Fartlek: Variability Training for Calm of Mind

In the 1930s, Swedish Olympian Gösta Holmér introduced a training method called fartlek, which translates to "speed play." It's an effective workout style with a fun name to boot! This speed play is when we mix periods of faster movement with slower recovery intervals.

Think: jog, then sprint, then jog again. But make it spontaneous. Less structure means more fun. We decide when to speed up, how long to hold it, and when to cruise. Although fartlek is rooted in running, the concept can be applied to any activity, including life itself.

Fartlek as a Lifestyle

Life isn’t meant to be a full-on sprint. Just like in training, we have periods of high intensity and moments of steady flow. Embracing a fartlek mindset means recognizing that we can pick up the pace when needed, but we always have a calm, steady rhythm to return to.

We aren’t machines built for nonstop output. Our natural design supports a blend of motion and pause, speed and stillness. And the beauty? We get to choose.

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As the philosophical thinker Alan Watts playfully explains:

"Paradoxical as it may seem, the purposeful life has no content, no point... Not hurrying, the purposeless life misses nothing."

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Effort and Ease

Some days, we cruise. Others, we push. And sometimes, we need to hit pause entirely.

Monitoring our personal fartleks helps us stay in sync with our mental and physical energy. We learn when to ease off, when to lean in, and how to flow between the two with grace.

When our inner tempo starts speeding up, we can check in: Is the energy burst sustainable? Do I need to dial it back? Is there a change in our calm of mind? It’s not about resisting the speed; it’s about recognizing when it serves and when it barely leaves us leftovers. Do we need to

Calm of Mind in Every Step

In a world that’s constantly sprinting, choosing our pace is an act of rebellion. It’s also a radical act of self-care. By embracing fartlek-style living, we create space for the full range of human experience: the peaks, the plateaus, and the pauses.

Eventually, with practice, even the transitions feel smooth. Our effort becomes effortless. Our energy flows, and we move forward with intention and ease. This is not a race; there is no hanging medal awaiting our arrival; we are simply living.

We breathe in, notice the flowers, smile at the trees, and then exhale to embrace the sky. We trot, waddle, and wander along our own path. Each step is the path.

No finish line needed.

Cheers!

Kether

Spunky Mind

"We have more possibilities available

in each moment than we realize."

Thich Nhat Hanh