The Art of Pacing: A Guide to Balancing Short-Term Demands with Long-Term Thriving

A guide to long-term pacing that balances hustle and leisure, whether you're chasing bold dreams or just trying to stay afloat in daily life, inspired by the strategies of elite athletes and renowned psychologists.

Every distance runner knows this cardinal rule: don't go too fast, or you'll drain your energy well before the finish line. Intuitive for athletes, most of us struggle to pace ourselves in daily life. We find ourselves caught between two extremes: an endless sprint, or complete disengagement. Yet, cultivating this pacing sensibility can give us the breathing room we need to create a rich, meaningful life, all while making meaningful progress on our goals.

In The Art of Pacing, science writer Elizabeth Svoboda explores how shifting between the full range of paces can transform the way you reach your goals. Blending memoir, cutting-edge research, and interviews with Olympic athletes and entrepreneurs, Svoboda artfully uncovers the nuances of pacing and provides techniques to adjust your tempo across life's challenges, so you can effectively balance ambition with rest. You'll learn:

- How to determine your natural "pulse points" so you can reserve your most important work for your circadian high points and build in plenty of restorative rest.

- Why practicing modulation lays important groundwork for designing a life that nourishes you.

- What brief candle moments are, and how you can use them in your life to build in strategic, meaningful pauses.

- How narrative reflection reveals what gives you a sense of purpose, so you can pare excess from your life and make space for what matters.

Written with the perfect mix of soul and science, The Art of Pacing offers a refreshing alternative to all-or-nothing living--and reveals the path toward lasting success.

Author: Elizabeth Svoboda
Publisher: Simon Element / Simon Acumen
Published: 06/16/2026
Pages: 240
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 9.10h x 5.90w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9781668022412

About the Author
Elizabeth Svoboda is an award-winning science writer and contributor to Scientific American, Discover, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and other publications. Elizabeth is a winner of the Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for Young Science Writers, and her work has been anthologized in the Best American Science and Nature Writing series. She lives in San Jose, California, with her husband and young sons.