Embracing Balance: The Vital Role of Rest Days in Your Fitness Journey
I must be focused on slowing down this year because I have more thoughts about taking breaks.
There are some ladies in my friend group, including myself, who go super hard in the gym. Working out isn’t our favorite thing, but we like to give 100% to everything we do.
Three of us made goals this year for how we wanted to take care of our bodies and minds.
Two of my friends were sick this week. Both of these friends had to do more than slow down. They came to a complete halt. Their workout routine stopped for a moment.
Generally, if they didn’t close their Apple rings by a specific time of day, they’d do an extra workout, or if they didn’t have time during the day to work out, they’d get up way before the crack of dawn to work out. This time, they couldn’t do that, and I think that’s a good thing.
Hear me out.
No, of course, I don’t think it was good that they got sick, but I believe it is good to listen to your body and incorporate rest days. There are several recommendations, scientifically proven recommendations, yet people still don’t take rest days, and people try to push through when they are feeling ill.
Try aiming for one or two rest days each week. I like to have one rest day in the middle of the week that I treat as an active recovery day. My other rest day is at the end of the week, and I do absolutely nothing. I may walk because I’m running errands around the neighborhood, but I don’t try to exercise on this rest day.
There are different activities that you can complete during your active recovery days, and I’ve listed a few below for you:
Yoga
Biking
Walking
Swimming
Light stretching
These exercises place light strain on your body and do not require as much effort as you would exert during your regular exercise routine.
Rest days are necessary for mental and physical recovery. They allow for muscle repair, reduce the risk of injury, and help prevent burnout. Rest days also help with maintaining a healthy sleep schedule and managing stress.
The research cannot stress more why rest days are essential. Incorporating regular days of rest and recovery contributes to your overall mental and physical well-being. Let rest be a part of your routine, allowing your body and mind to work better for you in the future.
