Hey Fitness Overachiever, You May Want to Slow Down
By Donna Stark
My daughter is what many people would call an overachiever. She always has been. Everything she does, from school to sports to volunteering, has been done to excess. We even joke with her about the sports injury she sustained that didn’t require just one knee surgery but instead, required nine. But while it’s certainly OK to be an overachiever, there are moments in life when the busy pace of one should definitely be slowed down.
The Fitness Overachiever
The self-discipline and drive it takes to be a successful overachiever are wonderful traits to have. And when you do have them, and you add fitness to your list of priorities … watch out! Nothing will be able to stop you. And although this can be good, it can also be bad. There is a difference between pushing yourself to the next level and simply being a little too hard-headed. So if you become injured, if your body is abnormally sore, or if you are feeling sick, slow down and be sure to prioritize your overall health and wellness over your specific calorie or mile count for that day.
Use Your Time for Other Things
For the overachiever, the extra time it takes to recover from an injury or illness can feel like a lifetime, but there are some things that will keep the mind and body occupied. So if you can relate and if it drives you crazy to have some downtime, then take a look at a few of these suggestions.
- Try a new form of exercise - Just because you can’t run like a superhero on the treadmill, doesn’t mean you have to stop exercising cold turkey while recovering. Occupy your workout time with yoga, some laps in the pool, or an easy walk.
- Get educated - Have you been meaning to read about the newest exercise or diet trend that is all the rage but haven’t had the time? Are you curious about nutrition and how to incorporate more of it into your week? You’ve been too busy before with all that you do, but now you have some actual downtime, so use it wisely and educate yourself!
- Let food inspire you - It’s hard enough to fit what you already know into your schedule, let alone new recipes, so use this time to hone in your cooking skills. Go ahead and try that cauliflower gnocchi with the $15 flour you just bought or learn to make some fat-free, guilt-free, everything-free cheesecake for dessert!
Achieving Greatness One Healthy Step at a Time
It shouldn’t take too long for you to get back to achieving greatness once again. After all, that’s what you do best, so of course, your recovery will be no different! And by following some of the suggestions above, you may even become great at something new! Imagine that.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Culver City, Calif.