Hello and welcome to the Changing Room... A whole week late, after the most horrendously frenetic week, last week .
The days and weeks now, seem filled with so many medical appointments to keep, phone calls to be made , errands to run... and no time to breathe hardly. But.. we are on the way !
BUT...here I am... resting on a comfy chair, with a warm drink today.
There is certainly a chill in the air, here in the Staffs Moorlands... but, come sunrise, we see that Nature really has got her palette full, of the most wonderful of hues.
The views, from the corner. of the trees and hedgerows are incredible, so grab a cushion, find a comfy relaxer chair, and sit awhile!
I can almost here you saying, what on earth is the woman going to ramble about this week. The good news is, it is not a long one!
Today is a busy day for me. Mondays are, really, busy and, this week, Mr OF and I, have a really important morning on Wednesday too.
But this week there is going to be a day, that is as important as any of the exercise or active days... this day, will be a rest day.
Because if there is the one thing that we all need to do, every bit as much as those all important strength and stamina exercises. is...
...Rest
We have chatted about this, many, many times before, but do we always do what we talk about?
Rest...A simple enough word, and yet...some of us do find it hard to use and to act on .
I, as I have done, many times in my years on the forums, feel a real need to rest right now...my reserves are low and I am trying to build them up. The physical and the mental ones. I know that if I am overtired, I find things difficult.
If we don't rest...our body does not perform well, and our mind also.
We have to learn to listen to our body voice, recognise the signs of over-tiredness and pay attention when it says... ease up, slow down, stop... rest.
Now, how you rest is your choice... I read... I write...I paint...I just sit and look at the world around me.
Your choice of rest, will be wonderfully different. Reading, napping, just sitting, as I do, and staring into space...or.... chilling, with back to back box sets.
The important thing is that you are not exercising, at all. Your body and your mind needs time to recover, refresh and recharge.
Simple ! Is it?
One thing, that we all need to try to remember, is that resting, is not a sign of weakness, or failing, it is fuelling the strength and the stamina, that will carry us forward in the days that follow.
The importance of rest and recovery, within our exercise plans should not be ignored. If we do this, we are able, because of resting, to become fitter and stronger.
Without that rest, we may feel worn out, tired, and not able to maintain the motivation needed to continue our chosen exercise. Not a nice thought!
So.... have you got rest days built into your exercise plans?
If so, will you pop in and share them with us? If not, do you think you might start to think about them and what will your choice of rest be?
Until then, find a cushion, ease back and just breathe
Oldfloss x
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Good morning Floss, oh you are so right! Rest is important and helps us recharge. I knit when I'm resting 😁 I've just finished the first of next year's Link to Hope shoe box hats and mittens . My aim is one set a month and they take a couple of days to make a set. I'll drink some tea while I sit too, thank you.Rest well and recharge from your very busy life xx
Hello Oldfloss , just a fleeting visit from me as I pop in to see if all is well with you. You cannot over emphasise the need for rest when life and all its twists, turns and stresses take over. You certainly never need to apologise for missing a week on HU. I am amazed that you have been able to do what you do when you have so many other things taking your attention. I wish you and Mr OF well on your journey and hope that life gets a bit easier for you both.
I too am having some rest at the moment for wholly different reasons. Having run (and walked) 14.5k on Tuesday in preparation for the Great South Run this coming weekend, and having a lovely birthday outing with UTS on Thursday, I then had my Covid vaccination on Friday. Sore arm and tiredness took over along with both of us having streaming colds (not linked to the jabs, but unwelcome timing). So there’s been no running or exercising for a few days. It is tapering week now so I shall try to concentrate on keeping up the fluids and eating and resting well. My physio exercises will recommence when I feel up to it again and I’m hoping we both feel better for the weekend. 🤧🤧
I trust your other visitors to the changing room are feeling a bit healthier! 😂
It sounds as if you need a rest right now... Gosh...jabs and now a cold.... I have a cold too ! Our jabs on Saturday!
I hope you are getting plenty of rest... that run is going to be a good one! You need to be on form! Hydration and rest and good food... just what any Dr would order !
Thank you for popping in... and hope you feel better soon ! x
And so agree with the importance of rests. I sometimes don’t do enough of this, as I think of it as “rest days from running” only.
And I often am under the impression that rowing is so low impact that I can row every day. But I notice how much stronger I am when I didn’t get to my rower on a (running) rest day.
What do I do when resting:
I’ve always loved reading, so that still happens although often now , I do more of modern forms of reading, I.e. via reading online books, listening to podcasts or audio books. But experiencing stories is still always at the heart of my resting periods.
And then also writing in my diary or devising or constructing my own stories, be it discursive research underpinned academic articles or fiction or even podcasting myself.
I do have a difficulty to sit still, as does my husband.
So yoga or meditative practices have also an important role to “slow me down” .
Such a lovely way to start the week thinking of this topic. Thank you!
Hello... I was thinking of you when I wrote this... I always imagine you, on the go
Your rowing is such a part of you and your life, I can see why you would think only of rest from running...and interesting too, how ,much stronger you feel.
Reading, writing... perfect... it truly is... it sounds just wonderful! My idea of bliss !
I am a mover too... like my Mum and my Nan! Taking a step back to look at ourselves..is maybe something we should all do..
Thank you, so much for popping in and sharing your thoughts with us.. x
A busy day for you today, but one filled with laughter and fun I hope. That rest day tomorrow maybe, while you gather your reserves, try to rest and relax and find some calm. I know your painting can help with that.
As for relaxation, I have found knitting again, since the arrival of our small one. First with blankets, bonnets, bootees, then cardigans and jumpers. Now he is 3 years old, I have moved on to knitted toys which are much quicker and more fun to knit.
He now has all sorts of jungle animals in his bed, and says goodnight to them all!
Currently working on a yellow rabbit, to be Rabbit and join his much loved Winnie the Pooh characters.
Although I do try and fit in a yoga practice everyday, some days these are just gentle 'Find What Feels Good' ones, with breathing and stretch only. Deep breathing brings calm and stretching so good for the whole body.
I will run for you on Tuesday, and have everything crossed for you both on Wednesday.
The view from that open window reminds us, the season is changing, but after the fall, and the winter, the Spring will come. That's definate, keep faith.
Hello and welcome ! Yes... long day and only just getting settled down! loads of fun and non stop workout!!
Definitely, a rest and relax day tomorrow! Yes.. painting too... !
Knitting ... oh yes... I do know how much you do!!! Knitted toys especially ! Young one will have a full house soon!
Yes.. your yoga too.., I can see how that would help relaxation, especially if you do the gentle ones...the stretches and the breathing...it sound relaxing...just thinking of it.
I shall enjoy the run with you and Wednesday will be another starting point!
On we go !the seasons change and we move forward with them, thank you so much for popping in and sharing with us...and I will , keep the faith! x
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