Why is the Off-Season So Hard? 

How to slow down and let yourself rest. 

I’m about two weeks into my spring rest period and every year, without fail, it is a really difficult time for me. There is a certain unease with less structure and more time and I find myself feeling a bit lost. Through my career, there are many years where I have gone on a “spring break” trip to Mexico or someplace beachy. Being fully disconnected from a training and work environment makes it much easier to fully relax and not feel antsy. (Although I’m not a sitting on the beach type, so I’m usually still pretty active, but in an unstructure way). But, the past few years, by the time I finish my season, I am burned out from travelling and don’t want to sit on anotherplane for as long as possible. When there is still skiing to be had, as is very often the case in the mountains, I find it very hard to say no to a spring ski tour, even when I feel exhausted. 

Not everybody struggles to relax; some people can couch potato all day long with no regrets. Anyone who knows me knows lounging in not one of my strengths, and I get antsy and irritable when I have unfilled time. I struggle with the vacuum of purpose that opens up after the last race and before the next training season starts. And I get annoyed at the contradictions within my own desires; on one side, excitement to rest, and on the other, an anxiousness around the summer goals that I can’t start working towards until I take that rest. All things considered, that is an ok place to be - as long as my mind is still stoked to work hard, resting my body for a few weeks before easing back into training is usually sufficient. 

If you find resting during the spring easy, you can probably skip the rest of this article. But, if you’re like me and struggle to relax, here are a few things I have found helpful to keep me sane during my rest period. 

Get Caught Up + Finish Projects 

One of my go-to ways to stave off the urge to exercise is to lean into projects that I have been putting off when I am busy and travelling throughout the winter. This year, that included a massive purge of clothes and other items I no longer need, finally hanging the framed photos that have been on my floor for months, and organizing my storage unit. I’ve also been catching up on computer work and toher miscellaneous tasks on the to-do list that never seems to be fully completed. The element of easy movement is key to helping me feel satisfied with my day. 

Move Gently 

Spring is also the time I like to revisit gentle movement that gets pushed to the side during the regular training season. Walking is my go-to activity, and I especially like strolling through neighborhoods and seeing how each house and yard is transforming in the warmer weather. I also like to add in yoga and daily stretching to keep my body from being stiff from inactivity, and get back into good body maintenance habits.  

Ditch the Watch & Strava 

When I am trying to rest, there is nothing more difficult than seeing other people still getting after it. I know myself well enough to know that seeing other people running 50ks while I haven’t run once, or still skiing big lines in the mountains, will make me feel even more ansty and unable to rest. Removing this comparison entirely is the best way to focus on my spring recovery goals, and to listen to what my body wants to do (rather than what my brain wants to do). I take a two week detox (at least) from recording activities and from looking at what other people are doing. 

Lean into other hobbies 

This year, I took a ratty copy of Dr. Zhivago to Europe twice and only managed a meager 100 pages. I love to read, but sometimes my brain is too busy to focus and enjoy a book. Now this book is the joy of my morning routine. Each morning, I spend about an hour before I even look at my phone, enjoying a slow breakfast and reading my book.  Maybe a slightly depressing book about a tumultuous love affair in 20th century Russia isn’t your go-to relaxation hobby, but whatever it is, make it a priority in your day and really appreciate it. 

Prioritize Friends and Family 

Use this rest period to reconnect and priotize the relationships with the people you love and care about. Being constantly in and out to travel and race can take a toll on close relationships. Spring is a great time to prioritize quality time with people who might not be as tied into your athletic life or who you just don’t get to spend enough time with. I really like geting friends together to make an involved recipe for dinner (or just grill), or inviting a friend to go on a hike.   

Lean Into Laziness 

It is also totally find to just lean into the laziness. Obviously we all have different demands on our time, whether it is family, school, work, pets, etc…, but if you find yourself with the option for a really lazy day, or even a lazy few hours, then why not sink into the couch and rot there for a bit? We are all so busy all the time, and taking the time not just to rest your body, but also give your mind a break will go a long way. 

The off season blues are a real thing, and its ok to feel unsettled. Many athletes even experience symptoms of mild depression, which is completely normal (as long as they don’t become severe or extend beyond the rest period). Exercise produces endorphins, which help boost and regulate our moods, and without them, we can feel pretty crappy. That is why keeping easy activity in your routine is a helpful way to regulate mood as you rest. We can also feel a bit lonely, if we are away from our teams and training partners, or we struggle to adjust our eating and sleeping routines to a lower activity level. We all handle this period differently, and what works for me, might not work for anyone else. That’s why I think it’s important to take a moment to understand how your body and mind react to rest, and experiment with how to make that time both effective and enjoyable.