1. Embrace rest – A certain type of driven and obsessive athlete will try every injury treatment, intervention and cross-training approach other than pure and simple rest. I've prolonged some injuries by continually testing them and pushing myself. I've found that rest, and particularly sleep, is the single most important variable for recovery. I've gradually learned to embrace rest and periods of downtime.
2. Don't neglect mental health – Feeling physically broken as an athlete also carries a psychological burden. Being injured for months forced me to confront my identity and how wrapped up it was in triathlon. While this was painful, it ultimately helped me diversify my life and how I see myself. It's been helpful to distract myself with other things when I'm injured—other hobbies, friends, family. This reminds me that being an athlete (healthy or injured) is just one part of who I am and it doesn't define me.
3. Be proactive – The best way to deal with an injury is to avoid it in the first place. I've overlooked warning signs prior to every injury and I've never regretted proactively dialing back training. I recommend developing a routine that puts you in touch with the fatigue, stress, tension and sensations you're carrying. I've used various metrics, mindful training, meditation, light yoga and massage to gauge my readiness to train. If you have a coach, it's also important to be completely honest with them about minor issues before they become problems.