The “Un”learning Curve
I know what you are thinking…”Doesn’t she mean The Learning Curve”? There is a method to my madness in naming this newsletter The “Un”learning Curve. So hang in there with me.
Several months ago, I announced in my newsletter that I now had online scheduling, which, in theory, was supposed to make my life easier. I wouldn’t have to make reminder calls, people could schedule their appointments online, etc. I have struggled with this new way of doing things and I kept telling myself that there was a “learning curve” to it. I just needed more time and patience to get the hang of it.
That’s when I realized that I needed to “unlearn” the way I had been doing things for 15 years in order to learn the new way. I had to “unlearn” and let go of making the reminder calls (unless you still requested that I follow up with a phone call). It hasn’t been an easy process for me, but I think I am finally getting the hang of it.
That’s when I realized something else…it is the same thing with your body. You see, your body is a creature of habit. The more you do something, the easier it is for you. So, unless you were born with physical limitations or suffered a trauma, your body is a culmination of your habits. Meaning…your posture, your activity level (or lack thereof), your repetitive movements. All of those things have become habits, and believe it or not, there was a learning curve for your body to be the way that it is with all it’s aches and pains and idiosyncrasies.
Your body just adjusts to whatever you are doing and it has learned that this is the way things are…rolled in shoulders, pain in the neck, pain in your lower back. This has become a habit. So in order for your body to learn new ways of being, whether it is new posture, new movement, etc., it now has to “unlearn” what it is currently doing in order to learn the new stuff. This is the “unlearning” curve. You know how difficult it can be to break old habits, but it can be done.
You can “unlearn” these old ways by being cognizant of your posture and your repetitive movements by paying attention to your body. Make sure you aren’t slouching or hunching over, taking time to stretch every 30 minutes that you are sitting at a computer or watching TV or reading a book. Get up and get some movement going wherever you are. “Unlearn” those current movements that can be causing you aches and pains, so that you can learn new movements or new ways of working at your desk or at life, in general. It is possible!
MY CHALLENGE TO YOU: Pay attention to your workspace, your relaxing space or any space that you spend a signification amount of time in…how are you standing, how are you sitting, what position are your arms in when you are working? Maybe making just one small adjustment to any or all of these things can help you “unlearn” old habits and learn new ways.
If you need some thoughts or ideas on changing some of those old ways of being, please feel free to contact me to either get some stretches or strengthening exercises.
“Unlearn” old habits so that you can learn new ones!