This last Monday, I talked a bit about my mental health, specifically the fact that I was/am going through a bit of a downswing.https://twitter.com/chrisgeidner/status/935371403372761088 …
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I am, in case y’all didn’t know, a bit of a perfectionist. He, knowing that, asked me about my exercise habits, esp when depressed.
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Basically, he figured out that what happened was that I wouldn’t exercise when I am depressed, then when I finally got myself to the gym, I’d overdo it.
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Then, I’d be worn out for the next few days, then depressed that I didn’t get back, and, ultimately, it would be a week before I’d get back.
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So, he gave me a new exercise routine — that really went against all of my goals: Go for 30 minutes, but go 3 times during the week.
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Of course, he said, I’d eventually work out for longer periods, but this wasn’t about that. ... I actually took his advice, and it changed my life.
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I started going, twice during the week and once on the weekends, and, at first, I forced myself to stop after 30–45 minutes.
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That’s been my goal baseline since. Sometimes, I get busy or tired and only get there twice, and I’ve certainly moved up to longer workouts and runs since.
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But, that simple plan — 3 30-min workouts a week — was what got me to a healthier mental place, to lose a significant amount of weight, and to run a half-marathon.
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I was back to a place this week, mentally, where that was what I needed to make myself do. And, I did it. And, it felt great — and necessary.pic.twitter.com/voY5nL6kkK
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I’m not about to say this is the plan for everyone. Everyone is different. But, if you do live with depression, I encourage you to think about it (or, ideally, talk about it w a pro)!
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Anyway, that’s that. Just a little update on how I’m getting by in this little thing called life.
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Y’all are amazing, and I’m so heartened to hear that people are finding this thread to be helpful. ... Night, all, and let us be good to one another — and, yes, ourselves.
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End of conversation
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