I’ve recently found myself in a bit of a rut.

I’ve missed a few club nights and days, and I’ve been surprised by how much that has played on my mind. Part of me has been worrying about a drop in performance. Will my scores have suffered? Has my technique slipped? Have I started to lose some of those skills that I’d worked hard to build?

There’s also been a bit of annoyance. I set myself the goal of becoming a 1st Class Archer this year, and missing sessions certainly doesn’t feel like the best way of getting there.

But when I actually stopped and thought about it, I realised I was putting far more pressure on myself than I ever intended to.

I took up archery as a hobby. It was supposed to be something I could switch off with, enjoy, and escape into for a few hours. It wasn’t meant to become another thing to measure myself against or another area of life where I felt I had to perform.

So, rather than worrying about what I might have lost, I’m trying to focus on simply getting back out there.
Shoot a few arrows. Find my rhythm again. Enjoy being on the range. And remember why I started in the first place.

The 1st Class Archer goal is still there, but so is the reason I picked up a bow in the first place.

Sometimes, getting back into the swing of things is enough.

Featured image created using AI.