What is your cadence of accountability?

When I first started creating posts on LinkedIn, I tried posting 3 times a week. That’s what the LinkedIn gurus advised. The algorithm promotes you and LinkedIn metrics work in your favour when you do that (apparently). So, I tried, and I stopped. I wanted to share my thoughts, but not whilst feeling frustrated and stressed.

A LinkedIn guru that I follow creates his posts 3 months in advance. I was dumbfounded. How can you do that, I thought. How can you line up what you want to say for the next 3 months and 3 times a week at that?!

I decided to post once a week, for starters, to see how I got on with that. I was also told that consistency is key. I kept that as my focus and gave it a shot. Over 1.5 years later I can say that I have not missed a week in my LinkedIn posts. I thought I would increase my cadence when the time was right, but that time has not come yet. I am not chasing vanity ratings or good LinkedIn metrics. So, for the moment, I am sticking to my knitting.

This brings me to the topic of this week, cadence, or rhythm. We all have a cadence for the things we do.

Take mountain biking for example. Maintaining my cadence is key to completing a route. I typically cycle with my husband who is much fitter and stronger than I am. If I kept his pace during a ride, I would only be able to ride a part of the route. I would be exhausted and unable to continue. To avoid this, I keep my pace. It’s the only way that I can complete a route.

We have a cadence in other areas too. Our days follow our circadian rhythm. We have a daily rhythm that follows our internal 24-hour clock. Our sleep-wake cycle. It controls our physiological and behavioural rhythms like sleeping. Some people are night owls whilst others are not (like me). And we plan our day and night activities based on this. What time we have our meals, what time we exercise etc.

Then there are our biorhythms. I used to check my biorhythms quite regularly but have not done so in a while. I checked my biorhythm before writing this article and was not too surprised by the results. You can check yours here.

When you read further, you will find that biorhythm theory is not valid but it’s worth a try, just for a laugh. The biorhythm theory is the pseudoscientific idea that our daily lives are significantly affected by rhythmic cycles with periods of exactly 23, 28, and 33 days, typically a 23-day physical cycle, a 28-day emotional cycle, and a 33-day intellectual cycle. These cycles start from the moment we are born.

And then you have the cycles of the moon. Many cultures’ calendars follow the moon cycle and not the sun cycle (agrarian calendar). And even traditionally agrarian calendar cultures are shifting to moon cycles. There are vineyards in western Europe that harvest their grapes on a full moon. Eastern cultures place varying emphasis on the dos and don’ts for new and full moons, the waning moon and waxing moon respectively. Nature too follows the moon cycle. The tides are higher during full moons.

So, it is safe to assume that we are rhythmic creatures and follow our rhythm to get through our day. By logical extrapolation, if it impacts us, it impacts our outcomes. Agree?

So what?

First, stick with a rhythm that works for you. Like my cycling cadence and LinkedIn trial. I cycle at my pace and posting 3 times a week was just too much for my context.

It comes back to having clarity of what you want to achieve. Be brutally honest and open with yourself. And understand what is important for you. Know your cadence boundaries but also how to gently push it where necessary. For me, I want to increase my LinkedIn cadence to 2 posts a week. My cycling cadence is improving as I get fitter. (But I need to set a goal)!

Also, if you feel your cadence is too rigid and getting in your way, work some flexibility into it. There is nothing worse than your cadence holding you back. Experiment with it. Once you know what cadence works for you, stick with it. You will know when it is time to change your cadence.  

What is your cadence for your context, how are you holding yourself accountable for it and changing it where necessary?

As always, you can reach me at yoga@yoganesadurai.com