This past weekend, my partner, their family, and I packed up and headed to Studland in Dorset.

We booked into the Knoll House Hotel — a place that feels like it's been frozen in time, in the best possible way.

The moment we arrived, I understood why we'd chosen it. Calm. Coastal. Full of history. The kind of place where you can actually breathe.

The hotel itself hasn't changed much in decades.

The charm is genuine, worn into the fabric of the place. Winston Churchill stayed there once, and you can almost feel that history walking through the corridors.

It's the opposite of everything modern and rushed. And honestly? That was exactly what we needed.

Even on the weekend, I briefly checked in on work - old habits can be hard to break.

But then I put the phone down. Really put it down. We spent the rest of the weekend walking in nature, sitting by the coast, and doing something I don't do nearly enough: being present with the people I care about.

No agenda. No optimisation. Just time together.

By Sunday evening, I realized something important had shifted in me. I felt lighter. More focused. Better, actually. And that's when it clicked.

Here's what that weekend taught me: sometimes the best way to move forward is to slow down.

We live in a world that's constantly pushing us to go faster, harder, and do more.

More miles, more intensity, more productivity, more, more, more. But what if that's not how progress actually works?

Think about Zone 2 training. It might not feel intense. Your heart rate isn't spiking. You're not gasping for breath.

But you're building aerobic capacity, strengthening your mitochondria, and creating the foundation for real endurance.

It doesn't feel like much, but it's where the magic happens.

The same principle applies to everything else. Work. Life. Recovery.

When you ease off the throttle, you're not losing ground. You're recovering.

You're resetting. You're building the capacity to perform better in the long run.

That's not laziness. That's strategy.

The problem is, most training approaches don't teach you this.

They push intensity without understanding recovery.

They chase progress without building sustainability.

And that's exactly how burnout happens.

So if you're ready for a smarter approach to training - one that works with your body instead of against it - let me tell you about the Cycle Lean Blueprint.

It's built on the principle that real progress comes from understanding when to push and when to ease off. It's the framework that helps you move forward without burning out.

Right now, it's on offer for Black Friday.

Usually $97, but you can grab it for just $39 with the coupon code BLACK1.

Learn more about The Cycle Lean Blueprint here

The offer ends Wednesday, so if this resonates with you, don't wait.

I hope this gives you something to think about.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Neil

Damerell Coaching