Change is good

*"When life gets hard you have to change..." Back when I thought of myself as “just a runner” I would turn down doing so many fun, new activities because I was afraid of getting injured…skiing, snowboarding, even hiking took a back seat for many years. The irony is, not once did I get injured doing any of these other activities. The wear & tear from doing one form of repetitive exercise over & over for years (as so many kids are doing at younger ages now, specializing in one year-round competitive sport) might actually make us more prone to injury than anything else. And this can also be said for the "wear & tear" of unhealthy relationships, jobs, etc.  Our bodies do need to move - but not always in the same ways, with the same motions every single day. Our bodies - & brains - respond best to change. So, unless there are certain limitations...IT IS OK TO CHANGE THINGS UP A BIT. We don't have to be slaves to the gym, or to a certain number of miles per week or even what a fitness coach or personal trainer says. Activating different muscle groups, using different parts of our bodies and our brains, challenging ourselves in unique ways can make such a big difference, not only in our physical health, but also our mental health and overall wellbeing. It can also be a key step in preventing burnout for athletes at every level. So, if you are able to, consider being creative and changing up old patterns and habits. Think about what you truly enjoy...which may not necessarily be completing a certain number of reps at the gym, but instead maybe working outside in your garden. Bring things back to the basics, by thinking about what you used to love to do, without a second thought, every day as a kid...back when things like running, climbing, biking were all second nature. And this can certainly be extended to other areas of our lives as well - work, daily routines, even relationships. When we’re feeling stagnant, burnt out, irritable or even depressed a little change can do a lot of good."

*Shannon Hoon