Running Anxiety - Quieting The Mind, Relaxing The Body

Running Anxiety - Quieting The Mind, Relaxing The Body

We don’t always feel like running or getting a workout. Our minds can be full of stress and to do’s which are resistance points that can get in our way. Sometimes it’s the healthy habit of getting up daily and getting your workout in right away in the morning and other times it’s making time for a run with a friend after work. Either way, building your life with healthy structured habits can set you up for success. The four key components that will keep your mind quiet and body relaxed are:

• Condition
• Technique
• Practice
• Perform

By conditioning our minds to be positive on a regular basis you are engaging your mind in producing positive thoughts and new neural networks. If you have a tendency to be on the debbie downer side you are increasing the amount of negative neural networks. Fight back against this even if you’re not convinced you deserve the positivity and be your own cheerleader.

As you begin your run, your mind will attempt to steal you away into the pain you feel, the breathlessness, or the anxiety about the distance you are going. Start at a slow pace and maintain positivity as part of your running technique. Think of positive friend or coach from the past and push through. After you hit mile one and your breathing has settled, begin to focus on your pacing and allow your body and mind to begin to be in sync.

Once you are a few miles in, begin to feel the relaxation settle in both physiologically and mentally. Start to imagine that the difficulties of your life are shedding off of you with each step that you take.

Get out there and practice! We can’t possibly get it right the first time and need to allow ourselves the grace of multiple attempts. Go back to your healthy habits schedule and make sure you lace up at least 3x/week. Depending on your running ability and goals, set your distance and pacing parameters accordingly. If you get stuck, grab a friend, therapist, or coach!

Lastly allow your amazing body and mind to work together and perform. Each time you practice you are giving your body and mind performance testing. This testing is a baseline tool to use as a measurement of your health. Take into account how you feel emotionally, physically, and spiritually when you run. Your performance can be impacted and fueled by these life energies and it’s up to you to self-regulate and adjust based on your needs. If you’re feeling a little down for example, allow yourself to do a walk/run to fill up.

For more tips on leading a healthy lifestyle connect with Angie Colter info@angiecoltertherapy.com