Workout Wisdom Peloton Edition - part 4
Welcome back! We’re in the homestretch of this series, almost at the cool down - to stretch my workout theme even further…
3. Trust yourself. I’m very competitive with myself and tend to focus on the numbers on my screen showing how much power I’m generating. I recently had a day where I needed a break from the typical classes I take, so I jumped into a low-impact ride with a classical soundtrack. The instructor suggested not paying attention to metrics and just riding based on feeling. So I did. I clicked everything off my screen and just rode. I was uncomfortable, not with how hard I was working, but with not seeing the numbers that showed how hard I was working. I kept reminding myself to check in with my heart rate, legs and breathing, and to adjust when I felt I could comfortably push harder, and to dial back when I felt I was working harder than I wanted to (I didn’t want to go all out and break any records). Within a few minutes I got comfortable and just listened to my body.
I ended up with a higher output than I’ve gotten on other similar rides. But with much less mental stress. My body and mind knew what they could do. I wasn’t constantly looking at the numbers thinking “I should be going harder” or “I’m not working hard enough”. I just trusted myself to do what felt right.
Similarly trusting your instincts at work will often serve you well. Self regulate how hard you should be working. Check in with yourself to see how much energy you have to use, where your focus is today, and sink into it. Push harder when you have the capacity, and give yourself grace when you need it. You might be surprised at how effective and creative you are when you relax.