7 Steps to Triumph Over Injury (Mental Health Awareness Week)

Today Angela (The - Reinvention) is sharing her 7 Steps to Triumph Over Injury. Some of her recovery and training routine takes place both in the rehabilitation suite and Hampden Sports Clinic, and at home…

7 Steps to Triumph Over Injury

These are proven, powerful rituals to enhance your dedication, motivation, and to help get more enjoyment and benefit out of your daily fitness routines.

1. How I start my day sets the standard of productivity and drive for the remainder of the day.

Starting my day the night before with laying out my favourite clothes for my morning fitness routine, I can make sure I am going to feel good about getting up and getting started for the day. Planning for my week’s workout, such as time for improving my strength or cardio burn up means I am focused on my fitness goals. You must put your fitness first, ensuring you are motivated to complete your exercise routine before the rest of your daily tasks. To look after others, you must look after yourself first.

2. Beginning a day with a focus.

I have a vision board hanging in my bathroom. I do not overthink this, it simply sets out my goals for the year ahead and beyond. Becoming focused on what you want to achieve can help to silence negative self-talk. Starting your day on a positive note keeps you focused on your goals.

3. Finding a place for your fitness.

Having a place at home, either inside or outside, dedicated to your fitness routine is a powerful tool. It can help drain out any negative thoughts or worries and help you to focus on your targets. I used to think you needed to be happy or injury-free to enjoy your workouts and keep fit but this is not the case. Once commencing with a workout, stresses and aches can begin to dissipate. Also, I find my workouts to be a great motivational tool for creative thinking and problem-solving. A 30-minute workout in a dedicated space really can have a positive impact.

4. Afternoon Workouts.

Working from home offers new inspiration and new challenges! One formula I use to keep motivated is a short afternoon workout, around 20 minutes. This deviation from the normal routine helps to prevent me feeling tired and sharpens my mind for the hours ahead.

5. Getting Focused.
Putting pen to paper and getting organised can be especially motivational, as well as therapeutic. Gathering your thoughts and feelings allows the mind to free itself and create windows for problem-solving and fresh ideas. When I am feeling overwhelmed, I get organised. I focus on my goals for that day and further on. I am also a firm believer in practising gratitude for what I already have and for what lies ahead.

6. Water.
The feeling of lethargy and worry can come from dehydration. Yes, most of us know the importance of water in your daily living. For me, it is an easy way to maintain a clear focus during the day. For a long time, I thought I just could master a certain fitness goal or project because of my abilities. However, drinking water is also key to achieving goals, as well as looking and feeling good and maintaining energy levels. The power of hydrate! What we put into our body determines all results in our life.

7. Self-Talk.
This is a process, like fitness and rehab, that takes time and training to master. It is essential that you are kinder to yourself, not only physically but emotionally. I used to be so hard on myself during my physio sessions – “You could have done better” or “Go harder, go long” and, on the one hand, it was such hard self-talk that pushed me through those extra steps. A useful technique perhaps but one that left me physically drained. Then I began to be aware of the power of positive self-talk in my life. Motivating oneself at the gym has helped different aspects of my life, such as inspiring me to deliver leadership talks for work. It also lends itself to my home life, learning to be kinder to myself and those around me. Being focused on work can sometimes lead to time away from the family and I was so hard on myself for not always being there. Recently, being at home with my husband and daughter has given me perspective on how important each minute is.

As time went by, giving myself criticism over things I cannot always control or do not matter was simply a waste of time. It does not achieve anything, other than a negative mindset. My secret to turning this negativity into something positive is looking for the fun!

No matter how hard a place you are in, it does help to look for something light, something happy in the moment. Your whole mindset can change as a result. This takes practice but can work for anyone, anywhere, anytime.

If you are struggling with your fitness or physio routine or perhaps not feeling motivated, then please reach out to Hampden or someone you trust who can help guide you back on the right path.

Asking for and receiving help is such an enriching feeling. Looking after our own health is such an amazing and rewarding investment. To be the best versions of who you are is such a gift, personally and for those around you...

See Angela's website for more info... The Reinvention.