Once I turned 30, I noticed my body was taking a little longer to recover. Hard workouts that had previously made me sore for a day, lingered a little further into two.
Then there was injuries. . . a bunch of them. Hip, lower back and a few concussions had sidelined me for the better part of 2 years. It seemed like as soon as I thought I was getting back to normal — I would slip back, searching for a way out.
Building resiliency can seem like a maze sometimes: just when you think you’re on the right path, you have to change course, because it leads to a dead end. And that dead end could be a plateau or aggravating the injury further.
At the heart of resilience lies a commitment to growth and self improvement, but these things take time. The frustrating part of growing old is that this maze becomes more complicated with more twists and turns that seem to come out of nowhere.
The Maze isn’t as simple as the one on the kids placemat Denny’s; to solve it, you need to become more thoughtful and calculated. This can takes considerable time and patience.
This is why consistency is so improtant -- it breathes life into your journey, especially if you've hit a dead end. I always tell my clients that each session should move the needle; some days that needle moves further than others, but that’s ok, as long as its moving in the right direction.
Here are 3 ways you can start building resiliency:
Set a goal with a realistic timeline. I usually recommend at least 3-4 months to see noticeable results.
Commit to at least 2 workouts a week and focus on building strength in areas that are weak. If you have lower back issues, focus on building strong core and hip muscles, whereas shoulders typically need a good mix of stability and mobility.
Write out your plan with a pencil, not pen. Things come up and you’ll need to adapt and change course, so don’t be afraid revise the plan - but stick with it!
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