This week’s edition of Road Tested Reviews is more about the thoughts running though my head while training. For someone who spends up to 12 hours a week in her own mind, I have a lot to unpack on all my rides, runs and swims. This week, after being overwhelmed and bombarded by headlines, tweets and Facebook posts that make me feel helpless, I listened to one podcast by Rich Roll and decided to take back laziness, boredom and mental health. Maybe you can too.
I highly recommend the Rich Roll podcast in general and this one with Dan Harris in particular. Harris had a panic attack on CBS Morning News after years spent chasing his dream of being a reporter, spending too much time covering the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and ultimately self medicating with cocaine and ecstasy. Put all that together and you have an on-air panic attack.
Also, I cannot imagine this dude doing cocaine or ecstasy…
Harris has since come full circle since the on-air panic of 2004 and now, with the help of a strong meditation practice, wrote the book and developed the app 10% Happier. That’s really all anyone truly needs, right?
I listened one morning on a run, a run that took place after days of reading and listening about Russian infiltration of our social media, another deadly school shooting and all of the back and forth that accompanies asinine politics and people. < – – I’m including myself in this group
This is how I’m shutting down the noise and returning to what I can control, one day at a time.
INTENTIONAL LAZINESS
In a world of busier is better, I’m guilty of creating a never-ending to-do list and have tricked myself into thinking that I feel better if I’m constantly on the go. I feel like I only deserve or need a break after I’ve run 10 miles, biked 50 and swam at least 2,00 yards. That is insanity.
I’m now taking a “instead of this/do that” approach to life.
Instead of this: fold the laundry while watching Ellen
Do this: sit down and watch Ellen
Instead of this: one more stop to the grocery store to get a few things
Do this: skip it and spend that time reading instead, even if I have to do it in my car in the grocery store parking lot
Instead of this: anything I think I have to do
Do this: absolutely nothing, also included: napping
Being intentionally lazy is amazing. You should try it at least once a day. It also forces you to stop and just be, which can be sort of hard and, also brings me to my next point.
GET BORED
Since the explosion of cell phones and social media there is no such thing as boredom. Seriously. I dare you to recall the last time you were actually bored that didn’t have something to do with not having access to a device.
I’m taking back my boredom and not checking my phone when:
I’m in the car waiting for my husband or kids or both
Standing in the grocery line
During television commercials
Any time I don’t have a reason to check real things like email or Instagram. Ok fine, just email.
MENTAL HEALTH
Does everyone know that person who whispers the word “gay” in conversation? I know several people who do and I always say “you can say ‘gay’ out loud, it’s ok. ” And then I proceed to give them an example in my loud, natural voice — “Adam Rippon is gay and hilarious…oh and I think he skates too!”
After I pat myself on the back for making a huge impact on social awareness, I turn and whisper to my husband that ‘I have therapy today’ in front of my kids. Why the double standard? I could say because I don’t want to scare them or think that something is wrong but it shouldn’t be cause for concern if someone is in therapy. In fact, I firmly believe everyone could benefit from seeing a therapist.
We need to change the conversation where mental health is concerned, especially if you believe it’s a serious problem in one of the biggest issues in the country today.
These Parkland Florida students are kicking ass and taking names (like Rubio and Trump!) and are giving hope to like-minded students, teachers and parents all across America. More importantly they are communicating, opening up the dialogue and listening as well as talking. Let’s help continue the conversation and take away the stigma of mental health issues in this country.
I’m pretty sure everyone in politics could benefit from hours of talk therapy. I know I do.
[Tweet “Road Tested Reviews is taking back #boredom, #laziness and #mentalhealth Find out how you can too!”]
When was the last time you were bored?
Do you feel like you have to earn your lazy time?
Ever spent time in therapy?
Therapy is like a workout for the mind and more people should embrace it! Have you ever looked into a life coach? I hear great things from people who have one, and am intrigued myself. I’m with you on the disconnecting a bit, at least from social media. Deactivated FB 2 weeks ago and it’s been wonderful! We’ll see how long my detox lasts…
Exactly that – yes! I haven’t thought about a life coach since I have a training coach and a therapist (LOL!) but I do know they can really help. I love that you deactivated your FB account. I still feel like I can control myself when it comes to social media but I’m probably wrong.
I need laziness in my life. I’m 6 weeks postpartum. I’m not sure this will happen. I’m exhausted. I love this post. My comment is short and to the point. Trying to get my brain back into the swing of things. 😉 But, really. I loved the last bit about what you should do instead. I’ll just sit and watch a show instead of doing laundry with it next time…wait what?!?! Ha! Happy Friday!
Moms of newborns need lazy days the MOST!! Hang in there my friend and definitely just watch the tv and forget the laundry for at least 30 minutes!
Nailed it! Thursdays are my day off and those afternoons are mostly protected for laziness. Actually, I do work on blog stuff but it’s with my feet up on the couch and no one home to judge me.
Have you read Mindful Running? It’s all about not ruminating on the run, staying focused, etc. Sometimes you need to work things out on the run but it’s nice to have the ability to shut that off when you need it!
I love that you have a day “protected for laziness” and also that you brought up being lazy with no one around. My husband works from home and definitely keeps me from just sitting around more often than not…not that he cares but I do! Craziness.
I have not read Mindful Running but you can be sure I will add it to my list. I definitely go back and forth between tuning IN or tuning OUT on a run.
I think because I don’t have a full-time job, I feel guilty about being intentionally lazy. But you are right – it can be so liberating, and fabulous for your mental health.
If I’ve been sitting for too long during the day, I give my body a break by laying flat on my back for 15 minutes or so. Not much to do except be on my phone or read a book, so I always try to opt for reading.
Same!!…but I’m getting over it.
And YES to laying on the floor and reading…and possibly falling asleep.
I am probably a bit too liberal with intentional laziness. But then I do nothing about it. I worked like crazy for so long and I beat myself up about it for so long that I think I’m now reacting to that1
I can totally relate to that too! I worked HARD for a very long time and I still work and train hard when I’m doing those things, I just do less work 🙂 Hope you’re being super lazy with that adorable new nugget of yours!
I gave up scrolling mindlessly on my phone after dinnertime for Lent this year. It’s been easy so far because of the Olympics, but I hope that I can continue to embrace boredom after this weekend. I need to get better about being lazy…. I always feel like I should be doing something.
That is SO true about the Olympics and I’m really trying to not scroll at all when I’m already watching a screen!!
It’s also way harder to be lazy when you have dogs!!
oh man, way too much to say about all of this. firstly, i have had to step back from social media. i have major anxiety and stopped watching the news because it just sucks, and now the news is everywhere on social media. you can’t escape the news so i don’t think its’ necessary to get any more of it than needed. the shootings and then my neighborhood FB page which talk s about alllll the freakin crime! just freaks me out to no end. then on top of all of that, my own mother’s home was broken into and burglarized in the middle of the day. they ransacked her house and stole my great grandmother’s jewelry and her Mac book. she refuses to leave her home of course, and of course, i’m freaking out. like nightmares each night, make it stop. i just wanna move to canada, help me!
but i must live here and i can’t run from this crime riddled shit hole. it’s my home. its our home. and i have to go on and not let this shit destroy my mental health any further. we live in the 4th largest city in the god forsaken country and we also got hit by hurrican harvey. the city is not ok and people are desperate and desperate people do shit.
with that said, yes i believe in therapy!!! my husband and i did a lot of marriage counseling but discovered that we do much better with exercises from a workbook at home. i have mixed feelings about seeing a therapist. i am 100% for getting help,but in my experience and in my marriage, it seems that reading a good self help book and doing some practical steps and making changes does a lot more for me.
i love being lazy right now which to me is just called sleep. now that my kid is sleeping with me, i sleep better and last night she slept from 9 to 9 and guess what i did – i slept right here with her till 8 and loved every single second of it. i’m working full time so i’m going to sleep as much as i want to because sleeping is amazing. plus i sprained my ankle so i can’t exactly do much. sleeping and drinking some extra wine have been phenomenal for my mental health 🙂
happy friday!!!!!
I remember the things you mentioned a week after I resigned from my previous job which was very stressful. I felt like I was at the bottom of my mental health and that was the reason why I left work. I was so busy at my work and social media was killing me. I quit, decided to be lazy for 2 weeks, left social media in those times as well, did home exercises, and I was at the greatest shape of my life. Now i’m working as a freelancer and i have never been better.
Wow! That is fantastic! Good for you. I’m really so happy for you. I’m starting to find that the less social media I have on some days, the better off I am. Good luck with your freelancing. Sounds like you’re off to a great start!