Trying something new as an adult can be scary

Sarah Langridge, founder of WildStrong Berkhamsted writes:

As adults we don’t often try something completely new and when we do, we often feel a sense of trepidation or even intimidation (heck, even writing this, my first proper blog post, gives me the slight collywobbles!)

So that is probably a reason why when I had the opportunity to join my first CrossFit session recently I felt pretty intimidated. I was fortunate enough to be visiting family in California and they invited me to their gym. It is a large part of their lives and I like ‘adventures’ and love working out (mostly!), so I really wanted to join in, but that didn’t stop me feeling rather apprehensive as I stood outside an industrial unit watching 20 plus super strong women and men working out with all sorts of equipment, climbing ropes at record speed, with a pretty deafening noise of bar bells being dropped (oh, give me birdsong from outdoor workouts I was thinking!)

Everyone I met waiting was super friendly but when it was time for the session to start, did I know where the bar bells were, which weight to get (or even what it was!)?

Of course, my family and their friends showed me the ropes and then guided me through; I had fun and a great sense of achievement after a good workout, but it also got me thinking.

Anything new can be intimidating. Throw in strange looking equipment, sensory overload and unfamiliar, technical terminology, along with the anxiety of ‘will I show myself up?’, and it’s no wonder new environments and activities can stop people from trying new things.

So what can help?

For me, the guidance and support of other people to show me the ropes, de-alienating it as much as possible through not using technical terms, equipment and an environment that is welcoming (personally that is the great outdoors but for others it may not be).

This can apply whether it’s exercise, art, healthcare or anything we may experience. We explain to kids what to expect and help them prepare for new situations, so why not with adults?

I hope I’m already considering some of this when I coach WildStrong sessions but I am going to continue to reflect on it and ensure this is at the heart of sessions I coach.

Trying new things is great for us on so many levels. I really believe it’s important to challenge ourselves and expand our capabilities, be they physical, mental or emotional, but equally we need the right environment and support to do it.

And would I do it again? Absolutely!

Sarah.

Sarah Langridge is founder of WildStrong Berkhamsted, you can read more about her and her group here.