Reebok has this awesome hashtag #getafterit. I love it! In theory it’s suppose to be about “attacking” that workout, game, training, etc. Full strength ahead.. BAM!
But as much as I wanted to #getafterit last week, I just couldn’t. The past few weeks have been overwhelming (in a good way) and I was a wee bit tired. So I decided to #relaxabit so that I could later #getafterit.
Now, I’m not one to preach, but I am one to share. So hear me out. In the past I would have felt the need to push past the tiredness and use the exercise as a stress outlet. To escape the reality. I’d try to teach more classes to make more money. I’d over do my schedule and feel the need to take care of everything myself. That was until I was physically depleted, exhausted, and mentally fried. This literally caused erosion in my stomach and a lot of other baggage to go along with it.
If there is one thing I’ve learned from the past it’s that sometimes I (we) use stress as a crutch. It’s an easy excuse to not deal to with the internal issues. It’s a crutch to excuse our humanness. It’s a crutch I’ve used to excuse my need to control. Yep, lots of excuses, to myself and to others.
We can’t run away from stress. We can’t hide from it. We can’t ignore it. But we can recognize when it’s coming and prepare ourselves to #getafterit. The RIGHT way!
The moment I start to feel overwhelmed, which can lead to stress, I take a day. A day to organize my thoughts. A day to just get other things done that I feel should not be neglected (think domesticator duties). I take a day to work out less or not at all, and nourish more.
Heck sometimes I’ll take a whole week of that! And I’ll call in subs to teach my classes in order to do so.
I’ll take a day to unplug, spending a little more time praying or reading my devotional. I’ll take a day to see family.
I’ll take a day and reschedule appointments, postpone orders, emails, etc. Sounds wrong, but oh is it right!
I have learned that’s the way I #getafterit. And then, when a new week rolls around, I am refreshed, both mentally and physically. I am engaged and focused on my work without feeling pressured or dragged down. My body is stronger and ready to respond.
It took me almost 30 years to figure this out, but hey, at least i did. And in fact, I’m still learning, each and every day. For now, I’ll remember to #relaxabit so that I can #getafterit.
Tell me.. do you recognize stress before it comes? Are you willing to #relaxabit? If so, hashtag away my friends!
Cheers,
#relaxabit LC
it’s AMAZING what a couple days of relaxing can do for mental clarity! sometimes i think we clog up our heads with all of the stress that it prevents us from seeing things from a normal perspective. plus BTW i’m OBSESSED with that #getafterit tshirt! i wannnnnttt
Hey I’m 41 and only just figuring this out so you are WAAAAAYY ahead of me here. You’re absolutely right about stress (even busy-ness) being a crutch and being an avoidance strategy to deal with what’s really there. I love this post – I feel like I need to print it out and stick it in my journal. Thank you – as always! – sweet girl.
well i will do the same! let’s post it on our fridge! Hugs Petra.
I could not agree more. I postpone workouts and plan some couch time:)
It took me almost 30 years to figure this out, but hey, at least i did. And in fact, I’m still learning, each and every day. For now, I’ll remember to #relaxabit so that I can #getafterit.
Lindsay – I am still learning at 55! That time away in Hawaii for me showed me how much I really needed that break from life & the gym. I love going back but it was good for me. GREAT POST! Love your #relaxabit!!!!
well i am so glad that time was precious and a good AH HA moment for you. Maybe it’s Hawaii we should all move to. hehe
I needed this post! Definitely need to GETAFTER some working out right about now!
Not sure how I managed to delete most of my own message before posting..lol, but I had more to say!!
I completely relate to being stressed out and then keep pushing and pushing more on myself. What a great reminder to take a day to regroup mentally and relax, before getting back into things!
so glad we can relate and even more glad we can support each other!
I’m not necessarily “willing” to relax a bit, but I know that I need to, and know that I need to take a step back. I’m kind of there right now, but it is in preparation for the photo shoot, so I’m pushing hard, and then RELAXING as soon as it is over. 4 days to go…I can do it. XOXO
you can and you WILL! Can’t wait to see the pics!
I absolutely love this post. Your perspective, your honesty, your approach to life and fitness…It is so incredibly refreshing, friend! Thanks for sharing. I love the #getafterit but FIRST #relaxabit – something we all need to hear and live out! Thanks so much for this reminder. 🙂
I thought you’d like it. xxoo
Man, I wish you wrote this about 3 weeks ago. I think the reason I got the flu (and am stick sick) is that I’ve been stressed and doing too much – without any relaxing. UGH. I never ever get sick. And I think I was trying to do too much on too little sleep without taking the best care of myself (esp what I was eating).
I need to #relaxabit!!!
and you need extra rest! new mom and all! Hope you feel better soon friend. <3
This sounds like me this week. I’ve been super busy with work and was stressing out a bit, and I allowed myself more rest days and shorter workouts so that I could take my time at home and #relaxabit rather than worrying about that 4 miles run I was supposed to do!
good for you! I know you are crazy busy and thats hard to do.
Oh yes, definitely. Taking that time out to relax a bit really does renew your energy to get after it! 🙂
Wow what a powerful message! I definitely recognize stress when it comes but I don’t always respond well to it. I do tend to try to use exercise as my stress outlet & while that is good it’s also bad as you say. Since I am on break from school I will have some time to take a break from school & work & I’m going to think about somethings for sure. I want to be happy, healthy & less stressed indeed. Thanks friend… this was awesome!! 😀
Hey, at least you figured it out now, it is faster than some of us : ) Taking a day off is a great idea and something I try to do now and again(except during basketball season:) Glad you are getting it all figured out girl!
I hope you have a wonderfully, fantastic Christmas!!
Nicole
well I am challenging myself to #nostress this holiday season. haha it will be a challenge for sure, but learning to just relax is becoming a nice change for me!
Love this message!! I used to never listen to my body and just keep going, but that just leads to breakdown, so I have learned over time when I just need to say no and relax a bit!
Girl all of 2012 has been about me learning to #relaxabit so I can #getafter it again in 2013. I love how well you express this stuff. Its all about balance in everything. No more pushing to extremes or overdoing intensity for the sake of my sanity and body. Not at all healthy in the end.
oh i know you know! <3 you and your strength!
You have the best head on your shoulders.
I like how you flipped the hashtag. Only you know how to care for yourself.
#ilikeyourstyle
I LOVE THIS LINDSAY! Oh my gosh what a beautiful post. I hope everyone reads this. In fact, I am sharing it on my FB page in 10 seconds 🙂 😉 <3
I definitely #relaxabit (so cute btw) and lately it has been a lot easier. The more you do something the easier it becomes!
Love you, friend xoxox so so so much!!
No way… that’s from REEBOK?! Hahah I’ve been using that for [what feels like] forever!! Huh. I really love that “Do not fear your weaknesses” passage, and totally understand what you mean about using stress as a crutch. Good for you for checking in and doing what YOU need to do for yourself! 🙂
i just realized i said clutch instead of crutch. LOL! and yes, i knew you could relate. Hugs!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS.
as Im not a fan of the reebok hashtag.
yep.
there.
I said it.
i didn’t think it was a mizfit motto at all. I tweaked it a bit myself. Love your honesty, as always.
p.s. I might be coming to your house for jerky
Um, yeah, so I LOVE this. I so use stress to distract me from other things. I do NOT prepare well when I feel it coming on. I need a day (or a week rather) to #relaxabit. Seriously. My mind needs some clearing big time.
You are one wise friend and I’m so ready to follow in your footsteps and figure it out. So ready.
you are ready.. set… GO! pray now.
Hi, I’m Lisa and I think we share the same brain. Amen, amen, amen is all I have to say to this post! This is a beautifully illustrated idea of balance during a stressful time! Sometimes being healthy means being with friends, taking the day off. Other times healthy is getting in a good workout and healthy eats. And sometimes healthy even means having a nice dessert, or you know a glass of wine:)
i think we do share the same brain! You have more of it though, hehe. Love you!
Obviously this is still something I struggle with as a newbie blogger. Seeing as how I said I would be in bed by 10 tonight and it is almost 11. Whoops.
some people feed of busyness and go go go, maybe that’s you. Keeping balance can be in there somewhere, as long as you are not fatigued 24/7. ya know?
Yip, yip, yip – love your attitude, sister.
I have taken a few days just to chill lately – I’ve been both physically and mentally tired, so a bit of relaxation was just the ticket…. it’s SO important to listen to your body, huh?
Stress is the body’s way of yelling at us to CHILL OUT!!
I am the queen of #relaxabit!!! I love this… and really, since I began relaxing and taking days off from stuff, I’ve become way healthier and happier. I’m all about enjoying life, and sometimes that means sitting still…or drinking wine 🙂
Great post, my friend!
ahh, yes. you need to write a post on your experience!
Looks good on you!! I like your idea of balance during this time Lindsay!
thank you again friend! <3 it!
I’m still learning to #relaxabit too, but I think I’m learning! I am much more able to #getafterit once I’m mentally and physically ready to take it on!
I have been in #relaxabit mode for too long and am in #getafterit mode as of about two weeks ago. I like both, my life feels balanced in a way like never before. #Happy
oh yea!! Blessings!!!!
This is fantastic! My body and mind both definitely made it very clear to me recently that I have to slow down a bit to really get the most out of my workouts and blogging. Without that relaxation component I just get fried. Thanks for sharing!
recharge then friend. xxoo
Relaxabit! I love it.
thought you would. 😉
it has taken me 42 years to figure this out! it is tough because you can feel guilty about taking time for yourself and you might feel like you are indulging if you nourish yourself with good things (dark chocolate and wine!). But i do believe it is what is best to continue moving forward as a refreshed person. and yes…..this too has helped my tummy issues!
how did i know that we could relate, ah yes. Hugs and thank you for your honesty
I totally needed this post! I’m completely guilty of overloading my plate at home and at work, then become disappointed with myself for not getting everything done and totally stressed. Running helps, but then I think about the many things I have to do elsewhere, and the stress comes back. I use the weekend to #relaxabit, but if it’s busy, there’s barely any time to relax. I need to pay attention to my tattoo and find some perspective in my life.
you can do it! remember, take day or two or three!
I forget to #relaxabit quite often. This week has been a true test so far, I have been on the verge of tears and a panic attack all week, with pressure at work and keeping up with workouts and the holidays fast approaching…ahhh! I obviously needed this advice today, THANK YOU!
embrace it friend. hard but so worth it!
Um, yes, yes, and yes. It’s really kind of creepy how we seem to think on the same wavelength at the same time! I’m still trying to find the balance in my life between my spiritual life, my most important “jobs” as a mom and a wife, a full-time paying job, and working out/”me” time. (Oh yeah, and sleep is nice too.) And I’ve had the stomach issues to prove it as well ;). I’m not quite there yet, but I will find it! I absolutely love your “thinking out loud”. When I actually find time to blog, that’s pretty much what I do!
you will find it and God will clearly show you, yes? physically or mentally or both! Praying.
Oh man, do I hear ya!! My new job is a little more stressful than my old job (in a good way), so I have had to back off and realize that balance is key. 🙂
Another brilliant post! YES, I need to work on the #relaxabit. I have #getafterit down pact–and yup, I sometimes just get harder when really I need to do less. Calm down, breathe, THEN go on the attack! Thanks for the reminder to slow it down rather than speed it up when stress starts to hit!
I love this!! You are always posting exactly what I need to hear in life!! I have been doing a lot of relaxing lately due to stress. Thank you for your honesty and your wisdom!!
Sometimes our bodies just need a little rest & I’m trying to listen to my body more to give it what it needs. After all, we’ve only got one right? 😉 I so needed to hear this today, thank you friend!
i totally wish i could pinpoint stress before it happens – but i keep plugging along thinking i can handle everything until BOOM – STRESS OVERLOAD. then, like you, GI distress! i am good about handling stress once it becomes overbearing but need to get it in control before it controls me 🙂 xoxo friend, glad you are feeling better.
gosh i know! I wish i could come cook for you so at least that area wouldn’t stressful. <3
Totally necessary to recharge the batteries sometimes – for mental recovery and injury prevention! I usually find that I recharge best with lots of sleep and a larger amount of food. Like I’m loading up the reserves or something?
You already know that I love your attitude. Your posts are always such great reminders to just slow down. To be ok with slowing down too. I think our society tends to teach us to do just the opposite.
Girl, you are talking directly to me, today!
I’ve been feeling ‘done’ for about a week now. Trying to muster up enthusiasm to teach my classes and be focused on my clients. But I’m tired and fighting something, so have taken yesterday, today and tomorrow to just be at home, reading, writing and RELAXING!
Sometimes people that spend all of their time taking care of others, need to take care of THEMSELVES!
That is all!
amen to that! the only way you can take care of others is to first be 100% rest yourself. No guilt, just being smart, yes?.
Wise words! I have definitely done the stress as an excuse routine and found that it is more damaging in the long run. I love mental health days and just having the ability to check out. This past weekend I was out of touch with EVERYTHING being in Nassau – it really gave me time to reflect and catch up and be ready to tackle this week full force 🙂
Can we schedule a day that we #relaxabit together? Get our nails done, eat, have tea (or coffee) and enjoy all that other good stuff we like doing? Yes, someday it will happen 🙂
Ohhh I love this hashtag — game on! #relaxabit is something I could *probably* stand to do more of here and there. I have been trying VERY hard to focus on the right things, and making sure to cut myself slack when needed but SOMETIMES I slip up and fall into using stress as a reason to work harder, vs. smarter which is just silly and will almost always backfire. I LOVE this message and seriously need to tack this #relaxabit hashtag on my wall at work, at home, in my car, everywhere so I remember it in those moments where I slip into harder not smarter. LOVE YOU!
Friend, you teach me SO MUCH with your words and a-ha moments and realizations!! This is exactly what I needed to hear today when I was frustrated that I was too tired to try and squeeze in a quick 3 miles before my flight to Austin this morning (rationale being that the time ET was 6:50 and I should be just fine…righhhht. not.) but I recalled the ‘smarter not harder’ mantra I love so much and turned that frustration around. I needed the extra rest this morning to get through this hectic week (and towards meeting up with you!) and you helped me reset my mind a bit. again. You are the best. I need to loosen the grip – again – and go with the flow more. as you also teach me 🙂 XOXO!
Your always so right about these things! I am learning to balance everything- I mean I can balance and walk on a 1 inch piece of climbing.. but ask me to work, promote myself, spend time with the husband- friends…and chill- that all seems impossible! I have 3 more years until I reach 30, maybe I’ll have it figured out by then!
oh you will! i have faith!
This is excellent & yet, why is it so tough for us to remember?! I am going to keep the #relaxabit mantra in my mind & pull it up when I need it 🙂
I think we have a wall in our brain where we shield it. must remember to know that wall down.
Love this! And you are one wise cookie! Though I have no problem relaxing right now, the couch beckons me a lot lately haha 😉 And girl, your hair! GORGEOUS.
good. that means it’s well worth it!
You are oh-so-wise, my dear! I’m still learning . . . . I do not handle stress well, and could really learn from your advice in this post. Thank you!
i think you are learning though, yes? I feel it. <3
LOVE this post, Lindsay. We’re forever students of life for sure. Definitely down with the idea of #getafterit but even MORE down with the idea of #relaxabit right now. 🙂
you are one wise and inspiring student Heather! Keep it shining!
Love this! And it’s so true! Rest and relaxation is JUST as important as staying active.
if not more, yes?
You have no idea how much I needed to read this today. I’m in the need to relax a bit stage and I’ve taken the last few days to do just that. I still struggle with the “yoga isn’t exercise/I need to go to the gym today” mentality, but I’m proud to say that I haven’t gone all week! I’ve been relaxing and I NEED it. Still do, in fact. The business and all the holidays parties are coming at a perfect time. I’d rather go to happy hour than the gym anyway. (I’d have not said that a year ago. Or two years ago. Or a week ago. )
Still learning.
i got a little giddy just reading this. Why? Because we are similar. mind and body. Because we “feel” the need to exercise as a release doesn’t mean we “need” to. Walls down, let go, enjoy.
This is exactly what I’ve been doing (mentally), but I’ve not taken breaks from the workouts. My training and nutrition business is growing and I’m just going with it for now! It’s a new busy for me and I’m going to have to completely reorganize my life, but I’m at a point where I need to let things happen. I’m working when I’m scheduled, but I’m letting go of everything else right now to enjoy my family time. My house is a wreck, but I don’t even care. I’m so glad you’re taking time right now. I think it’s important to take care of yourself and definitely relax! xoxo
You and Me—>same boat—>always—>LOVE YOU!
your family is so gorgeous. good for you for deciding to #relaxabit – SO important for our overall health!
<3 you. Yes, learned the hard way but at least i learned
I love this. It is SO TRUE. I definitely can tell when I need to #relaxabit 🙂
and youre a mom, needing it even more!
I so admire how good you are at letting go and unplugging… maybe I’ll follow your example over the holiday week!
you should. Your body will grow, your soul will grow! <3
Love this! So true. Sometimes what your body really needs a little rest, and it will thank you for it later!
amen! it will be very thankful too!
Love love love this! I was (am still to a certain extent?) in the same boat in terms of pushing myself to extremes, overscheduling, overcommitting, and a huge ball of stress that literally turned my stomach and digestive system into one big mess. I’m trying to step back and remember to #relaxabit << genius by the way. Can't wait to hashtag away.
Amen!!! I am still trying to “learn” how to do this! It might be my new mantra!