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Injuries don’t just affect physical well-being; they can wreak havoc on a person’s emotional well-being. When fitness is a major part of your identity it can seem like your whole life is thrown off. It’s hard to see right after sustaining an injury, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. The time off can help you remember you are not defined by your workouts and it can open doors to discover new ways of exercise.
Greatist recently asked 11 athletes, serious competitors, and general fitness enthusiasts to offer their best piece of advice for how to stay sane during an injury. Here is what they recommended:
- Remember you’re not a one-trick pony – you are more than your sport or fitness activity. Even professional athletes have other interests and hobbies.
- Don’t get stuck in the denial phase – you have two options when you are injured: train through the injury and make it worse (note: never do this) or get help from your primary health care physician (note: this is the option you should choose).
- Face the facts: you have a new normal – serious injuries can be a life-changing experience. Try not to see your current situation and compare it to what you were like pre-injury.
- Plot your comeback – work with a doctor or physical therapist to establish a recovery timeline. Plan an event and make it your comeback event. Finishing the event can be a real happiness booster.
- Trust the process – the road to recovery can often be a long one. Don’t try to get out there too soon. Trainers, doctors, and physical therapists help keep you on track to see that you make it, though.
- ID the root cause of your injury – spend some time figuring out why your injury happened and try to work on techniques to make sure they don’t happen again.
- Nerd out about your recovery – there is a lot to learn about the human body. Learning more about your injury can lead you to new passions.
- Find ways to give back to others – take a step back from personal aspirations and focus on helping others.
- Think of rehab as training – turn your rehab program into your training regimen. Do the work and do it every single day. You will see progress and hit new goals, giving you the sense of accomplishment you crave.
- Challenge your body in a new way – there are a lot of ways to stay active. You might even fall in love with a form of exercise you wouldn’t have tried.
- Revisit your priorities – you only have one body. If you love working out and want to do it for a long time, you may need to take a step back and be less hard on yourself.
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