Through triathlon, I learned the importance of relaxing your effort.
In swimming, biking, and running—no matter the discipline—if you tense up or push too hard unnecessarily, you quickly get exhausted and lose the stamina needed to go the distance. On the other hand, if you can skillfully release unnecessary tension, you can save your strength and unleash it when it really counts.
This isn’t just about physical endurance; it’s a technique—a way of using your energy. As this technique improves through training, you waste less effort, stay relaxed, and perform more efficiently.
In fact, I think the same applies to life.
Take work, for example. If you’re always giving 100%, working late every night, checking email even on days off… one day your mind and body just stop. I’ve experienced this myself. “Always doing your best” becomes the norm, and before you know it, you’re at your limit. And when an important opportunity finally comes, you no longer have the strength to seize it.
But if you rest well on a regular basis and keep some breathing room in your life, you’re able to focus and bring out your best when you truly need to—during a presentation, an important negotiation, or any key moment.
The same goes for family and friends. If you’re always on edge, you’ll get tired. But if you interact with people naturally and without forcing yourself, you can build good relationships comfortably.
So the “technique of relaxing” I learned through triathlon has become an important hint for living life more easily and more flexibly.
Don’t overwork yourself; relax when it’s time to relax.
Prepare yourself so you can give your all when it really matters.
I think that’s the trick to keeping both triathlon and life going over the long run.