A Little Tough Love on Recovery
A little disclaimer before you read on: I’m doling out some tough love in this one, but it starts with a story of my own. This one is especially for you if you’re in the midst of a health slow down or an injury.
The end of 2025 brought some unexpected health challenges to my extended family. Everyone recovered and thankfully is doing well, but an unplanned, incredibly invasive surgery meant a change in routine for all of us and a change in life for one of us.
While the surgery itself was a challenge, the process of healing was anything but easy.
Strangely, the biggest hurdle wasn’t keeping track of medicines, remedying pain, or even making sure our loved ones were in the know. Nope. The biggest hurdle was…
…slowing down.
As in, actually resting.
I get it. As someone who not so recently found themselves recovering from a C-section, I know how hard it can be to force yourself to slow down, especially if, like me, you’re used to being able to count on your body and lead a go, go go-type of lifestyle.
So, I’ll just say it:
The process of healing sucks.
Whether you’re recovering from a major surgery, a minor injury or just facing a slow down, healing is HARD. Knowing what your body has been capable of and not being able to act on it is a true challenge – mental and physical.
The irony is the more you slow down during recovery, the faster you will actually recover.
Though, let’s be honest, the fitness industry and certain *ahem* influencers (yes, that’s some sass you’re sensing) often come to the socials with content that seeths with an underlying layer of shame in slowing down, but I digress.
The truth is if you want to get back to a body that can do what it loves to do, you have to love it at its best and it’s in between. Truly loving your body sometimes means putting your ego to the side and pulling things back.
Here’s what we’ve started with:
Listening to and following through on recommendations – especially around movement – from providers. They’re the experts after all.
Practicing internalizing and letting go of the ego. Even noticing when it’s peeking its head out is a great practice.
Keeping in mind that everyday movements count. You’re likely already doing more than you think.
And, above all, knowing that you WILL recover.
You’ve got this.
