Opportunities are Knocking
While continuations of protectionary Stay-At-Home measures are still shaping our day to day lives, we hope everyone is staying safe and abiding by their respective government's rules. While our thoughts are with those who have been and will be affected by this virus, we are hoping to spread a little motivation for those of us who need it. What follows below is the experience of our very own USA Brand Manager, Ken...
In a recent email communication with my coach, we began talking about how with the cancelation of races and events he's been seeing athletes, left and right, scrambling for goals to aim for. As I'd been listening to the news a lot prior to our conversation (so not in the brightest of head-spaces), we discussed a mental reframing exercise that helped me, and thus I'm hoping it helps you.
At no other time in our history have we had such an opportunity to improve the utilization of the one thing we all complain about and wish we could manufacture. TIME. I’m just as guilty as anyone is saying, “I don’t have time,” “I need to make time,” “I wish I had a little more time.” Now, though, most of us have more flexibility in how we utilize each block of 24hrs. In fact, a recent study has shown that since Stay-At-Home measures have been enacted, the avg person is spending an additional 3 hours a day working. Though I have fallen in that bucket, I am a firm believer that we should not ignore this opportunity to make changes you have always wanted to make.
1. Build a good sleep routine and give yourself the opportunity to get more sleep. Every facet of your life will benefit from this
2. Take time to observe your diet, improve your cooking skills, and eat more vegetables. Although I still keep a stash of my favorite snacks close, I try and balance them out with more greens
3. Add meditation, yoga, or breathwork to your daily routine. There are plenty of companies who are offering discounted or free services during these times. Now is your time to actually try working out those kinks you've been feeling all season
4. Spend more time with the family (if you already live with them). It's easy to get wrapped up in work now that you never leave the office, but go build a fort or pitch a tent in your living room/backyard and mix things up a bit
5. All those books you said you wanted to read, time to start checking them off the list. My top three recommendations would be; Born to Run - Christopher McDougall, The Water Dancer - Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking - Malcolm Gladwell
6. With no races or events for the coming weeks, it's easy to lose motivation when the workouts get tough. Try setting the competition against yourself, in hitting some PRs on your favorite Strava segments, or if you're really feeling spicy go for some QOM/KOMs
7. Lastly, please continue to practice social distancing/isolation, hand-washing, and abide by your local government's measures
At no other time in our history have we had such an opportunity to improve the utilization of the one thing we all complain about and wish we could manufacture. TIME. I’m just as guilty as anyone is saying, “I don’t have time,” “I need to make time,” “I wish I had a little more time.” Now, though, most of us have more flexibility in how we utilize each block of 24hrs. In fact, a recent study has shown that since Stay-At-Home measures have been enacted, the avg person is spending an additional 3 hours a day working. Though I have fallen in that bucket, I am a firm believer that we should not ignore this opportunity to make changes you have always wanted to make.
1. Build a good sleep routine and give yourself the opportunity to get more sleep. Every facet of your life will benefit from this
2. Take time to observe your diet, improve your cooking skills, and eat more vegetables. Although I still keep a stash of my favorite snacks close, I try and balance them out with more greens
3. Add meditation, yoga, or breathwork to your daily routine. There are plenty of companies who are offering discounted or free services during these times. Now is your time to actually try working out those kinks you've been feeling all season
4. Spend more time with the family (if you already live with them). It's easy to get wrapped up in work now that you never leave the office, but go build a fort or pitch a tent in your living room/backyard and mix things up a bit
5. All those books you said you wanted to read, time to start checking them off the list. My top three recommendations would be; Born to Run - Christopher McDougall, The Water Dancer - Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking - Malcolm Gladwell
6. With no races or events for the coming weeks, it's easy to lose motivation when the workouts get tough. Try setting the competition against yourself, in hitting some PRs on your favorite Strava segments, or if you're really feeling spicy go for some QOM/KOMs
7. Lastly, please continue to practice social distancing/isolation, hand-washing, and abide by your local government's measures
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(Ribble bike image by Jamie Tyerman)