Last post we focused on defining regression and determining if you are actually experiencing. This time let’s talk about handling regression in all its messiness. Just like with people, not all regression is the same. It is different depending on the person and circumstances. So where do we start? Step one is to measure the regression. Understanding the severity and growth is key in order to create a plan to deal with it.
The two main things you want to check for are rate and consistency. Let’s start with the variable rate. Pretend there are two runners. Everyday they are able to run 10km, no problem. Then regression hits both of them.
| Week | Runner A | Runner B |
| 1 | 10.0 km | 10.0 km |
| 2 | 9.9 km | 7.0 km |
| 3 | 9.8 km | 3.0 km |
| 4 | 9.7 km | 1.0 km |
Looking at the chart above you can see how regression is affecting both runners differently. Runner A has reduced much more slowly than Runner B. Runners A’s plan to deal with regression can be less involved such as changing up diet, buying new new shoes or something simple. When looking at Runner B it is immediately clear that something quite drastic needs to happen to deal with that rate of regression.
Having your capability reduce at a constant rate is pretty uncommon. We are humans not robots. There will be good days and bad days. One of my friend’s grandmother had Alzheimer’s (a disease that reduces a person’s ability to remember). There would be days where remembering names of her son would be difficult. At other times she would get her memory back and it was like she didn’t have the disease at all. Consistency doesn’t always mean day to day differences. I have another friend that deals with RA (Rheumatoid arthritis – a disease that affects joints and reduces a person’s mobility). Sometimes her RA goes into remission and she can go for walks no problem, and this can last for weeks. Other times when her RA flares up she is literally be housebound for days.
Now that we know what we are measuring, how do we go about creating the process measuring. It is a little more straight forward for regression that affects the physical body. Try pretending to be an Olympic athlete. Create challenges for yourself. Challenges like how far can I walk without a break, how far until I can I touch my toes, whatever makes sense to you and your body. Record the result and also the date. For mental regression if you are having trouble with creating your own challenges, there are tons of free apps you can download to help. Another great advantage to using these apps is that they also keep track of your progress as you go along. At the beginning keep your challenges short and daily. This will help to reinforce the habit.
Once you have enough results you can create graphs or charts to help you understand what is going on with you and your regression. Based on these results you can start predicting what will happen next and how to plan for your future.