How Do u Rec? If the answer is most frequently study, pretend to study, play video games, or a mixture of studying and pretending to, chances are you aren't getting as much exercise as you should be. I understand, because when it comes to the Quarter System, UC Davis is Roadrunner and we are Wile E Coyote.
It's not easy to accomplish everything we want to. Even if you do make time to go to the gym, you may feel worried about making a fool out of yourself. Or you may have no idea what you are doing. I'm here to put your fears at ease. If you knew me personally, you'd probably think I'm a nerd. That's because it's true. However when I'm not on shift at the ARC, I enjoy my time working out there as well. Here are some tips to finding your answer to "How Do U Rec?". It varies for each person but ultimately it comes down to finding the activities you enjoy doing the most in pursuit of your fitness goals.
Rec Like Nobody's Watching
Because most of the time, no one is. This is Davis, not Hollywood. If you're concerned the paparazzi will take a pic and you'll be on the next episode of TMZ, you shouldn’t be. It is very tempting to compare yourself to other people in the gym. Perhaps you feel you have to lift as much as the person next to you, run a greater distance than someone else in the treadmill, or guard the best player in basketball. But there’s no need to go 0 to 100 real quick, because if you do, you could go back to zero even more quickly and not be satisfied with your results. Find and then know your own limits. It doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing, as long as you’re doing what you need to do to get in better shape.
Take Advice Given To You
Occasionally after a basketball game or a workout, although I just said people aren't constantly watching you, you may occasionally encounter someone who will give you some advice. If that happens to you, just take it and be polite about it. In my experience, people are generally helpful. I know the gym stereotypes suggest the opposite, but not all stereotypes are completely or very true. After all, we are college students.
We know how to give and take constructive criticism. You’ve probably done both in other areas of your life such as in school, work, or with friends and family. Almost all advice is worth a consideration, and you never know how helpful it could be down the road.
It‘s Okay to Make Friends
You're in a gym, not a shark tank or a lecture for Haters 101 (UC Davis may have a wide variety of classes, but as far as I know this isn’t on the course catalog). Many people feel nervous, intimidated, or self conscious but ultimately we are all people just trying to get some exercise and fun into our lives. No matter how disciplined in your workout routine you are, not all time spent at the gym is devoted to physical activity. Between waiting in lines, resting between sets/games, and fine tuning your perfect workout playlist, there is some downtime. It doesn’t hurt to use it to socialize. Whether you typically workout in a group or with friends, the more people you interact with, the more familiar faces you’ll be surrounded be. Ultimately that makes the ARC a more positive environment
Defense Wins Championships, Need For Speed
As much as it’s awesome to be the sharpshooter on the basketball court, the hero in volleyball or indoor soccer, or to lift every single day, it’s okay if you don’t quite fit into those roles. Especially if you’re new to something, it’s best to fly more under the radar. Notice how the bench press and deadlift stations usually have long lines? There’s still several other machines you can use for your arms that don’t have the same wait. It’s like Disneyland, Carsland is great but if Tomorrowland’s available for less wait time, there’s more fun time. For sports like volleyball, soccer, and basketball, if you are new, not as experienced, or unsure about your abilities, these are ways you can contribute
-Treadmills are a good place to start if you want to improve some part of your game. At least you’ll be able to be more used to running and stay at a decent speed for longer.
-In volleyball, when serving the ball, go for height and moderate power. You’ll get it right within a few tries.
-Defense, defense, defense. If you can’t score, you can certainly prevent the other team from scoring. It’s impossible to prevent every basket or goal from happening but with a reasonable amount of effort, you won’t give away anything easy. There's no shame in asking to switch who you're guarding if things aren't working out.
-Pay attention. Don’t lose focus. It’s pretty self explanatory. Shouldn’t be a problem since it’s not like we’re 10 playing little league with our parents cheering us on.
-When in doubt, go all out. If a ball goes out of play, unless it's obviously off the other team, go for it. If you have an open shot, take it.
-Analyze. Everyone has their own style. Study those styles and think about how you can use that information to your advantage
Diamonds in the Rough
The gym's not all about lifting, basketball, and cardio. There's a variety of Badminton, Ping Pong, Racquetball, Squash, Indoor Soccer, Volleyball, Dancing, Yoga, Martial Arts, and Rock Climbing. And I know I left a lot off the list (sorry in advance). Everyone has their niche, and what better place to find it than the ARC? Wooden jungles in which dreams are made of (okay, maybe I'm over exaggerating but I like that song). One of my personal policies that helps guide me through my college experience is try new things. Chances are there is something you can do here that you haven't tried before. Don't knock it until you try it!
Rec Anywhere You'd Like!
The world's a big place. Whether you're playing frisbee in the Quad, hiking in Yosemite, or surfing in Australia, there's opportunity waiting everywhere you go. When we graduate college, we are told to use what we've learned and gained wherever we go. That message is not limited to an academic sense. Once you find that spirit inside you, keep the flame going.
I hope this advice helped in some way. The main idea is that you shouldn't feel like you don't belong in a certain environment or feel discouraged to try new things. The determination, spirit, and drive to reach the peak of your interests and abilities lies within all of us. All it takes is the right moment or activity to unlock it.
So, How Do U Rec? As long as it’s something or a group of activities you love to do as you pursue your fitness goals, then you are good to go!
