Your Body Gets Used to What You Ask of It
September always feels like a bit of a reset.
The summer holidays are coming to an end, children are heading back to school, work gets busier and suddenly we're all trying to get back into our normal routines.
And quite often, your body notices the change too.
You might find yourself feeling a little stiffer than usual, an old niggle starts making itself known again, or you're simply wondering why everything seems to ache when you've just come back from a holiday!
The answer is often surprisingly simple.
Your Body Gets Used to What You Ask of It
Whether you're sitting at a desk every day, walking the dog each morning, going to the gym three times a week or constantly running around after the kids, your body becomes very good at adapting to your routine.
Then summer comes along and everything changes.
Some of us suddenly do far more than normal:
More walking and sightseeing
Swimming
Carrying suitcases
Different sports and activities
Long days out
Others do exactly the opposite:
More sitting and lying around
Long car journeys or flights
Less exercise
Later nights
A few more drinks than usual
And, of course, completely forgetting about those stretches I told you to do!
Neither is necessarily a problem.
It's just different.
Then September Arrives...
Suddenly you're back at your desk.
You're commuting again.
The alarm is going off earlier.
You're trying to get back to the gym.
You're sitting for longer.
The kids' routines start again.
And your body has to adapt all over again.
That's why September is often a time when people start noticing old aches and pains creeping back.
It doesn't necessarily mean you've injured yourself or that something has suddenly gone wrong.
Sometimes, you've simply changed what you're asking your body to do.
Don't Go From 0–100
This is particularly important if you're returning to exercise after a few weeks away.
It's very tempting to walk back into the gym and pick up exactly where you left off.
But your body may not be quite as prepared for that workload as it was before your holiday.
Give yourself a week or two to build back up.
Reduce the weight slightly.
Don't try to make up for every workout you missed while you were away.
And expect a little bit of stiffness!
The same applies outside the gym.
If you've gone from two weeks beside a swimming pool to eight hours at a desk, your body might have something to say about that too.
Movement Is Usually Your Friend
If you're feeling stiff as you get back into routine, one of the simplest things you can do is move.
You don't need the perfect stretching routine.
You don't need to sit in the "perfect" posture all day.
And you certainly don't need to be scared of moving because something feels a little tight.
Walk.
Change position.
Get up from your desk.
Use your standing desk if you have one.
Start exercising again gradually.
Your body generally likes variety far more than it likes staying in one position for hours.
Give Your Body A Chance To Catch Up
A little stiffness when your routine changes is completely normal.
Give your body some time, keep moving and gradually return to your usual activity levels.
But if something isn't settling, is getting progressively worse, keeps returning or is stopping you doing the things you normally enjoy, that's when it's worth getting it assessed.
Sometimes your body simply needs a bit of help adapting to the change.
"Your body adapts to the routine you give it. Change the routine, and it simply needs time to adapt again."
If getting back into your normal routine has brought a few old aches and pains with it, you can book an appointment with me online or get in touch with the clinic.
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