"Balance is not something you find, it's something you create"

What do a balance-beam, a see-saw, a set of scales and a person’s life have in common? a search for balance.

A common clinical presentation

In this post I am going to draw parallels between a common problem I see every day in my line of work with how I manage to balance my life.

The common problem I have chosen is called a tendinopathy. Simply, it’s a presentation when a tendon is irritated. A tendon is what joins a muscle to a bone.

In my practice, commonly patients have had a period of rest and then have returned too quickly to an activity and have caused an overload on their tissues. This has made their tendon ‘grumpy’ as such. There are lots of factors that can contribute to this.

A continuum

Tendons have a continuum. For the acute tendon, if you overload it i.e. do too much for it’s capacity, then your tendon is what we call reactive. If you address the factors that have led to it, the tendon can return to it’s usual state. If you do not address these factors then overtime you can cause what is known as tendon dysrepair which can be quite difficult and in some cases not possible to completely rehabilitate.

Factors

Factors are like ingredients to a meal. They are all of the things that when mixed together can either create something delicious that gets the whole family talking or the kind of meal you want to scrape under the table and hope your family pet will eat it without your parents noticing. It’s also like a set of scales because if you have an equal amount of weight on both sides then you will find an equilibrium or balance. If one side is off just a little? you will lose that balance.

What losing your balance can look a little like!

Control

Some of these factors the individual can control and some the individual cannot.

A list of things we cannot control:

• The weather – funnily enough, people love to complain about the weather but as someone wise once said to me ‘weather is weather’.
• Time-in the day, in a month, in a year, in a decade etc. No matter what you do with your time or how you feel, the time will still pass regardless.
• Other people- whilst you can try to convince people of certain things, you do not own them and cannot control them.
• Ageing-to a degree, there are changes in our bodies that we cannot prevent from happening

A list of things we can control:

• Our attitude-in my opinion, this is number one. Attitude is everything! our mind is our most powerful weapon and our wildest resource.
• What we do with our time-PRIORITISE.
• What we want to achieve and most importantly, the how.
• Compliance to advice- advice is only as helpful as you choose to follow and adhere to.
• Ageing-there are factors to ageing like looking after your health that can slow age-related changes. I call this ‘healthy ageing’.

Applying these factors to the tendon continuum

If we address the factors that we can control early on then we can prevent long-term issues. If we do not then we risk long-term health issues or total burn out. A common life issue is when people “burn the candle at both ends” which means they are trying to do everything and just end up totally exhausted, run down, sick, injured, unhappy or a combination of all of these. This is why it is so important to identify these factors and address them NOW.

The how

What everyone defines as success is so different to the next person. That’s why I ask each of my new patients what they are expecting from me as their physiotherapist and what their goals are. I spend my session(s) trying to work the patient out, what makes them tic and who they are as a person. If I can build a rapport, I am so well on my way to helping them achieve their goals.

Drawing parallels to my life

I love my job, I am very passionate about helping other people. However I learned quite young that I cannot help others if I do not look after myself. I do not live to work. I want a balance and I am so determined to do so.

Success to me is that work-life balance. I don’t love that term as my work is a part of my life not separate to. So I guess I’m after a nice balance with all my factors which includes my work, my boyfriend, my family, my friends, seeking help when required from other professionals, eating nutritious food to keep my mind and body thriving and keeping my own body moving. If I can balance all of this then I feel more healthy.

Enjoying the beautiful views

Riding towards that balance

A brief story: when I was 17 I sent my bike off for a service, it took a week, I could still swim and run but I could not ride, and I felt like an emotional wreck. Riding has been such a source of peace and calm to me. I ride to cope, I ride to explore, I ride to be social, I ride because it’s just so damn fun!!

Riding does help keep all the emotions in check and I feel so much more alive and ready to tackle each day.

Yes sometimes it’s hard to fit in with a full-time job but it’s so worth it.

There is no better day than today

The health benefits of exercise encompass both mental and physical well-being improvements, give it a go and start now. Even if you just find five minutes at the start, middle or end of your day to walk outside, you may just feel that little bit more at ease. Commuting is another wonderful way to create that balance, please follow the link at the completion of this blog to read about how you can incorporate commuting into your hectic life schedule.

I will leave you with this famous quote to finish:

“Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance, you must keep moving”

Creating my balance.

For my a blog on commuting to help find your life balance, please follow this link  www.laridley.com/my-q-time/commute-way-better-life-balance-2/ 

'What's today?' asked Piglet, 'my favourite day', said Pooh.

I jumped out of bed, the count down on my phone read zero. It was finally time! Our long awaited adventure was here. A full day of work and we were off!

The plan: a ten night road trip with Roey up the Victorian coast through the Gippsland region up to the NSW coast staying in Paynesville, Mallacoota, Tathra then inland to the NSW Snowy Mountains staying in Jindabyne. Returning home via a night in Yackandandah.

Looking across to Paynesville from Raymond Island

Packing: The 'Commo' contained four bikes (two mtb, two road), a whole heap of kit, shoes, helmets, civilian clothing, pump and my pillow. Pack light travel far did not apply to this trip for us. I am really not sure how I would manage bike packing and kept thinking how the Indian Pacific Wheel Racers were going to pack for the trip across Australia if this is how much I packed for ten days!

The Commo in all it's glory 

Our first adventure was mountain bike riding around Raymond Island, a very short ferry trip from Paynesville to see plenty of koalas and kangaroos. It did not disappoint. This was followed by a beautiful and very serene breakfast at a cafe overlooking the marina, recommended to me by my boss Maddie (Thanks Maddie!). This reminded me of Adelaide and I almost felt home. I could have stayed there sitting in the sun looking at boats all day but we had plenty more to see and do before arriving in Mallacoota that night. 

We journeyed through to Mallacoota via Metung, Lakes Entrance, Lake Tyers Beach before following the scenic, and rather wet, highway to Mallacoota. Mallacoota was quite clearly a town for fishing so it seemed fitting that we finish the day with some fresh fish from a local market and a mangrove walk that finished by the beach. We enjoyed dessert with a kangaroo watching closely.

A beach at Mallacoota, VIC

Boats at Paynesville, VIC

Lake Tyers Beach

The next morning we were keen to hit the road early as we had many more towns to pass through to make it to Tathra, NSW. We explored Eden, Pambula, Merimbula and Tura Beach before making our way to Tathra where we stayed for three nights. We stayed in a gorgeous little eco cabin by a lake in Tathra called Kianinny Resort and on arrival we were warned to watch out for large Lace Monitors and Sun Dragons sunning themselves. I thought they were kidding about the large Lace Monitors but they really weren't. 

One of the Lace Monitors we saw whilst mtb riding

Tathra is a stunning, small beachside town between Merimbula and Bermagui. Highlights of our time here included exploring the 50 km of single track mtb riding around Tathra known as the Bundadung Trails and the Fire Shed Trails. We also explored the Tura Beach trails. So that we did not forget that we are primarily road riders who dabble in mtb riding, we also thought it would be a great idea to ride our roadies to Bermagui, another sea side town further North. On paper this ride didn't look too unlike rides where we live in the Yarra Valley, Victoria..but paper sometimes lies. This ride was one of the most spectacular rides I have done traversing through national parks then following beautiful country roads before opening up and following the sea/beach line to Bermagui.

Whilst 'on paper' the ride looked undulating, the 94 km with 1600m vertical was quite brutal. 'Undulating' wasn't really the right word, it contained many short, steep bergs over and over and over again. Of course, the wind picked up while we stopped at a random, but very hip boutique coffee shop in Bermagui so we had to contend with a head wind home too but it was very much worth it! I would highly recommend this ride to any roadie, we were treated with the utmost respect by other road users too which was greatly appreciated. The helpful and very friendly staff at Tathra Beach and Bike made our experience in Tathra that extra bit special, taking time out of their busy day to give us trail ideas to get the most out of the riding experience. If you are a bike enthusiast and are in the area, definitely go say hello!

Below are some snap shots of our adventures from Tathra on the mountain bike, roadie and a board walk in nearby Merimbula. 

Stoked after a session of the best mtb trails I've ever done!

Whilst I was sad to leave Tathra, we sure packed in a lot of adventures as well as some much needed R&R into our three days there. I was, however, super excited in anticipation of our next destination, Jindabyne! This really did not disappoint. As much as I loved Tathra, I totally fell in love with Jindabyne. At the base of the Snowy Mountains in NSW with ski resorts Thredbo and Perisher nearby, this town based around a lake is equally serene as it is scenic! So many grouse cafes to relax at and mtb trails right from our door step weaving around the lake. 

Whilst I was actually ill for the most part of our time in Jindabyne, it was the best place to relax to recover! From our bed I could see the lake and I was able to do short mtb rides around the lake to get some fresh air (despite then requiring lengthy naps most afternoons!). Roey was healthy enough by the Saturday to head up Charlotte's Pass, a 40 km climb pretty much starting in Jindabyne. Charlotte's Pass is the last place you can drive/ride before hiking to Australia's highest point, Mt Kosciuszko! I met Roey at the base and rode with him to brews while he debriefed about his climb. Basically, he loved it. Quiet, long, winding roads with a strong head wind for the final kms. I think he deserved his brunch. We also spent some time at Thredbo Resort, having driven up and had a lovely lunch there from the bakery. If I'd had more energy, we would have ridden the famous Thredbo Valley Trail between Thredbo and Lake Crackenback Resort but I guess this gives us an excuse to return!

Of course the days rolled by far more quickly than I would have liked but finally time came to re-pack the commo and begin the journey home. To break up what would've been a long days drive, we had decided to stay a night in Yackandandah, so that I could visit one of my best friends from school, Bec, in Albury and then Roey's good friend Jonny in Bright before winding our way back around to the Yarra Valley for the joy of unpacking. 

Roey and I are both big believers in making the most of every day. We truly did this on our wonderful holiday adventure but for now it's back to work, ticking boxes as we make progress in our chosen careers. 

Our next holiday adventure will be to Mount Beauty over Easter with my mum and step-dad. Before then I have an unplanned three day trip to Adelaide, which was supposed to be for a course but that was cancelled this week but I'm still going so I can see many friends and family. 

Until next time! Safe riding and keep exploring the #roadlesstravelled 

Emus in Jindabyne (and how's that sky!)

My number one partner in adventure, Roey 

A world full of opportunities

Climbing up Mount Donna Buang in Winter

It has been an age since I last posted and what a time I have had!


I am now a physiotherapist and have completed my first year in a private practice in the stunning Yarra Valley in Victoria. It has been an amazing yet challenging year of firsts. I have learned so much from my wonderful, supportive colleagues and have attended numerous courses to further extend my knowledge. As well as my clinical, in-room work, I love teaching my clinical matwork pilates classes and supervising people doing independent hydrotherapy programs.

The past year has been all about following what makes me tic and ensuring I have a good work-life balance. If I cannot follow my passions, how can I encourage my patients to follow their hearts and set the bar higher on what they can achieve and what they can do with their life. Too many people  are living their lives at a level of 'it's ok' but aren't super happy or living lives they really do not want to lead.

Photo Credit: Sam Rosenzweig

I hope to encourage and motivate people by building a rapport and learning what makes them excited, what fuels their fire and what would they do if they could do anything then help empower them to do that.

It seems to me that we live in a world where everyone is encouraged to just 'get by'. To me, life is there to be lived. It should be thrilling, exciting, abundant and forever changing as we grow and further seek out what we really want to be spending our time doing.

Photo Credit: James Caracoussis

I never thought I was going to move out of Tasmania, then I thought I was never going to move out of SA but a chance of a lifetime volunteering for a paediatric uni placement in Vietnam changed that. Here I am in Victoria learning as much about people as I am learning about physiotherapy whilst never forgetting to explore the road less travelled and keeping my body and mind active for a healthier, more wholesome me.





My patients have asked me how I manage to be so bubbly all day and it's simple, I follow my passions and have plenty of active me time therefore I feel more able to cope with the challenges thrown into each day. Movement is the best medicine.  Let's get moving and passionate Australia!



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Instagram: @hannahgracegeelan

Sunset commute along the Lilydale-Warburton Rail Trail

Climbing Lake Mountain

Mtb riding at Buxton 

Dirty Gran Fondo. Photo Credit: Matt Barron