UPDATED 03/10/2025
Getting back to “real life” is hard post-injury. Especially if you want your exercise routine back. Last year I had an injury that shattered my world. While I didn’t break a leg, I did have to stop doing my favorite workout. It wasn’t fun.
But I did learn a few things and I thought I’d share them to help you with your mindset post-injury. I found three tools that worked for me and I want you to seriously consider each one as you read through them. You may have a stronger connection to one tool over another, but each tool will help you in your recovery process. And yes, it is a process, Sometimes that process takes a long time so have patience.
And I’m not good with patience. My post-injury was a long one. And like the Taurus I am, procrastinanted with getting it checked. The only reason I even went was because I couldn’t perform a simple task – get a coffee mug out of the cabinet.
If you’re in the medical field, you probably shaking your head right now. For context, though, I am a nurse’s daughter. I grew up with the mentality that if I wasn’t bleeding or had a limb hanging off, I was fine. None the less, after being seen I realized my injury was bad, but not that bad. Thankfully, I didn’t need surgery. But I was still discouraged. I had a set back and wouldn’t be able to do the things I normally could do for a bit. Things like kickboxing, throw-ins for my soccer team, or carrying the laundry basket upstairs. It meant I had to let someone help me. That’s where the first tool comes into play.
Post-Injury Tools
# 1: Mindset
You need your mindset to be right and if it isn’t, you need to get it there. After my diagnosis, I did a lot of soul searching. I felt discouraged for a bit and had my own personal pity party. Then, I had to tell myself that I’d be fine, in time. I started journaling and listened to my physical therapist like her word was Bible. My mindset changed from “Oh, this recovery is going to take forever” to “As long as I get a little bit better each week, I’ll be happy”. Months later, my injury was about 95% healed. But I wouldn’t have gotten there without the right mindset.
# 2: Community
In addition to having the right mindset, I needed to have the right people around me post-injury . I was going to need support to help me get better. My husband was there to help me with the chores around the house, my soccer team was there to root me on and take the throw-ins when I couldn’t, and I had a coach to help me find a new workout that kept me going. That’s why the second tool I want you to find is a community that will be right by your side.
Think back to our ancestors. They stuck together every season, no matter what happened. Your community needs to be people close to you that will support you through thick and thin. The people that should be in your community will be the people that will give you help, even when you won’t ask for it. They are the people that will help you keep your mindset right. And they are people that will tell you to buck up when things get tough. Find your people and tell them you’re going to need them to support you.
# 3: Resources
Now that you have your mindset and your community, you need one more thing. At the very least. And that is resources. Things like books, videos, articles, and exercises. You need materials that will keep your mind busy and help you stay motivated to heal. When I first got injured, I kept my nose in my book. I gravitated to people on Instagram that motivated me to be better. And I read articles about my injury to learn what my body was going through, how it would heal, and what I needed to do to get there. I dove into these resources because they empowered me to make positive changes in my post-injury life. Your resources can come from anywhere so keep your eyes peeled and ears open for what may come your way.
Yes, there are other tools that will help you on your journey, but these were better than any of the traditional medicine I could have received. If you’ve had some sort of injury that has knocked you off your game, don’t get down because that’s what the injury wants. Instead, hold your head up high and be proud that you’re still here. Now it’s time to do the work to heal your body.
