Recovery: Why is it important?
Whether you are a runner, gym goer, or occasional walker recovery has many benefits. Recovery is necessary for muscles to heal, rebuild and get stronger. It is necessary for balance in life. It not only gives your body a break but your mind as well.
In this article we’ll explore the importance of recovery in all areas of life and some key strategies to get the most of rest.
Recovery from exercise
Taking a rest day, or a few, from exercise will help you come back stronger to your next workout. Whether you are a consistent runner, training for your next event, or occasionally show up at the gym we all need rest days.
A rest day will:
Help muscle recovery
Prevent overtraining
Prevent mental fatigue
Promotes relaxing
How can you make the most of recovery days?
Sleep more
Take a nap
Go on an easy walk
Listen to music
Read a book
Work on a hobby
Eat nutritious, healing foods
Drink a lot of water
Foam roll and stretch
Meditate
For athletes, taking a rest day is not always the easiest thing. It is hard to slow down and take a break when you are used to constantly pushing hard. That is even more reason to embrace those rest days. It is just as much about a mental break as it is a physical break
Recovery from day-to-day life
Life is exhausting. Work, kids (if you have them), bills, groceries, dates…there is always something going on. Just as it is important to give your body a break from exercise it is crucial to give yourself a break from life stresses. On the surface it might sound a little self indulgent but remember that if you do not take care of yourself there will be none of you to give to other people.
How can you take a rest day from life-stresses?
Turn off your phone
Get lost in a good book
Meditate
Ask your partner to watch the kids for a few hours and get some alone time
Go on a walk
Take a long bath
Binge a show
Go to a spa
Get your nails done
Take a day-vacation
Go to a coffee shop without your phone
Go to the beach
Catch up with a friend
Take a nap
Allow yourself the space and time to take a break. Life is long, life is short, don’t let the stresses take you away from experiencing all life has to give.
Recovery isn’t selfish, it is necessary.
