Know When It’s Time to Rest
There are various things that can impact your energy levels, with the main one being how you sleep. Each day evaluate how well you slept. Do you need more sleep? More time to recover? If so, an easy workout or gentle movement might be best for today.
When you feel tired, your body is telling you your nervous system is feeling overtaxed. This means it needs time to recover.
Another thing to note here as to whether you’re in recovery mode or not is your appetite. If you’re feeling more hungry than usual, it might be good to rest as opposed to push yourself in an intense workout session.
Lastly, take note of any other symptoms you feel. If you’re feeling sick, such as indigestion, headaches, or congestion, rest is what you need. This allows your body to put energy toward healing so you can return to your regular programming as quickly and as safely as possible.
Taking this time to rest might look like:
- Performing active rest. This may include going for a walk, using a foam roller, stretching, performing stability and balance exercises, or performing any other gentle movement that doesn’t get your heart rate up but gets your blood flowing.
- Using heat to passively treat any aches or pains. This may include using sauna therapy, using a heat pack, hot tubing, or simply heading outside and sitting in the sun.
- Taking a nap. The 20-minute power nap can help you feel revitalized and re-energized.
- Focusing on your nutrition. Ensure you’re eating a balanced and supportive diet with a good combination of carbs, fats, and proteins. If you’re unsure how to do this, our trainers at Nielsen Fitness are nutrition certified and can help you figure out the best foods for your goals and your body.
- Celebrating how far you’ve come. Rest can also look like socializing and celebrating the accomplishments you’ve already achieved. This further can add purpose to your workouts!