Article: To do your best, you’ll want to concentrate on the moment. But, you can also find small ways to take mental breaks as well. While you are running, pay attention to the environment around you. Try to focus on the spectators on the sidelines of your marathon. Or, perhaps keep your focus on the trees or greenery. This will take your mind off your discomfort. If you are not in pain due to an acute injury, then you can generally compartmentalize the negative sensations connected with pain, thus minimizing its power over you. Don’t give pain more power than it should have. If you experience discomfort, start to think about all of the ways that pain can be good.  For example, muscles are often sore or in pain before they regenerate even stronger. Just be aware of your body and know how to differentiate “true” pain, such as shin splits, from “false” pain, such as muscle soreness. If you know that you are suffering from an injury, such as shin splits, then it is a good idea to modify your training regimen. You may need to run for shorter periods of time or distances. Try to develop a plan to build back up to your desired goals, but realize that you will need to be realistic about what your body can, and can’t, do when injured. There are some moments when pain and discomfort must be taken seriously. If you feel a sharp pain in your shin or hips, it is best to slow or stop running. If you start to experience tightness in your chest or severe stomach pains, stop and seek out help as well. When in doubt, trust your instincts and err on the side of caution. If you suspect that you are injured or if you are experiencing noticeable pain when running, it may be a good idea to talk with your physician. Explain your running routine and ask them for advice regarding potential modifications. View your visit as an opportunity to learn more about your body in order to maximize its potential.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Find a focal point outside of yourself. Disconnect pain from injury. Be careful when injured. Respond quickly to serious physical warning signs. Consult with a doctor.
Article: Look at the changes you want to make to Measurably Improve Your Quality of Life. Which goals require you to learn more before you can confidently make the change you want? Look for a goal you could start on now, without too much time required. In this case, the goal we have chosen is to take better care of our body. Then we are going to break it down. What elements go along with taking better care of our body?  Study as early as possible. Get plenty of sleep Eat healthy food Drink plenty of water Get exercise Brainstorm criteria for which options you are attracted to and which you are not. Are you interested in researching on the internet? Do you want to talk with a nutritionist or a fitness instructor? If you have difficulty when paying attention while reading, would magazine articles be an effective option for learning?  Trust your intuition. If heading down a certain path doesn't feel right, don't go that way! If you begin reading on ways to improve your sleep habits, and the information is not something you would be willing to use in your own life, then stop reading, and find a different resource. Do not continue simply because it is information coming from an “expert” or because “everyone is doing it”. The information has to be useful to you.  Refine your goal with research. As you begin to look into ways to take better care of your body you may discover there is one element that you really want to focus on. This narrows your goal from “I want to take better care of my body” to “I want to take better care of my body by eating a healthier diet.”  Find someone who has done what you want to do and have them show you. If you know someone who has changed elements of their lifestyle, such as exercising more or implementing a healthier way of eating, talk to them. Find out what they did, how they did it and where they found their information.  Do research on the internet, take a class, interview others, and find a mentor. Try out different varieties of learning to see which one works best for you. Pick something that is possible to do in your environment, that you can work on constructively within your timeframe, and that you can do successfully with the energy and attention you have. Do not decide to take a nutrition class if you are already pressed for time and won’t have time to attend. Instead, take a smaller piece, such as following a nutritional plan. Whatever it is, it needs to be something you can effectively add to your life.  Consider time constraints, geographic constraints, and your mental state. Do not bring more stress to your life by taking on more than what works for your life circumstances. Learning should add to the quality of your life, not take away from it.  Schedule a time of day for learning and practicing what you learn. Having a set time for learning can help motivate you to continue the process.  Develop the habit of paying attention to what you want to learn or improve upon. "Emotions drive attention. Attention drives learning." Pay attention to your emotional reactions. If you are researching exercise options and find yourself resisting, explore why. What is it about exercising that is causing the reaction? There is a reason for resisting the learning experience.  Don't become overwhelmed with all the choices. Sometimes we become distracted and overwhelmed by wanting to choose the “right” option. There is no “right” or “wrong”; it is about what works for you. Just pick one and try it! If it doesn’t work, then pick another one. To effectively conduct an experiment you need to have a plan, a way to evaluate if the experiment is working and a time to reflect on the process and outcome. The learning process works the same way.   Setting a specific criteria allows you to see if you have met it or not. When deciding on a nutritional plan do I want it to include 3 meals a day or do I need it to cover several smaller meals throughout the day?  Be sure to have a method for keeping track of progress. Use whatever tools you have! Notebooks, phone, apps, computer, internet, calendar, blogs, etc.  Keep reflecting on your progress. Do I still need more information or do I have what I need to begin a new sleep routine?  Set milestones and stick to them. I want to find 3 new healthy dinner recipes to incorporate into my nutrition plan. Did you reach them? Did you learn enough to implement a new exercise plan? Have you found an effective way to improve your sleep habits?  A reminder in your calendar will prompt you to reflect. Set a “check-in” date to evaluate the information you have learned; see if it is effective; is there is more you have realized that you need to know. What worked and what didn't? Why? If the learning approach you chose worked, then keep going with it. If not, go back and pick a different one and start experimenting!
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Pick a goal. Research options for learning. Choose the best option. Experiment with learning. Evaluate your results and milestones. Refine your approach.