Listening to a podcast recently, I heard the phrase, ‘It’s easier to keep up than catch up’, shared as a simple truth.

I realised it was true in many ways and thought about how this applies to our lives. For most of us, keeping up will be far easier than catching up in many aspects of our lives. In fact, our day-to-day lives are generally geared around keeping up. Keeping up rather than catching up is one of the key reasons we create habits, systems, and routines—all of which assist us with streamlining our everyday lives.

But before I discuss the benefits of keeping up, I’d like to share a story about what can happen when we don’t.

Risks of not keeping up

When working with a client recently, she shared that self-care was something utterly foreign to her. I explained that self-care does not mean massages and spa treatments (although it can!). Instead, self-care means looking after your own needs so that you can be the person you need to be.

This could include setting aside time for relaxation, engaging in hobbies, or practising mindfulness. The person you need to be includes all the roles you perform: partner, leader, parent, employee, friend, child, sibling, and so on.

In this context, self-care is showing ourselves the same kindness, compassion and generosity we show others.

My client bravely admitted that she had never given herself the priority she deserved, neglecting her well-being and needs throughout her whole life. She always placed the needs of others before her own, a struggle that many of us, especially women and mothers, can relate to.

Does this sound familiar to you, too?

Regular self-care is better than waiting until you're overwhelmed

As women, especially mothers, this may be quite common, and you might nod in agreement with my client. Yet, being a martyr does not help us be the best parents or people we can be.

As a result of not keeping up with her self-care, my client was feeling rundown and exhausted.

She was empty. Nothing was left to give, and she was overwhelmed by the most minor request. Yet, of course, because she is a heart-centred, caring, and wonderful person, she would continue to give more to others while neglecting her own needs.

The consequences were not good. She was feeling overwhelmed and worn out. Stress and anxiety were taking their toll on her health, and she was no longer turning up as the wife, mother and daughter she wanted to be.

My client had let her self-care deteriorate to a non-existent level. She had no time or energy left to care for herself, and as a result, her health, relationships, and work were suffering. Thus, she had to play catch-up.

Filling your tank from empty is much more challenging than topping up the tank as you go.

Keeping up is better than trying to catch up

None of us want to find ourselves in a situation where our health is compromised due to our failure to keep up with essential self-care practices. It's crucial to prioritise our well-being and stay on top of what we know is necessary for our health and happiness.

This is why it is so important to keep up with the essential routines that support us to be well, such as self-care, rather than trying to play catch-up. Regular self-care can improve your physical and mental health, boost your energy levels, and enhance your overall well-being. It's not just a luxury but a necessity for maintaining a balanced and fulfilling life.

Keep up, not catch up - other examples.

Research indicates that implementing preventive maintenance in factories is more effective in maintaining continuous production than operating machines until they require repairs.

This idea can also be applied to our personal lives. In essence, having a regular routine or system is often easier than waiting until we desperately need to do something, whether at work, at home, or in our personal relationships.

It's more convenient to keep up with regular car maintenance than to deal with a breakdown.
Keeping up with household chores is more manageable than spending a whole day cleaning when the mess becomes unbearable.
Similarly, keeping up with your children's school activities is easier (and more achievable!) than catching up on missed activities or events.
Routine visits to the dentist are less expensive and less painful than waiting until you need major emergency surgery.
Taking breaks from work can help prevent burnout.

Below are further examples of where keeping up is preferable to catching up.

Goals (professional or personal)

Small progress towards our goals is more sustainable than one big push

Working a little bit each week towards our goals can make the process more manageable. By breaking down our overarching goal into smaller, actionable tasks, we are more likely to complete these tasks and make significant progress over time.

Alternatively, if we leave our actions to the last minute and realise we have not made the necessary efforts to achieve our goal, we can experience immense stress. We then rush through tasks, which is detrimental to our well-being. I know as an author, keeping up with my daily writing word count goal feels more achievable than trying to catch up if I miss a few days.

Therefore, it's important to consistently work on our goals to maintain a healthy balance and reduce stress levels.

Exercise

We all know the immediate benefits of regular, daily exercise—we feel good, and our mood improves! But regular, daily exercise not only benefits our physical and mental well-being but also sets the foundation for a healthier, more vibrant future and enhanced longevity. By keeping up with our exercise routines, we reduce stress, lower the risk of chronic disease AND invest in our future selves, ensuring we have the energy and vitality to continue caring for others.

Career

Similarly, consistent, predictable, and regular good performance in our careers far outweighs a last-ditch effort. In my experience as an HR professional, I have found that consistent and reliable performance is highly valued in the workplace. Employees who consistently demonstrate strong performance over time are often the ones who are recognised and rewarded for their efforts. This is because consistent performance contributes to the overall success of the team and the organisation and demonstrates a strong work ethic and a commitment to excellence. Thus, our career, specifically our work, is another area where keeping up is better than trying to catch up.

Consistent Performance is better than trying to catch up later

Furthermore, when it comes to our career, there's a distinct contrast between keeping up and catching up. Keeping up involves staying current with industry trends, continuously developing skills, leaning into our strengths and seeking out opportunities for advancement. It's about maintaining momentum and proactively shaping one's professional trajectory.

On the other hand, catching up after a career break often involves reacquainting oneself with industry developments, identifying our strengths, updating skills, and potentially reestablishing professional networks. It’s perfectly achievable, but regaining momentum and repositioning oneself within the professional landscape can require different strategies and support systems. Both scenarios present unique challenges and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Friendships

Regular socialising with friends supports greater connection

Finally, we all know the benefits of regular catch-ups with friends. While some friendships stand the test of time, including infrequent contact, most of us feel more connected with regular contact with our friends. Scientific research supports this, too—regular contact with those we care about and love has been proven as one of the keys to happiness, longevity, and lasting well-being. These catch-ups provide an opportunity to share experiences, seek advice, offer support, and enjoy each other's company. They offer a sense of belonging and create cherished memories that contribute to our overall understanding of fulfilment and joy. Regular catch-ups with friends promote better mental health, decrease stress, and provide a robust support system during challenging times. Maintaining close connections with friends through regular catch-ups enriches our lives in countless ways.

So, I find myself musing about how often in life, keeping up is a better option than catching up.

It’s evident that keeping up with various aspects of our lives, whether self-care, personal, professional, medical or household maintenance or pursuing our goals, is essential for our overall well-being. By establishing routines, implementing preventive measures, and consistently working towards our objectives, we can minimise stress, maintain balance, and pave the way for a healthier and more fulfilling life. In all cases, embracing the philosophy of "keep up, not catch up" empowers us to prioritise our needs, invest in our future, and ultimately lead more harmonious and rewarding lives.

This a valuable reminder of a key life lesson: keeping up is indeed better than catching up.

Support

If you find keeping up hard and often feel like you are trying to catch up, I’d love to help. As a Certified Career and Life Coach, I can provide you with the tools and strategies to manage your time effectively, set realistic goals, and prioritise your self-care. One of the benefits of working with me is having someone hold you accountable for doing the things you deeply desire to do, so you are keeping up and getting ahead and no longer catching up.

Book your complimentary consultation today to learn more.

Book your Complimentary Consult today