Rule #50 "Shorten Your Recovery Time"

Grand Master chess player, former child prodigy and subject of the movie “Searching for Bobby Fischer,” Josh Waitzkin describes in his book “The Art of Learning” how he shortened his recovery time in chess. One doesn’t readily think of chess as being a physically taxing sport. However, chess matches can go on for hours and hours at a time. They also require extreme focus and concentration, which can drain energy. Further, like a game of poker it’s imperative to stay cool and not show any “tells.”

Waitzkin describes his process for shortening recovery time, “I would ride a bike keeping my RPMs over 100, at a resistance level that made my heart rate go to 170 beats per minute after ten minutes of exertion. Then I would lower the resistance level of the bike and go easy for a minute-my heart rate would return to 144 or so. Then I would sprint again, at a very high level of resistance, and my heart rate would reach 170 again after a minute. Next I would go easy for another minute before sprinting again, and so on. My body and mind were undulating between hard work and release. The recovery time of my heart got progressively shorter as I continued. to train this way.”

It’s a typical morning around 5:30 a.m. I’m about to begin my daily training regimen. It’s hard. It’s very hard. I know going in I will sweat. My heart rate will probably hit somewhere around 160 beats per minute. However, when I finish the time it takes to drop down to 95 beats per minute is not long all. The pain of exertion subsides quickly. I have a short recovery period. I’ve earned that short recovery period.

There will never come a day when I don’t raise my heart rate, get short of breath and feel some physical discomfort when I train hard. However, with each workout I’m shortening the time it takes my breath and body to recover. This is the key.

Much of life is like this. It’s not about being perfect or avoiding any and all bad circumstances. Life is hard at times. It will punch you right in the face. That cannot be avoided. However, your recovery time from such punches can be controlled.

People are going to hurt you. I’ve been cheated on, stolen from, slandered and lied to. It sucks. There was a time I would remain bitter for years. Then I learned how to recover quicker. I would find the person who wronged me, go to their house, douse their yard with gasoline and strike a match. As the flames would rise I would scream to the top of my lungs, “I effn’g dare you to jack with me again you a-hole!”

Just kidding. I took a much more sinister approach. I forgave them. I know. Completely diabolical right? What can I say? I’m twisted.

In the book of Proverbs 25:21-22 it reads, “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”

It is my belief by forgiving you take all the power of the situation. You then recover emotionally. You put down the cup of poison you’ve been drinking hoping the other person die with each gulp you consumed. It won’t work. You are free from the incident. That’s the Lord’s reward.

Get your mind prepared. Read, concentrate, stay sober. Doing so will help you recover quicker after stressful situations.

I hate when I see people who are not only prone to illness but seemingly take forever to get well. Their extended recovery time is in direct correlation with their diet and training habits. Eat well. A nutritious diet full of leafy greens and Vitamin C, D and Zinc will help boost your immune system.

Again, you can’t avowing all pain, sickness and emotional harm. However, you can keep yourself prepared so as to shorten the recovery period.

When it comes to your recovery time, you rule!

Jason