Sitting on the Sidelines

Whether it be in business or in sports, I have a hard time sitting on the sidelines just watching. I like to jump in and do (or try) whatever action I’m seeing. Granted, me jumping into a football game wouldn’t be for very long as I would get flattened fast. Still, most of us have that urge to jump in when we have an idea or see a way to make something better.

This week, the doctor told me to sit on the sidelines for 2 weeks. No running, no major activity, and to just take it easy. It’s clear he does not know my life. With 4 kids, training for ultras, working 50 hours a week, and flying around the country, “taking it easy” does not apply.

To be fair, I rarely go to see a doctor. Mostly because I feel I can self-diagnos and treat myself. What made this situation different was that the pain I was experiencing was leading to nausea. It was sucking the energy from my body and tensing up every muscle in my body. That seemed like the need for a doctor. I will take the antibiotics and pain meds as prescribed and probably ease back into the game within 10 days, but being told I can’t do something is worse then not just doing it.

Sitting on the sidelines in life has not worked for me. Maybe it’s the consultant side of me, but I like to jump into a new situation and help find a way to move things forward. At companies I work with, I get to hear about what’s working, what’s not working, what (who) are the obstacles, and if it was a perfect world what their goals are.

It’s a great practice for me of looking at situations with a different view. We often get buried in our day-to-day activities, lists, and world-demands that we don’t see all the solutions. There is also the situation where we know the solution, but we don’t want to accept it. Reasons can include that it may be too difficult to implement the solution, it’s outside of our comfort zone, and not confident in the outcome.

I talk to a lot of people about being healthy. The term “healthy” means something slightly different to each person. For some it is to lose weight while others just to reduce stress. No matter what the personal definition is, a plan can be made to take action. Otherwise, words with no action are just dreams. Anyone can tell a story, but it takes action to make it reality.

If you want to lose weight, take a look at what, and how much, you are eating. Keep a food journal and be honest. Just as in football, it’s easy to be the Monday morning quarterback. Looking back at what you did may provide some insight into patterns. You may find out that you are eating way too much white sugar, large portions, or processed foods. Just because you cook recipes from a healthy cookbook does not mean you are eating healthy. Eating double the portion size puts you back at square one.

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to drink water. 61.8% of the human body is made up of water. Just as your car needs oil to run smoothly, your body needs water. Drinking enough water each day can change your mood for the better, while not enough changes your mood for the worst. Start by swapping out one can of soda or other beverage at a meal with water and see what happens.

No matter what your goal is … to lose weight, get a new job, or have a more positive attitude … take action on it. If you are struggling to make a plan, contact me and I will help! Surround yourself with people that want the same results that you do. Motivate each other. Hold one another accountable. Move forward.