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the crap gap moment & what it means for your brand
Published 16 days ago • 5 min read
ISSUE #114
The crap gap.
It’s what I think of as the middle of the climb, and it's a moment I tend to forget about very conveniently every time I plan a new hike.
It’s the moment when the initial excitement of the hike has worn off, and with each grueling uphill step, I think to myself, “What the hell were you thinking?” and dare not complain because—this was my idea, after all.
And I’ve never experienced a “crap gap” quite as ruthlessly as I did back in June.
The moment when something you were excited about is no longer fun, kinda sucks, and you are questioning how the hell you got yourself here (on your own will, I might add).
Maybe you’ve been there?
And after climbing some of the hardest peaks in the Adirondacks, Scaling five peaks in Shenandoah National Park, and 13 miles in the grand canyon (all of which had their very own crap gap moments where I questioned my sanity and just how I got here), somebody (me again) got the idea to tackle one of the hardest hikes - if not THE hardest hike on the East Coast to celebrate our 8th anniversary - how romantic 😂.
almost out of the thick of it - but still questioning my life choices
my entire mental state changed once we got above the treeline and could see how far we'd come
Knowing we needed to be prepared, I did a decent amount of research leading up to our trip to Maine. We carb-loaded the night before, and I had every map downloaded—I could not have been more prepared (in fact, I could have been less prepared, and my pack was way too heavy).
We were a little less than halfway up the mountain when the crap gap started to set in.
It was humid, and my stomach had been off all week. I couldn’t eat a thing for breakfast, and I was struggling to keep up (it was also late luteal, so not ideal).
We were not making great time (something I was acutely aware of because I track all of our hikes and know our average mph). The mental game was starting to set in, and I almost lost—that is until we got above the treeline.
In that moment, everything changed.
Although the hike itself got way harder and more technical, I felt better, stronger, and excited again.
So what changed exactly? I had perspective.
It was easy to feel like I wouldn’t make it out when I was in the thick of it. But I felt better once I could see how far I’d come.
The funny part is, I couldn’t even see the top yet; it was just being able to see what I had accomplished that made the difference.
So when it comes to your brand and business - how can you give yourself the perspective you need to get out of the crap gap and make it to the top of your goal?
Keep Reading For...
💩 4 ways to get you out of the crap gap
🪄 Ideas to help you hit the energetic reset button on your brand & biz
📝 Free resources to help you get perspective on your brand & biz.
it's time we shake off this "crap gap feeling" and get back to having some fun
5 ways to get you out of the crap gap
The problem with the “crap gap” moment is it is a precursor to full-blown burnout. It can signal a “roll with the punches” kind of season that you would rather not be in.
So here are five ways you can get yourself back in alignment with your brand - because Reader we both know that running a business is easier + more enjoyable when you are actually feeling motivated and inspired.
01. Know when you need to take a break
When you are in the middle of climbing a mountain and questioning your own sanity, there's nothing like some electrolytes, trail mix, and a 5-minute rock sit to make you feel like a human again. Take the time you need to take a break—maybe that’s an extra day off or an extra slow Monday morning to watch your favorite new show (mine is The Handmaiden's Tale).
*Remember—you get to set the pace, and maybe what you really need is to slow down.
02. take back your time
And not in a wakeup at 5 am and time block your day way (although I think there can be a time and place for that). But more literally in the sense that if you have found yourself in said crap gap business-wise, it’s because you haven’t been intentional about setting time aside for your brand, developing your offer - climbing your mountain, so to say.
Even if you block out a non-negotiable 2 hours a week, you have to create the time to keep climbing.
03.get creative with how you spend your time off the clock
Feeling creatively inspired is hard when most of your time is spent staring at a laptop screen. As entrepreneurs and creators - I think we are somewhat hard-wired to think about our “work” all of the time - we’re so passionate about it (which isn’t necessarily bad). But it can be an exhausting thing.
When I need to feel more creative on the clock, I need to be more intentional with my time off the clock, whether starting a new crochet project, working in the garden, or going shopping.
The crap gap moment is a great reminder to give your brain a break and let it think about something else for a little while.
04. find a tree or count to 100
When I’m in the crap gap moment on a hike - and there’s a nagging voice in my head saying (let’s turn around) I do one of two things. I either pick a tree (or sometimes a rock) up ahead - and tell myself when I get there; I can take a break if I want. Or I start counting my steps and quickly pause every time I get to 100. You have to figure out strategies to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Figure out where you stand, update your to-do list for the week - and make a plan for what you will tackle each day - then, all that’s left is to put one foot in front of the other.
And if all else fails - maybe it’s time to take a day to hit the energetic reset button on your brand and biz.
here’s some ideas to get you started:
Deep clean + organize your desk/workspace/computer
Evaluate everything on your to-do list for the next month and find at least 5 things you can delete or postpone until then.
If you can - hire someone to take something off your plate or help give you the clarity you need to take those next steps
And most importantly, you’ve gotta find your own perspective
Whether creating a done list at the end of the day to celebrate your wins or taking time to reflect on the last month or quarter (scroll for free templates/prompts).
FROM THE ARCHIVE
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Share your thoughts, feedback, or even suggestions for future topics. I value your input and can't wait to hear from you. Please email me at catie@cedarjunestudio.com, and let's keep the conversation going!
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