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Pushing Myself Out of my Comfort Zone with Inner Warrior

07/02/20 ᛫ 4 Comments

I didn’t make any new years resolutions for 2020, but I did set myself some personal goals. Since becoming a Mum and going through the trauma of Theo’s prematurity, I lost touch with a lot of the things that made me, me. Exercise and fitness are two of those things.

I’ve always seen my body as something I have to nourish, move and look after. But for the first time in my life it just became a vessel to get me through, living on survival mode. A personal goal for me this year is to refocus on my fitness and get back into running. I have signed up for the York 10k in August, for which I will fundraise for the Leeds Neonatal units. I know that exercise does wonders for my mental health and I want to get back to craving those endorphins.

A couple of days after setting this goal and starting my first frosty training run, I received an email about trying an Inner Warrior rugby session. Having never played women's rugby in my life, I initially dismissed the opportunity. It wasn’t until I learned a little more about it that I thought, come on Jess, why not push yourself to try something new?

Inner Warrior rugby is an initiative set up by England Rugby to encourage women to try playing rugby for the first time. It welcomes complete beginners and women of all fitness levels to give rugby a try and learn the basic skills and key exercises. Inner Warrior rugby sessions are running at over 100 clubs around the UK, so there could be one right on your doorstep. Best of all, the sessions are totally free and there’s no commitment required.

I attended the Inner Warrior rugby camp at Keighley RFC, which was ran by a lovely England Rugby Community Coach named Harry. Being a total novice, I was a bit apprehensive to start

Inner Warrior Womens Rugby Keighley RFC

with but the coach was so friendly and welcoming, as were the other ladies. I asked a thousand questions, but they didn’t seem to mind! In our session we played non-contact tag rugby, which is an incredible cardio work out and also a lot of fun.

By the end of the session I'd had an amazing cardio workout and felt I had learnt loads. I was concentrating a lot more than in a usual gym workout, so the session flew by. I admired the other ladies who turned up that chilly Saturday morning to play rugby; for fun, fitness or their own personal challenges. My Inner Warrior rugby training experience reminded me that, I am strong, I am brave and I am capable of doing new things.

Inner Warrior Womens Rugby
Inner Warrior Rugby

I am glad that exercise is a part of my life and my weekly routine again.

If you’re interested to find out more or experience a session for yourself, head to the Inner Warrior rugby website to search for a participating club near you.

When was the last time you pushed yourself out of your comfort zone to try something new?

This post has been sponsored by England Rugby. All views are my own.

4 Comments

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Comments

  1. ahmed says

    27th February 2020 at 2:15 pm

    amazing photos i like your posts thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • Jess Gibson says

      28th February 2020 at 1:23 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. Laura says

    13th February 2020 at 10:09 am

    What a great thing to do! Sometimes its good to push yourself out your comfort zone

    Reply
    • Jess Gibson says

      13th February 2020 at 5:13 pm

      Thanks Laura. It is. I am really pleased I did it.

      Reply

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Jess is an an award-winning travel blogger based in Yorkshire, navigating the world as a new Mum to baby Theo. Blogging about adventures both local and global.

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Hey guys 👋🏼 This is my little self-developme Hey guys 👋🏼 This is my little self-development project. On 1st January I set some new intentions (not resolutions). The main one was to try and start waking up 1 hour earlier (I am not a morning person). But I wanted to make a change to start each day slowly and mindfully; to wake up and put my own needs first. Usually I would roll out of bed and be straight into Mum mode. Now I sit in silence with a hot cup of tea. Honestly, it has transformed my mornings and I can’t believe I’ve not done it sooner. Here are a few things I’ve been doing in my new daily hour of mental self care; 

⭐️1. The 5 Minute Journal - This book has been the greatest gift I have received in a long time. It has helped me to find gratitude in the smallest things, even when the world feels like its falling apart. I start my hour by filling out this journal. @fiveminutejournal 

⭐️2. Affirmations - I bought these beautiful affirmation cards from @lovaine_store on Etsy. Each morning I pick out a new affirmation and write it in my journal. Then I pluck another from my head. They're definitely teaching me to be kinder to myself and make me feel mentally stronger.

⭐️3. Mindfulness - After my journal I practice a guided meditation using the @calm app. 13 days in, I feel a lot more clarity. Tomorrow I’m also starting an 8 week mindfulness cognitive behavioural therapy course with @natalieenglander. I am a novice and I am excited to learn more.

Whilst we all feel like we have very little control over our lives right now, the one thing we CAN still control is our mindset. If you’re feeling frazzled and overwhelmed by the world right now, I really can’t recommend trying things enough ✨ 

What are you doing to look after your mental well-being right now? It’s brutal at the moment. Take care guys 💓
When your knee surgery gets cancelled AGAIN. If I When your knee surgery gets cancelled AGAIN. If I don’t laugh I’ll cry 😅 Another month on crutches for me. At least I got to see my boy experience snow for the first time today instead. Will keep being grateful for the small things ✨
Hey guys! I’ve decided to sign off IG for the fe Hey guys! I’ve decided to sign off IG for the festive period to focus on my family and my mental health. My knee surgery was booked for today but it has been cancelled last minute as the surgeon has tested positive for Covid. Classic. To say I am devastated is an understatement. I’ve cried many, many tears.

This means despite already isolating for 14 days, we need to continue isolating over Christmas in the hope that I can get the surgery on 29th December instead. So like all of you in tier 4, we will also be having a merry ‘little’ Christmas as a family of 3. We’ve spent Christmas before in hospital with Theo in an incubator, so to have him home and healthy is still a big step up from that. 

Still being on crutches after 7 weeks, I am stuck in a very frustrating situation. I am feeling low but trying to pick myself up and focus on the one thing I can control right now: my mindset. I still want to make Christmas special for our little boy despite the unwanted plot twist (shout out to my dad who is currently scouring supermarkets trying to piece together a Christmas food shop for us). 🙌🏼🥴

Merry Christmas guys. What a year. We can only try to make the very best of the cards we’ve been dealt. Stay safe and keep it little. See you all soon ✨🎄✨
⚡️FESTIVE NEWS FLASH ⚡️ 🌟You don’t n ⚡️FESTIVE NEWS FLASH ⚡️

🌟You don’t need matching family pyjamas to have a good Christmas.

🌟You don’t need to make a Christmas Eve Box to be a great parent.

⭐You don’t need expensive Christmas days out to make it magical.

🌟You don’t need to watch Christmas films in a tidy, ambient room.

🌟You don’t need a perfect, colour coordinated Christmas tree.

🌟You don’t need to overindulge if you don’t want to.

🌟You don’t need a sprawling mass of presents under the tree.

🌟You don’t need to cook everything featured on the Jamie Oliver Christmas special.

🌟Hell, you don’t even need to change out of that trusty loungewear set you’ve been wearing all year.

💓 Embrace the chaos and all the things that make your Christmas unique. Stop letting social media trick you into thinking you don’t have it all. Honey, you do 💓

Merry Christmas and thank you for following us this year, love from me and Theo 🎄✨

(Inspired by Bd Blogs)
Hey guys! I’ve been quiet on here as I’m self Hey guys! I’ve been quiet on here as I’m self isolating for 2 weeks for my knee surgery which is just before Christmas. So right now I’m literally just focusing on getting through the days and reaching my op date. 

I’ve torn cartilage and the ACL ligament in my knee (caused by an old sport injury). My knee is ‘locked’ bent and I can’t weight bear on it. I have been on crutches since mid November so in true 2020 style, it’s all been a bit shit. Fortunately, the surgery will instantly unlock my knee, then I have a long physio programme to follow.

Like many others, this isn’t how I imagined the lead up to Christmas would be. If you’re feeling a little disappointed, you’re not alone. It’s not easy isolating with a toddler and an injured knee. It’s taking a lot of mental strength at the moment but my strategy is to just go one day at a time. Gin is also helping 🙃

Bring on January when I can run around like this with my boy again and plan new adventures. I’ll appreciate it all the more now. Do you have any coping strategies to get through a 14 day isolation? I’m all ears 👂🏼🌿 P.S Help 🥴

Photos by @korm87
Hey guys! I’m excited to share some big news. I’ve got a job! It’s an amazing communications role at a national UK charity 🥳

Since 2016, running The Travelista has been my full time job and sole source of income. I have travelled the world through a job that I created, and I could not be more proud of this. However, my life evolved when I became a Mum and suddenly and traumatically (15 weeks earlier than expected) my lifestyle totally changed.

Then Covid came along. My blog earnings took a hit and the summer lockdown with a young toddler was difficult to say the least. I was left feeling burnt out and desperate for a bit of structure. I also craved some financial certainty. I realised what I needed and went looking for it, in the middle of a pandemic.

I am proud to be a working Mum and I am pleased to say I feel like I have designed the ideal working scenario for myself now. But fear not, The Travelista isn’t going anywhere! 

The new job is part time so I work 3 days a week for the charity and have the rest of my week to dedicate to Theo and do bits for The Travelista. I spend some evenings and Sundays working on blog content, but only if I want to. I don’t put any pressure on myself. The result is that I am enjoying my content creation so much more. As a part time employee and a small business owner, I sort of feel as though I now have the best of both worlds. 

I am learning so much in the job and although I work from home, I feel so much more connected to the outside world. Its very nice to be part of a team again and feel like I am making a difference for a charity with a very good cause. So far the job has been very good for my mental health.

After totally losing myself in the first year of motherhood, this is a really positive step for me and one that I thought was worth celebrating. So that’s one good thing to come out of 2020 😊 Essay over!

Now, tell me one positive thing that has happened to you in 2020? ✨

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