Powerlifting: My Stress Antidote By Jamie Davis

JamieDavis

Every weekday morning I wake up at 4:30 AM, pick up my best friend and drive over to our local YMCA and we train our bodies to sometimes the point of exhaustion, and I absolutely love it! As unappealing as waking up at 4:30 AM sounds; it’s exactly how I cope and deal with stress. Being able to jump start my day with doing something I have grown to be so passionate about is so good for my soul. I love to lift, and I love to lift heavy. I started working out as a way to deal with the day to day grind. It was then I quickly realized that I am not a huge fan of running. When I was in high school and even throughout college, I considered myself an athlete and I was a farm girl, so I always felt strong. When family and kids came along, I kind of lost sight of that. About six months ago, I just stumbled into the world of powerlifting, which is funny, as that was how I got my start in financial aid.

Powerlifting is different than anything else I have ever done and I am hooked. In powerlifting, you measure the sum total of three lifts in most competitions: bench press, deadlift and the squat. It’s hard, tiring and amazing all at the same time. It’s the purest definition of sweat equity. I am amazed every time I reach a PR. I keep a log of my PR’s and percentages each week and I look back from time to time to see just how far I have pushed myself in a short amount of time.

Powerlifting is my work/life stress antidote.

That hour in the gym is where I can put all the baggage of life and hang it all on the bar and lift the crap out of it. Where I can push until I just physically can’t anymore. I put so much focus into pressing, pushing and lifting as hard as I possibly can and that by the end of our training session, I have mental clarity. For me, lifting as much as I possibly can requires so much of me physically and mentally that it drains me to the point where I am ready to start fresh again. Re-energize rather with the possibility of today; with the opportunity that comes as I step outside the gym doors, go home, shower and start the day.

This summer I will be competing in the Show Me State Games in powerlifting. I have been working with a team for the past 6 months and it has been an amazing experience. I have learned so much about myself and it is such a confidence booster. It’s scary and exhilarating all at the same time. When I start my day more powerful physically, it helps me start the day more powerful mentally. What is your work/life stress antidote?!

2 THOUGHTS ON “POWERLIFTING: MY STRESS ANTIDOTE BY JAMIE DAVIS”
Bridgette on April 11, 2016 at 3:06 pm said:
That is impressive! I always see your Facebook posts, tagging you at the YMCA but I didn’t realize you were power lifting!

My work/life stress antidote – as funny as it sounds – is clearing on my inbox each week. I have heard Justin Draeger (NASFAA) give his work-life balance talk a couple of times, and the one thing I learned is I have to prioritize things. My inbox is/was the biggest source of headache – I stressed constantly about my never ending to-do list that was my emails – laying in bed at night visualizing each and every one – in order!

One of Justin’s tricks was followupthen.com. You can forward your emails or reminder emails to that site with a date on it, and the email will be sent back to you when you are ready for it. For example, if I send an email out addressed to [email protected], I can move it out of my inbox and it will come back to me in 1 week. This is has helped me tremendously! No more stress about the inbox, and things get done in an orderly fashion!

John Brandt on April 11, 2016 at 10:46 am said:
Jamie,
Wow! I am in awe of your dedication. Keep pressin’ on.

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