I love what I do and don’t dread work at all. Even so – I recently took a few days off and recharged. I think I needed it. Even when you love what you do – it’s good to take a break every now and then.
I can remember in my past work life listening to co-workers talk about reading industry magazines in their free time. They were craving more information. I couldn’t imagine spending my precious free time thinking about work or doing research on work topics. Work was getting enough of my time and the idea of spending more time thinking about work topics was unimaginable to me!
Fast forward to now – and I regularly read articles about pilates, do internet research, seek out classes I can take and watch videos. I also keep up on social media and try to learn as much as I can. The difference? Liking what I do means it does no seem like work. I have heard if you would do your job for free you know you’ve found the right thing!
All that being said – sometimes we can be doing the right thing and still feel like we are in a rut! Sometimes we can get busy with life and feel like we are just going through the motions to get to the end of the day.
Here are my tactics to recharge, reenergize, and keep yourself from settling in to a rut!
1. Take a break. Give yourself permission to take a day off. This does not mean to stop doing what you are doing but sometimes we feel in a funk when are bodies need to recoup a bit. Skipping a day and coming back fresher can make a big difference.
2. Change your focus. For me I like to find new challenges for my body. For a month I may work on mat exercises and focus on the series of five. The next goal may be planks or transverse abdominal connection. Changing up what I am seeking from my workout changes up my workout even while I may be doing the same movements!
3. Educate yourself. Learning is a great way to feel inspired. For me learning about how Pilates has helped someone else or the Pilates elders or the body mechanics brings me a deeper understanding and appreciation of what I am doing. I get excited about sharing this with all of you!
4. Do something different. Last week during Spring break we played basketball, football, went to the trampoline gym, did obstacle courses on the monkey bars, ran the stairs at Percy Warner, hiked and more. All of these challenges, made me appreciate my Pilates training! Being able to succeed at these different athletic endeavors showed me how valuable Pilates was for my body and strength. It’s been quite a while since I have used my upper body strength to swing from bar to bar … but my Pilates body was ready for the challenge! This positive feedback reinforced why I do what I do.
5. Workout with a friend. Sharing the experience with another can make it even more fun and add a much needed social element. The other day two of my girlfriends came by and we worked out together. Our cores worked, and we also caught up on each other’s lives. How nice not to have to choose one option or the other and to feel refreshed, healthy and connected, too.
6. Set a new goal. By re-examining what you are hoping to achieve, you may discover you’ve met your old goal and it’s time to up the ante! Celebrate that success and then set your sights on the next goal. It could be endurance, fitting into a slim skirt, body confidence, or sticking to a program for a period of time.
7. Ask your instructor! I am always happy to help you reach your goal or help you define a goal. Let’s give you a new focus and figure out together how to challenge you!
These are just a few of my ‘anti-rut’ tactics! Feel free to share yours!
12South Pilates & Personal Training 