1 Full Year DONE

Just finished a full year of Busy Dad. I started on January 2, and I did not miss a single session. What a great feeling!

I tested in at 102 6C and 56 NS with terrible form. Yesterday, I did 275 6C and this morning I did 120 NS with good form. Ending the year in Level 4 was very, very important to me. It had been 5 months since I last did 120 NS, but I went all out today and got it done. Bottom line? This shit is 90% mental.

Some of the things I learned in 2024 while doing Busy Dad:

• Consistency is key. I credit Busy Dad with lots of the things I've accomplished this year - landing an awesome new job, more positivity / patience / energy for my family, a new sense of possibility in my 40s. Turns out being disciplined in one part of your life somehow also brings discipline to lots of parts of your life. And discipline is the key to accomplishing most things worth achieving.
  
• 6 Counts suck. Some tips: (1) learn not to trust your mind all the time, especially when it tells you to stop, (2) control your breathing early on in each workout or you will definitely gas out early - focus your attention on taking deep breaths even when you don't think you need to yet, and (3) realize that you don't PR once you get to the high levels by going for a PR every time - instead use some of your sessions to try new things out (e.g., intermittent sprinting to get used to higher paces, going unbroken at a steady pace for as many minutes as you can, etc).
• Navy Seals also suck. Some tips: (1) train speed and explosiveness without sacrificing form because that is what gets you to the high levels for this movement, (2) count the 10 steps aloud - this makes Seals easier not harder because it forces you not to hold your breath and therefore prevents you from going anaerobic too soon, and (3) try shaving a second or two off of each rep so that you can earn longer breaks.
  

This was the absolute best thing I've done for my physical and mental health since my children were born ten years ago. If you're on the fence about trying it, go for it. And commit to being consistent as well as to pursuing PRs with integrity and regularity. Your future self will thank you.

In 2025, I'm going to try something new. I love Busy Dad, but I think I'd like to develop some different physical and mental capabilities. But I'm definitely going to bring the same discipline, structure, and mentality I learned from Busy Dad to those other pursuits.

As of today, I've stepped back from serving as a mod. But I want to thank u/EmmanuelHackman for giving me the opportunity to help out around here. I also owe a lot to the other guys in this community who have been consistent and have offered encouragement throughout the year. Shout out especially to u/RebelliousRoomba and u/jellybellypilgrim.

All the best and happy new year, everyone! I'm sure I'll see you around the sub from time to time.