When More Isn’t Better

The Building Momentum Podcast | Episode 5

Hosted by Devon McGregor

How do you know when another effort will help, and when you’re adding it because stopping feels uncomfortable?

In this episode, Devon McGregor explores the judgment between pushing and pausing, in training, at work and in everyday life. Beginning with a familiar evening at an open laptop, he asks what our effort is actually making possible. Exhaustion can feel like proof of commitment, but it doesn’t tell us whether we’re becoming more capable of living the life we want.

Drawing on his coaching perspective and written advice from Dr. Greg Wells, Devon considers recovery, the guilt that can accompany rest, and the expectations that shape our days. He also makes room for the realities of caregiving, shift work and workloads that an evening routine cannot solve. The invitation is to notice one decision, understand its purpose and choose a useful next step without judging your character.

In this episode

• Looking beyond exhaustion to the ability you want to build
• Considering recovery alongside training and other demands
• Making room for rest without turning it into another assignment
• Recognising when practical support or changed expectations are needed
• Leaving yourself a clear next step when you decide to pause

A question to take with you

Before adding one more thing, finish this sentence: “What I hope this will help me do is…”

What does building momentum mean to you? Share your thoughts or questions at devon@devonmcgregor.com.

Sources and further reading

Training demands and recovery

Kellmann M et al. Recovery and Performance in Sport: Consensus Statement. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 2018;13(2):240–245.

This expert consensus examines the balance between training, other life demands and recovery in athletes. It supports an individual approach to recovery, rather than a single rule for when everyone should push or pause.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29345524/

Gradual activity and muscle recovery

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Staying Active at Any Size.

This public-health guide recommends starting gradually, matching activity to your circumstances and allowing muscles time to recover between strengthening sessions. It complements the discussion of useful progression; it does not suggest that doing less is always better.

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/staying-active-at-any-size

Persistent or unexplained tiredness

NHS. Tiredness and fatigue.

This guidance advises seeking medical assessment when tiredness has lasted a few weeks without a clear explanation, affects daily life or comes with other symptoms. It also offers practical guidance on winding down before sleep. Persistent exhaustion should not be treated simply as a lack of discipline.

https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/tiredness-and-fatigue/

Dr. Greg Wells’ contribution

Wells’ sleep-first sequence and practical suggestions come from his written answers to Devon’s questions. They are presented as his advice, not as a universal scientific ranking. Devon’s reflections and illustrative scenarios offer a coaching perspective alongside the sources above.

This episode offers general education and coaching perspectives, not individual medical advice. Persistent or unexplained exhaustion deserves a conversation with a qualified health professional.

Creating the conditions that give healing room to happen.

What does it mean to create a healing environment?

In this episode of The Building Momentum Podcast, I reflect on my responsibility as a coach to create an environment that supports the person in front of me. A conversation becomes the starting point for considering how we make room for healing, and what that asks of us when we’re helping someone move forward.

What does building momentum mean to you?

Share your thoughts or questions at devon@devonmcgregor.com.

What do you actually want to get fit for? In this episode, I look at how to connect exercise with the activities, ambitions and everyday experiences that matter to you. Appearance and competition can be part of that, alongside enjoyment, access and the practical limits of a real week. I’ll leave you with one question to help make your goal clearer: what would you like to be able to say yes to?

With so much advice about fitness and well-being, how do you decide what deserves your attention? Join Devon McGregor for conversations about movement, performance, and taking care of ourselves—questioning familiar advice, exploring research, and bringing it back to everyday life. Bring your questions, curiosity, and experience. What does building momentum mean to you?