Lessons from 200+ Hours of Monthly Overtime
I once worked over 200 hours of overtime for six consecutive months. One month peaked at 250 hours. I often found myself greeting the morning at the office, taking naps on chairs lined up together.
At the time, I didn't feel it was "hard." I thought it was normal. But looking around, I noticed my colleagues gradually losing their smiles and becoming exhausted. Watching a once-cheerful senior colleague lose their energy deeply affected me, leaving me with a sense of helplessness—"There's nothing I can do."
Discovering Running
I discovered running after picking up a book called "Marathon Junkie." A sudden feeling arose: "Maybe I can become a different person." Without overthinking, I joined an early morning run at Tokyo's Imperial Palace. Luckily, I got to run with the author.
That experience taught me through my body—not "whether I can do it," but "just try it first."
Ultramarathon Completion and "The Power to Rest"
Running gradually led me to attempt an ultramarathon (100km). I finished, but pushed myself so hard that around the 70km mark, my urine turned reddish-brown.
This experience showed me how much strain "overdoing it" puts on the body. I realized the importance of "challenging without overstraining"—progressing at your own pace, little by little.
"No-Time Pochi-ri" (Just Do It)
A phrase I treasure is "No-Time Pochi-ri"—acting on your heart's voice without overthinking, then taking responsibility and planning afterward.
If you feel "staying as I am is a waste" or "I really want to become someone different," try "No-Time Pochi-ri" on whatever interests you.