Ever had an injury that completely halted your exercise routine? Last year I did and it shattered my world. I didn’t break a leg, but I did have to stop doing my favorite workout. Let me tell you, it wasn’t fun.
I’ve learned a few things post-injury and I thought I’d share in case it could help. There are three tools I want to share with you and I want you to seriously consider each one as you read through them. While you may have a stronger connection to one tool over another, each tool will help you in your recovery process. And yes, it is a process and sometimes that process takes a long time.
For me, it’s been a long road. I got injured in September, but like the Taurus I am, waited until November to get it checked out. The only reason I even went was because I couldn’t perform a simple task – get a coffee mug out of the cabinet. I’m sure all you reading this that work in the medical field are freaking out because I took so long to get seen by a physician. I’m a nurse’s daughter so 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. I didn’t need surgery (THANK GOD!). Still, I was discouraged. I knew I’d be set back and wouldn’t be able to do the things I normally could do. Things like kickboxing, throw-ins for my soccer team or carrying the laundry basket upstairs. I’d need help and that has always been a struggle for me. That’s why the first tool is MINDSET.
You need your mindset to be in the right space and if it isn’t, you need to get it there. After my diagnosis, I did a lot of soul searching. After feeling discouraged for a bit and having my own personal pity party, I had to get my mind right and know 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 better each week, I’ll be happy”. And although it’s months later, my injury is about 95% healed. I’m almost there. But I wouldn’t be here without the right mindset.
In addition to having the right mindset, I needed to have the right people around me to support me, to help me get better. I had my husband to help me with the chores around the house, I had my soccer team to root me on and take the throw-ins when I couldn’t, I had a friend to calm me down when I was so upset because I couldn’t do things I used to 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 TRIBE.
Think back to our ancestors. They stuck together every season, no matter what happened. Your tribe needs to be people close to you that will support you through thick and thin. These are the people, like my hubby, that will help you when you need it even when they know you won’t ask them. They are the people that will tell you that things are going to be ok, like my friend that constantly encouraged me. And they are also the people that will tell you to buck up when things get tough, like my soccer team. Find your tribe and tell them you’re going to need them. Tell them they need to support you when you need to cry, hold your hand when you need help and kick your butt when you need it.
Ok so you have your mindset and you have your tribe. What’s tool #3? It’s the RESOURCES around you. Things like books, videos, articles and exercises. These types of media can keep your mind busy and keep you motivated to heal. When I first got injured, I kept my nose in my book. I watched Insta Stories by Rachel Hollis, Nicole Walters and others that motivate 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 the resources because it was power to me. I used what I had available to me and it helped.
If you’re experiencing some sort of injury that has knocked you off your game and on your butt, 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. Get your mind right. Find the people that will support you. Put together a list of the resources that will help you. And do the work to heal your body.