Sometimes, training becomes routine—going through the same movements in the same order each session on the ice. While having a plan is important, there’s great value in shaking things up, especially by pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. As adult skaters, we often play it safe—and for good reason! I didn’t skate as a child, but I’m pretty sure I don’t bounce back from falls the way kids do. Nike got it right: creating “just do it” moments in your training can help you reach the next level.

Recently, I took a lesson with a different coach. Not only did she push me, but she also provided valuable exercises and a huge confidence boost, which made me reflect on the benefits of changing up your training.

Before the lesson even started, I had my doubts. I’m someone who sticks to a strict training schedule because it brings me comfort. But with a packed work schedule, I hadn’t skated the day before, and my lesson was on the first session of the morning, so no sneaking in extra warm-up time. The lesson began with twizzles and some new edge exercises, one of which proved particularly challenging. It involved three turns in an alternating pattern, but the twist was to make them quick and sharp without using my arms—they were to stay folded in front of me.

Initiating the three turns wasn’t too difficult, but the speed and lack of arms for balance and ‘checking’ threw me off. I struggled to control the “back side” of the turns and quickly get to the next one. My instinct was to slow down the exercise to regain control, but my coach immediately instructed me to keep the original pace. When I asked for advice on controlling the second part of the turn, hoping for a magic solution, she simply said, “Keep going and fight it out.”

While that may sound like non-instruction, it was actually brilliant. The more I resisted the urge to slow down or put a foot down, the more I learned to use my shoulders and transfer my weight properly. I’m far from mastering the exercise, but it’s improving. The best part? It’s translating to other skills like spins and jump entrances. The lesson reminded me that sometimes, you just need to do it rather than overthink and keep things comfortable.

My next “just do it” moment came at the end of the lesson. After marking the jumps and spins in my program, my coach wanted to see a full run-through. The problem? I hadn’t warmed up any jumps. The instruction to “just do singles” didn’t ease my nerves, since singles are all I have on a good day! But, I went for it—and not only was it a huge confidence boost, but during the run-through, I found myself thinking less about “not messing up” and more about visualizing how to set up each element, focusing on details like arm placement, keeping my picking foot low, and using my shoulders effectively. A good friend of mine talks a lot about the benefits of this mindset in everyday practice—more on that here.

This experience showed me that sometimes, action is far better than overthinking. Pushing past your comfort zone and just doing it can lead to surprising breakthroughs.

Have you ever had a “just do it” moment in your training or another area of your life? I’d love to hear your stories, whether it’s overcoming a challenging exercise, trying something new, or surprising yourself with what you can achieve. Drop a comment below!