“Working OUT vs Working IN”
Everyone loves working out.
The sweat, the endorphins and the satisfaction of laying out on the gym floor after crushing a set of thrusters.
Working out, overall is incredibly fun.
And yet, at some stage in our training journeys we inevitably arrive at a point where we are forced to take a break; to rest and recover.
Most of us are clued into this – if we destroyed ourselves the day before during an AMRAP of 90 clean and jerks, trying to PR our deadlift today may not be the healthiest option.
Rather, perhaps an active recovery day or half an hour’s worth of mobility may be the far more mature approach.
That’s because working out is a stressor – energy is going OUT.
To spend an hour engaged in intense physical activity during a CrossFit or MCT class requires us to recover from this to show up tomorrow, ready to handle what today’s workout may throw at us.
And this is working IN.
We balance between these two in order to be fit, healthy and strong.
We get that.
However, what we may need to be reminded of from time to time – myself included – is that working out does not only happen inside the four walls of the gym.
Working OUT can happen at work after a stressful day at the office.
Working OUT is spending all day Sunday preparing for the hectic week ahead.
Dealing with the countless drama in our circle of friends is also working OUT.
Heck, running after our kids is definitely working OUT.
So when considering our week, assess it terms of working OUT and working IN.
Understand that the secret to our progress in the gym; or unlocking the energy to leap out of bed of a morning lies in balancing these two.
If we haven’t progressed in a while, consider that we may not be bringing enough energy IN: spending some time on a foam roller, catching up on a few episodes of our favourite Netflix show, or getting outside to go for an easy walk while listening to a banging podcast.
The best athletes understand this; but this isn’t exclusive to athletes.
All of us are balancing numerous stressors in our life: teachers, childcare workers, farmers, mechanics, doctors, or stay at home parents, and then training on top of that!
Regardless of your profession or your day to day life, we need to balance our Working OUT with our Working IN.
Because leaning too far in either direction means our health will inevitably end up out of whack.
Which direction do you lean?