Have you ever been riding along in a bike lane and you see the dreaded “Bike Lane Ends” sign? What do you do? How do you respond?
Wouldn’t it be nice if we lived in a world where there were endless protected bike lanes?
Well, we don’t. So we have to navigate riding with and without them. Doing the best we can to stay safe alongside distracted drivers.
Well marked roads and signs are designed to help bicycle riders and drivers navigate the roads together. They are not perfect, but they are helpful. So when these signs pop up, we have the option of noticing them and using them for our benefit, or ignoring them and suffering the possible consequences.
Our minds and our bodies work the same way when we begin to experience emotional distress. What are your warning signs? When do they pop up? How do you navigate them to get back to a more safe path?
Some common warning signs of emotional distress include:
- Racing/recurrent thoughts
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Feeling tired
- Feeling cranky, grouchy, irritable
- Lacking energy
- Pain/discomfort in specific areas of our body (stomach, shoulders, chest, etc.)
Recognizing these warning signs is the first step. If you ignore them, they often bring more problems. Find healthy and positive ways to address these warning signs. Make a list of what you can do when these warning signs pop up. Don’t panic. Signs are meant to be informative, allowing you the time to prepare and make adjustments to your plans.
Some ideas of navigating these warning signs could include:
- Meditation
- Exercise
- Rest
- Drink water
- Eat something healthy
- Journal
- Listen to music
- Get some fresh air
- Go to therapy
And of coarse, GO FOR A BIKE RIDE 🙂
-Ride This Out-
