Week 5 log - 2026 - Hagen Growth

After intensity, space

This week marked the end of my exam period. The focus was narrow, the pressure was real, and most of my energy went into getting through it well. With the exam now completed, this log reflects a week of execution – and the need for distance before reflection.

Week 5 metrics

Training
Workouts: 4 | Cycling: 2 hrs

Recovery
Avg sleep: 7:45 hrs | Sleep score: 87

Work
HG work: 10 hrs | Other work: 25 hrs

This log reflects how I’ve worked with the Hagen Growth philosophy in practice over the past week

What I worked on

This week was the second of two exam weeks. The pressure was already present last week while writing the project, but it increased as I moved into preparing for the presentation and final defence.

My timeslot was at the end of the week, which gave me more time to prepare – and more time to sit with the nervousness. Now it’s done. I passed with solid grades, and after giving myself the time I need to relax, I can shift my focus back to Hagen Growth.

What went well

One thing that has always challenged me during exam periods is the pressure I put on myself. I want to do well – not necessarily get perfect grades, but perform above average. In the past, that pressure would escalate quickly, and the final days before my presentation and defence were often marked by high anxiety and poor sleep.

This time, it was different. My sleep was consistently good, and my stress levels stayed lower than I’ve ever experienced during an exam period.

Over the past weeks, I’ve made several changes: deleting social media from my phone, shortening and simplifying my bedtime routine, pushing my bedtime back an hour, and more. I don’t know which change mattered most, but together they’ve clearly made me more resilient to stress.

What could have been better

During the final days of exam preparation, I occasionally drifted into non-essential tasks. I checked analytics, planned ahead, and worked on filler Hagen Growth tasks that could easily have waited until next week.

That drift didn’t just steal time that could have improved my exam output – it also made the days feel longer than they needed to be. It highlighted something I still need to work on: not just building systems, but enforcing them, especially during periods of high stress and mental fatigue.

Reflection of the week – Some weeks require distance before insight

I struggled to write this log. It was hard to describe how I moved through the week, what went well, and what could have been better. Everything felt blurred together, and it took longer than usual to put words to it. Even now, I’m aware that I’ve only touched the surface of what’s there.

That made something clear to me. Some weeks are slow. They leave space to think, reflect, and connect dots as you go. By the time the week ends, there’s enough distance to extract insight almost immediately.

Other weeks don’t allow that. A busy exam period like this one keeps you fully immersed. Attention is constantly pulled forward, and there’s little room to step back. When it ends, the experiences haven’t separated yet – they still sit on top of each other.

Weeks like this don’t ask for immediate insight. They ask for distance. Time to slow down again, let things settle, and only then begin to understand what actually happened.

Week 5 summarized

This week marked the second of two exam weeks. With the exam now completed and passed, I can shift my focus back toward Hagen Growth – after giving myself the rest this period calls for.

Next week’s focus

Next week, my main focus will be recovery. In the past, I’ve returned to full output too quickly after intense periods. To avoid repeating that pattern, I’ll give myself time and space to fully reset before ramping back up.

Relax – Relax and recharge before slowly moving back towards full output
Training – Four gym sessions and four hours on the bike. Maintain high intensity and quality, but adjust if needed.
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