Listening to our bodies is critical: not only to surviving, but thriving. Gurus, coaches, celebrities and everyday content creators have dedicated hours of their lives to preaching/living this very message. At the same time, (social) media has given us increased access: to people, places and ways of life. Increased access to athletes is no exception. During the Tokyo Olympic in 2021, Simone Biles began experiencing “twisties”: a mental block that causes gymnasts to lose track of where they are while in the air. An inability to shake them helped Simone decide to withdraw from upcoming events. After a two-year hiatus, she’s returned to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics. The sacrifice that Simone Biles made is a testimony to the idea that when we listen to our bodies and give ourselves a break, we can come back and do better than we ever did before. 

Simone Biles Shows Us The Power Of Checking-In

At the start of Simone’s break, she took to social media to explain that her mind and body were simply not in sync. She goes on to explain that her performances require a level of focus that keeps her safe. Pushing ourselves is not the danger. It’s knowing when to say enough is enough. Checking-in with herself on how she felt and determining that she felt out of whack is what allowed Simone to return with such a vengeance. Imagine what could’ve happened had she continued to participate in the 2021 Olympics, relying solely on her accolades and the strength of her body to see her through.

Simone, who in an interview shared that she often puts herself on the back burner, said that putting herself first is what helped her to make the decision: a decision that she called “a win”. “Walking away from the Olympic Games…I know a lot of people thought I failed because they expected me to go out with five or six medals, but walking out of it was my biggest win.”

Learning When & How To Ask For Help

Simone’s success, as well as the nature of her competitions, remind us that timing is everything. Whether that’s with regards to learning how to help or when to shift your body mid-air so that you can nail the perfect landing. Although sometimes, it’s just about landing on two feet or getting up after you’ve fallen. Getting up can often look like asking for support. The hours that Simone has trained throughout her life to reach where she is today can serve as inspiration for how willing we are to practice the new skills that we need to achieve our goals. Even if asking for help is new to us, the act of doing it over and over again is what makes us great at it. It’s all a part of our self-care journey.

Self-care, although lovely in the form of spa days and quality time, goes beyond pedicures and visiting our favorite coffee shops. It requires checking-in, asking ourselves the hard questions, sitting with our answers and creating plans for growth. And sometimes, the first step of that wonderful plan with goals and details, is sitting down. 

Rest Is Revolutionary 

Simone took her twisties not only as an indicator of her body not being ready, but her mind needing a break. She checked-in with herself, asked for help and rested. In asking for help, and prioritizing rest, she took the hiatus that gave her the capacity to return. Athletes often find themselves at the forefront of our cultures, pushing their bodies to push us forward as a people while often battling perfectionism and a fear of failure. In sitting out, Simone inspired a more serious talk about mental health amongst athletes and people of all backgrounds. She chose herself, considering the impact it would have on her health and her team.

In the company of fellow greats like Tricia Hersey, Hannah L. Drake and Audre Lorde, Simone’s actions speak to the idea that “rest is revolutionary”.  In an interview, she said, “Put your mental health first, it doesn’t matter if you’re on the biggest stage. That’s more important than any medal you could win.”