What I Learned from 60 Days of Insanity So You Didn't Have To

It was one hell of a ride but I finally did it. 60 days of Insanity.

If you've never heard of Insanity, it's a set of workout videos (aptly named) released in 2009. It was a pretty unique fad in that people were taking the challenge of working out at a high intensity without equipment in their own homes.

I can't say I'm ridiculously fit yet, but I do feel better about myself. And me being me, there's always a connection to be made to the brain. Here's what I learned from Insanity that has nothing to do with your physical body, but has everything to do with emotional work. 

And yes, if no one's told you - emotions are WORK. You use physical energy to work through difficult emotions, so when you're exhausted after trying really hard to expand your social skills, don't be surprised! And if emotions are work, then there's a way to workout. So in case you were never planning on finishing 60 days of Insanity, here are my take-aways:

Positive Reinforcement
The first thing that struck me about Insanity? His constant reassurance. I realize that most workout videos do that. But I thought to myself, "How often do we reassure ourselves when we are struggling with relationship issues, personal problems, or just particularly hard days in general?" Not often. Insanity is HARD. And life? More than insane. Sometimes it's straight up awful. The first thing we can do really is to practice kindness with ourselves.

Ask "How are y'all doing?" regularly.

I find that Shaun T often asks his team in the most ridiculous moments, amid gasping breaths and intense cardio and plyo, "How are you doing?" and watching their expression change from determined soldier to exasperated victim of torture is pretty hilarious every time.

Laughing on the outside / Inside his head: "...this ungrateful bish"

But herein lies a key lesson. 

Shaun T is not just asking them how they're doing for fun or for show. He's doing two important things: 1) creating an environment in which they feel supported, as he knows how difficult this workout truly is, and 2) modeling for them a self-awareness of their body, that they need to ask themselves how they are doing at all times - in intense moments and in rest moments.

We should do the same with our work with emotions. Checking in with ourselves regularly, in moments of intensity AND moments of rest, is key for improving and strengthening our emotional health.

Dig Deeper

His tagline for the entire series. I feel like I should put a copyright on that.

"When it starts to burn, that's when you gotta push." He looooves getting to that point. He's pouring sweat and he's still counting all of us down and going faster and stronger than anyone behind him. And watching all of them on screen and then feeling exactly how they feel, I wonder sometimes if there's anything left inside me to keep going.

my sentiments exactly

They don't call him the expert for nothing. 

When we reach that point of challenge, whether physical or emotional, and we choose to apply our new skill rather than stop or go back to the way we've always been - we grow. It seems so obvious.  In the moment, however, we are pushing ourselves to the point of failure. And it feels ...wrong. Like we are somewhere we aren't supposed to be.

But if you think about it a bit longer, you'll know - in order to be less anxious, you are going to have to test yourself in anxious situations - if you want to fight less with someone, you'll have to come up against your conflict with them yet again - and reacting differently (or with improvements) each time. And if you've ever reached that point where you're in front of your parents, and you're fuming with rage and instead of choosing to shout back at them, you stated your opinion evenly and calmly or managed to walk away without a fight - you know how deep you had to dig to get there.

Keep at It and You'll Get Better

This is often my frustration in life in general. I've been going through a major funk in writing this blog, frustrated with my life direction, frustrated with my job, frustrated with my lack of financial and personal progression, and unsure where to go next. I've been looking at social media and comparing myself to others - something I always advise others to avoid at all costs - so I decided my course of action was to do mindless activities until I hated myself.

I felt similarly when I was going through the workouts. I had the privilege of doing these 45 minute torture sessions next to my partner in crime - and he is stronger, faster, fitter, and just more experienced. While I eked out 5 push-ups on the struggle bus, he was pumping his arms like a machine. While I felt like I was doing my best, sometimes it's easy to get caught up in how your progress looks compared to someone else's. 

The awesome thing about Insanity is, when you begin you take a "Fit Test" and every 2 weeks you take another one. And sure enough, after a couple weeks I was getting better and better. 

The same goes for your feels. Keep at it. You will get better.

The Point Isn't to Hurt Yourself. 

When people are getting through a heartbreak or loss, it's easy to wallow in the agony. Pain is natural in this state, so why not keep pushing? It seems contradictory to "dig deeper", but when you practice self-awareness (just literally watching yourself as though you were watching someone else) you start to notice when things are really hurting you, and not a challenge that you can overcome with a little extra push.

If you strain a muscle, you won't be able to use it for awhile. And that slows your progress. The same goes for emotion. If it's hurting too much - stop doing it. The point is to get stronger and manage your emotions, not to force yourself into uncomfortable situations to the point of panic attacks or rage fests. Do what you can, and then:

Take a Break When You Need To

Self-care is getting more popular as a concept, and for good reason. We can wave it away and say, "yeah, yeah, self-care" (so many therapists and counselors do) but it is an essential part of putting out our authentic self. Self-care isn't just laying in a bubble bath or drinking a cup of tea (both awesome things to do).

Sometimes self-care is pushing through an intense workout, or singing loudly in your car, or meeting up with a friend you haven't seen in awhile, or canceling some plans to have some alone time.

Running, though I have such a hard time bringing myself to do it most days, really helps me clear my head because I am often disconnected with my body. Running and workouts, like Insanity, force you to feel your limbs, to breathe intentionally, to drink water... yes, things I should just be doing! But that's why it's an intervention.

Anyways. I'm hoping these insights give you something to think about this week.. or maybe even an inspired thought to workout.. or take a walk! Connecting your mind and your body is usually a great way to elevate your mental health. ❤

Special thanks to Shaun T for being incredible and inspiring, on and off-screen. And to Vansen, for making me Insane.