There has always been this notion of ego lifting in the gym. Typically from the younger crowd that still feels invincible… Though, it’s present in just about anyone looking to be better, push harder, and not take their foot off the acceleration in their training output.
Which seems admirable and shows a high level of dedication, yes. However, the issue is that a lot of times these traits are accompanied by not seeming to utilize the break in that output. Even when it’s apparent that they need more than 15 minutes in the sauna.

So why am I calling out all these hard workers? Mainly I want to get the point across that regardless of your goals, trying to “one up” your last week’s PR (personal record), every week, is most likely going to end with hitting a wall, and either being forced to rest/recover/rehab, or falling into a prolonged plateau.
And nobody wants either of those…

I want to be clear that it’s good to shoot for PRs and strive for more out of your training. But as you know, adaptation occurs in rest, not in your training. The exercise sparks the process of adaptation with the rule that you need to give it time to do just that. Beating down your nervous system every week by pushing the limits may give you results for a bit, yet will ensure injury, nagging body parts, dips in other functioning areas.

So, what I suggest is that you base your training session off of how you’re feeling physically and even mentally. These are tied regardless of what your favorite “overachiever” influencer says. If you’re running off of four hours of sleep, worked most of the day, now you’re standing in front of the deadlift station, and thinking about how last week you pulled your all-time PR… and there is no way you should pull lighter, because that means you regressed, right?

No. Find a comfortable RPE (rate of perceived exertion) for today, and possibly push a little more volume, or take today as a deload day.

The thing is, even going through the “motions” of your lifts can be powerful. Look at some of the strongest or top athletes in the world… they have days and weeks where they strictly go through movement patterns, they deload everything, or focus completely on recovery.

This training thing, especially within weightlifting, takes time. There is no reason if you’re dragging ass, that today has to be pushing the ceiling. Not every training session needs to be an all-out brawl. This goes for naturals or enhanced.
There are so many examples of people constantly pushing for their PR, week after week, with no periodization of deloads or recovery, and eventually it catches up with them. Yeah, if you’re in competition season, that’s different… but your program should still be utilizing recovery and not maxing out every time you’re training.

Judge your training intensity from day to day. Be realistic. You’ll make it further, stronger, more efficient, and most likely less injured.

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Train smart, but never forget to train hard.