If we readily do stress + recovery patterns in our physical training, why do we often forget or dismiss recovery for other stress in our lives?
Typical Stress + Recovery Pattern
How do you strengthen your triceps? You do exercises with heavier and heavier weights to put stress on the muscles. But you don’t hold the stress for long periods of time. You also take rests between sets and between workouts. You let the muscles recover.
So if this pattern of stress and recovery is commonly understood, then why do we forget or dismiss recovery time from so many other stresses in our lives?
Not Allowing Myself to Recover?
I was reminded of this recently as I casually kicked back to watch some television. I chose, however, to watch “The Handmaid’s Tale.” It’s a great show, but it made me cringe and hold my breath, and it got my mind spinning about all of the issues it raised. If I wanted to get booted up for something, it would have been great! But I already had more than enough stress that day, and the show wasn’t allowing for recovery. And worse, it was impacting the quality of my sleep.
Once I realized that I wasn’t helping myself, I made a couple of choices – not to watch that show before bed, or on heavy stress days. Instead, I could watch “Schitt’s Creek” which makes me smile, breathe easy, and more directly recover.
Exercise
Here’s an exercise to strengthen your recovery muscle:
- Spend a few moments today, jotting down some ways that work for you as recovery options.
- Holding your favourite yoga pose
- Sipping tea in your favourite chair
- Going for a walk
- Calling a friend
- Eating lunch anywhere but your desk
- Listening to music
- Every day this week, commit at least five minutes to intentionally RECOVER.
- Refer to your list if you need to
- If your shoulders settle down that’s a good sign
- After the five minutes, just notice how you feel.
- At the end of the week, notice anything new or surprising about your stress and recovery patterns.
