Why do Humans find it so hard to take a break physically and mentally?

[thegreenyogi]

www.aucklandphysiotherapy.co.nz/.../

[sage2021]

I've never found it hard to take a break from anything.
I always have been able to do everything that needs to be done and have time left over to relax.

[Zack-Bann]

I showed up to my physical therapist’s office on Monday with a knee even more swollen than it was after the accident.
He nearly lost it.
He told me that he’s never seen anyone so incapable of taking a break and taking it easy to the point I’m harming my own recovery by pushing harder and harder.


So now I’m facing my hardest battle yet: slowing down.
After a lifetime of finding ways to go faster and faster.
It’s so hard. I can’t even describe how soul crushing it is to constantly fight the urge to keep moving

[thegreenyogi]

You seriously need to be kinder to yourself. And I speak as someone who had to learn this lesson the hard way too. I have a knee condition which has affected me ever since I was 13. I basically have ligaments that are looser on one side which inevitably means that if I place my foot wrong or in the opposite direction or if I jump and don't land safe on my feet the ball of my knee will move and pop out of place, I fall to the floor like a sack of potatoes and end up with a swollen knee like yours for weeks to months depending. And so I have had to navigate this all my life, there are certain sports I just can't do like running, and I constantly have to watch my step and walk with control and use a knee support when I work. During my teenage years I always viewed it as a punishment because I can't do absolutely everything and for somebody who is a sports and fitness addict it's quite depressing. And truth is nobody really understands what it's like so I am often reprimanded for not running faster or not jumping to catch the ball in a volleyball match ( this was during high school). All of this to say that I understand what you're going through and how it feels but I have learnt to let go and be kinder. Rest doesn't mean you're stopping, it just means pressing pause and regrouping. What is the point of going to physiotherapy, having come out of the operation successfully if you don't follow your own body's natural timing of recovery? From where I am standing it seems like your body doesn't appreciate you pushing. Listen to your body, take it easy. It takes the time it will take for you to recover, it might not be quick enough for your standards but perhaps it's time you learnt to walk for a change.

[thegreenyogi]

I'll tell you another story which is a good metaphor that could inspire you: my dad when he was a teen was a professional fast walk athlete and whenever there was a race he would walk slower in comparison to other rivals and he would wait right until a few meters before the finish line to speed up massively, go past everyone else and win the race with incredible ease. So his tactic was to preserve all his precious energy so he could sprint right at the end. How does this relate to you? Well just because you need to go slow doesn't mean you're loosing the race with everybody else or the system you're part of, and by the end of it you'll sprint to your goals in a matter of seconds.

So stop worrying about the finish line or the end goal, you have to find a way to get there first. And that involves healing properly.

[Zack-Bann]

Thank you! You have no idea what these stories mean to me at this time.
It must be so difficult to deal with this condition all your life. It’s been a few months for me and I’m already a prisoner in my own body.
I always knew that strength comes through trials but right now it feels like trials are all I have.
But slowing down or not, I will not give up. It’s not in my nature.

[thegreenyogi]

You're very welcome. I try to be as supportive as possible and that means sharing from my own personal experience. It's these trials that make you stronger. And no you must not give up but relenting and slowing down for a while will do you and your knee good. I know that my best improvements or the best progress I have made has been when I allowed myself to take it slower and go back to it after a day or two. If anything allow yourself to give it a try. If you don't try a different way you'll never know right?🙃

[HawkPerception]

Back when I had my surgery for a bone tumor in the back of my knee, I was supposed to rest for months and not do anything before then. My idiot ass was jumping off swings and trying to do attempt parkour 2 weeks after being in bed.

A part of me was hoping that if I actively used my body to do the things I wanted to do sooner, I would heal faster. I thought it was mind over matter.

Bad choice. Because of that, it didn't heal as much as it could have. According to the doctor, if I rested and was consistent with rehab, I could have gotten close to 100% again. Now I'm pretty much at 80% with this legs mobility for life

[OneViewpoint]

Oh I dunno, some humans appear to take a break from womb to tomb.

Physically? There is reward in being active, just moving. Muscle soreness. Endorphins. You can look at it as work or fun. I will have nothing but stillness soon enough.

Mentally? I can't shut off my mind. It's either not a choice or it's a compulsion. I want to know... more. I will know nothing soon enough.

[thegreenyogi]

Lol!! You never sleep...

[OneViewpoint]

Well not never. Just less than most people. Have you ever wondered where your consciousness goes when you're asleep? Why it goes nuts and indulges in fantasies and fears?

[thegreenyogi]

I have but I don't mind it. Some of my best creative inspiration is hidden there.

[Phoenix98]

Because I'm losing money when I'm taking a break from stuff like work. But I am actually taking a 4 day weekend starting tomorrow (Friday) so that will be my mental and physical break for the year.

[Spencer10]

Because many humans are afraid to be alone with their thoughts... so they stay busy to avoid it.

[exitseven]

I do not have that problem. It was very hot yesterday, hitting 103 degrees around 4 o/clock and I was working outside. I took several water breaks.

[Nikki1989]

We live in a culture dominated by hyper-efficiency.

[Shiprex]

We're conditioned to keep grafting, working, serving the greater (capitalists) good

[loveslongnails]

This human has zero difficulty doing that. LOL

[usernameobvious]

Creatures of habit 👍🏻🙂

[Cidknee]

There's always tomorrow.

[HawkPerception]

Not always. We all die one day. We all just have no clue when that day comes.

[Cidknee]

No, I'm saying when it comes to rest and relaxation there us always tomorrow for that.

[jahaims]

Because we die otherwise

[FunkyMonkee]

From what?