Achieving everything we set out to do is not as easy as dreaming about it. We have already seen in previous posts that it takes organized and consistent work. Only then can we materialize the dream day after day in our reality.

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges for those who want to embark on entrepreneurship is how hard it is to separate ourselves from our daily life and work. Having a 9 to 5 job, or being in school is highly demanding itself. But doing it while the idea of becoming the best version of yourself doesn’t get off your mind, requires you to give more and more.

“But how do I do it, if I’m already giving my 100%?”

It’s time to give 120%. And you have full capacity to do so by means of a second wind.

And what is second wind?

The second wind is a term taken from the world of sports. It is that moment when, almost miraculously, the body recovers after reaching a plateau where the exhaustion of a long run, round, or circuit seems to have depleted all energy, returning to the battle with a similar or even greater performance than initially.

Technically speaking, when performing an intense physical activity, the body heats up due to the consumption of oxygen. Therefore, it performs chemical reactions (aerobic catabolism, anaerobic catabolism, and lactic acid production) to generate energy and make the cells work. These processes trigger that feeling of exhaustion and breathing difficulties.

But right after this point, the system adapts and the feeling of agitation is gone: this is where the second wind comes into play.

The above may sound complicated, but it helps us understand how this phenomenon – that we have all experienced at least once – is possible. Going from gasping, walking with slumped shoulders, eyes lost, exhausted, losing liters of sweat, and being as hot as if we were burning from within, to getting that extra boost to keep moving forward. It’s amazing that our bodies have the ability to recover from such great fatigue in the middle of a competition and continue to perform.

We are the ultimate machine there is, we just have to learn how to develop our full potential. And a major component of this machinery and of this renovation of forces is our mind.

The second wind in daily life

Although everyone’s daily life is not made up of situations involving athletic fatigue, we cannot deny the existence of mental and physical exhaustion after daily tasks such as work, school, home, family, and so on.

And just as in a competition quitting is not an option, neither should it be in daily life. No matter how tired we may be after our duties, or that 9 to 5 job that seems to consume every drop of energy in our being, we must always make room for our mission in life.

Yes, the temptation to give up is completely normal. It happens to elite athletes, and it can happen to any of us as well. We are not always with the best disposition or willingness to go ahead. There are many worries and occupations. We all have problems. And it’s okay to have those feelings, recognize them and embrace them. But we should never stop.

How to get a second wind

Speaking from my own experience – working full time and then attending night classes at college – I can say that learning how to get a second wind helped me not to give up on achieving my goals.

Otherwise, I would not have been able to find the energy to graduate, to have this website, to encourage my friends to become the best version of themselves, even to help and inspire people close to me. From here, in my personal opinion, I can advise you the following:

1.    Work to have energy after work

What happens to your life when you leave your job? Do you live a full life, taking care of your desires and wishes?

For those who struggle to put their energy into what they really want in life, I just want you to think about the following: what will happen when your life is over and t you think about those things you regret and are proud of.

Would you like to think that you had a lot more energy to give than you gave, or would you be happy for what you were able to accomplish?

2.    Find something you are really passionate about and pursue it

There is a greater purpose for each and every one of us, and it is our duty to find it and make it a reality. Otherwise, you would not be living, just existing.

3.    Focus on what you want to achieve in life and give 120%

Back then when I was working and studying, I simply realized that the more I began to focus on my purpose and my future, the easier it became to feel energized to be productive for the things I wanted that I couldn’t afford, have, or access. Focus and conviction can do anything.

4.    Energy is more of a mental than a physical attribute

If your excuse for not putting that dream into action is that you don’t have time, energy or there are too many occupations/distractions, look for those motivations within yourself and transform them into constructive energy. If you only had 24-48 hours, weeks, or months to live, wouldn’t you wish you had a second wind to make that masterpiece of your life a reality?

5.    Use your second wind to go forward, not backward.

Last but not least: let things that take your life to the next level motivate you to seek extra energy. Using your second wind to eat junk food or do things that kill your physical and emotional well-being would be a total waste.

And if you’re reading this, I want you to become the best version of yourself. That’s what I’ve been for a long time and that’s what I want for you. I’m Nico Pengin. Always bringing out the best in others.

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