstances, you can improve your life.
Fatigue levels: what makes us quit
Whether we admit it to ourselves or not, it is true that the first level of fatigue often makes us give up. In this context, the concept of fatigue, according to Professor James, can mean various circumstances, for example:
- when playing sports, we feel physically tired after a certain amount of physical activity;
- if we are trying to lose weight, fatigue can mean the psychological discomfort we experience when we limit ourselves to our favorite foods;
- when we work, fatigue can be associated with a lack of creative thoughts, etc.
Why is it so easy for a person to quit what he started? We do this subconsciously, because, when faced with certain difficulties, we are not able to see the obvious consequences of not completing the plan.
However, the desire to quit what you started – only the first step in the struggle to overcome, because every time a psychological or physical discomfort causes you to stop halfway, you form and strengthen the habit of giving up at the first opportunity. And such a habit, of course, prevents you from developing and making your life better.
James suggested a way out of this situation. According to him, if you can overcome the first level of fatigue, you will notice that after reaching a certain critical point, fatigue gradually or instantly disappears, giving way to new forces.
After reaching a certain critical point, fatigue gradually or instantly disappears, giving way to new forces.
The new level of energy that opens up to us after overcoming the first level of fatigue, James called the second wind. Moreover, the professor argued that the second wind – far from the limit of human capabilities, and if you continue to do business further, you will be able to access both the third and fourth energy levels. Sounds amazing, and you must have felt something similar at least once in your life when:
- sat all night at the project and noticed that after a certain time point, drowsiness disappears as if by hand;
- we ran a marathon and after seemingly complete exhaustion felt a surge of strength on a certain stretch of the path.
How to overcome the first level of fatigue and open a second wind
Professor James says we always have enough energy, we just rarely need to use it to the maximum. Look at the picture below: a light red bar indicates the beginning of work, and the darker the bar becomes, the more difficult it is for us to complete it, and the stronger the desire to quit our plan. However, once we cross the dark red bar (fatigue level), we find even more energy in ourselves for the task at hand, as we open up a new breath.
To overcome the first level of fatigue and open a second wind is not as easy as it seems. It takes some effort to do this, for example:
- When working on a complex project, try to neutralize all distractions – leave your phone in another room so you don't mindlessly browse social media and find a solution faster.
- Try not to complain at all, as this is – the first step towards the failure of the task. In a moment of weakness, you can come up with a hundred excuses why it is necessary to postpone the matter until better times, so do not complain about difficulties, but overcome them.
- Find any, not necessarily correct, solution to an existing problem. It can be erroneous or intermediate – it doesn’t matter, the main thing is that in this way you set yourself up for further work, lay the foundation for further reflection and effort.
How to form the habit of overcoming levels of fatigue
It's nice to realize that a person has a huge potential, an energy reserve that he can use at the right time. But can it be completely used up? How to understand that you have reached a critical point, the last level of fatigue that you can no longer overcome?
As we overcome obstacles, we do not waste our potential, but learn to quickly adapt to such behavior and form a new useful habit over time.
James himself believed that only a few use their potential to the maximum, however, even these people face difficulties in trying to overcome this or that level of fatigue.
The body adapts to any load – both physical and psychological. It turns out that as we overcome obstacles, we do not waste our potential, but learn to quickly adapt to such behavior and eventually form a new useful habit.
It is human nature to strive for harmony and balance, to maintain stability, including in behavior, day by day. Therefore, if you learn to cope with discomfort today, it will be easier for you to do it tomorrow, and over time you will simply not pay much attention to the difficulties that prevent you from overcoming fatigue and achieving maximum productivity in any business.
Read also: Motivation – productivity driving force
Remember that it is you who controls your energy and ability to deal with the circumstances that prevent you from improving your life. Do not be afraid to face difficulties, because this cannot be avoided. Learn how to properly use your energy and willpower to overcome any level of fatigue and follow your goal despite temporary discomfort.
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