Interpreting Feedback

We are very smart people overall, and yet we let important pieces of feedback slip through our fingers everyday. So the question is, how do we interpret this feedback and how can we apply what we learn to get better?

First - let's examine what feedback is. Feedback is information about reactions to a product or a person's performance of a task used as a basis for improvement. We are going to focus on the second part of that definition.

Now let's apply that definition: you completed a workout that you normally do, and the next day you are in 'pain'. The first thing you should do is examine variables that may have been different from every other day, I.e. Sleep patterns, nutrition, stress, work, etc. One thing being off kilter from your normalcy can certainly affect your workout. In addition, if we are referring to pain, remember that pain is a bodily signal that something isn't right. Sometimes we need to check our egos and realize that we need to break down what we are doing to find the cause of the pain. It should be about finding the cause of the pain and not just finding a quick fix.

At the end of the day, our body provides consistent feedback based on our daily activities. If we are usually very active, and for some reason have extended periods of sitting maybe there will back pain present. The key is to accept the feedback and take steps to IMPROVE. 

Conversely, if you have a great workout and set a personal record of some sort - you should also be taking that feedback into account as well. I would presume the same variables I touched on earlier could also be responsible in some way; maybe you got extra sleep, had a great day of nutrition and hit your macros on point, stayed as stress free as possible...all of these can be positives or negatives depending on how you approach them.

One of the best ways to track the feedback your body gives is to keep a journal of some sort or even add a notes section to your workout tracker so you can write notes on how you feel, state of mind, any immediate feedback from your workout, etc.

Just as we receive feedback in our careers and we are expected to apply it to improve ourselves, the feedback your body gives you day-to-day should also be used to improve ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally.