Rest Days Are Necessary to Maximize your Energy
Day 27 of the UBC. The finish line is in sight. I hope everyone has enjoyed publishing every day!
Activity generates energy. Being active promotes stamina for your body and mental acuity for your mind. Resting too much isn’t a good thing, it reduces your energy levels and makes it harder to stay motivated. For the most part, being on the go helps keep you on the go longer and with more success; however, there comes a time when rest actually helps you maximize your energy.
Once you’ve established a healthy lifestyle including eating right, staying fit, and challenging your mind, it’s important to use rest as a tool rather than a way of life. When you are active on a regular basis, rest becomes part of the balance of a well-rounded life.
Reasons Rest Days Are Important:
Workouts are more effective
Working out regularly builds healthy muscles and cardiovascular strength. Pushing yourself physically can increase your strength and stamina and provide consistent energy. Part of expending effort is recovering through rest. Taking a day or two off from consistent workouts is important to maximize the benefits of exercise.
More creativity
Being committed to a career, family, and the ever-changing to do list can wear you out. Even the most energetic person needs to rest from responsibility now and then. Rest days allow for creativity where obligations are left at the door. Knowing you have specific time available to be creative and focused on projects or activities that make you happy is very restorative.
Time to heal and rejuvenate
Our muscles need to heal and rejuvenate from exercise, but so do our minds. Unplugging from the weight of the world helps our minds recover from the expectations of everyday life. Being able to stay home and read, sleep in, or disconnect from obligations is restorative and rejuvenating.
Life is more interesting
Rest days are a wonderful way to keep life interesting. Keeping the possibilities open and allowing for spur-of-the-moment fun or exploring ideas and opportunities you don’t have time for when you are on-duty with life is important. All work and no play make anyone a tired person. Incorporating fun into your life and creating restful space for it is an excellent form of self-care.
Conclusion
You may have started off resting too much which zapped your energy and kept your stamina low. It’s important not to let the pendulum swing too far the other way and not take any time to rest. Setting aside a day or two of rest is an important way to sustain and maximize your energy.
Loving Life — The Reboot!
Dominique
This article provides general information and discussion about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this article, or in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having.
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14 Comments
Angie Vallejo
I so love rest days! I am truly more rejuvenated for the following few days when I am purposeful in taking time off.
debra
Although, I certainly could exercise more, I find I am needing a rest day between and exercise day, Maybe it’s my age. I do love a “Pajama Day” especially in the winter, it’s my total do nothing day except for reading.
Martha
Since I started my healthy eating plan I find I have more energy. The one thing I can’t do is relax, even if I do I’m always thinking of what I need to do next. Great tips, maybe I should try relaxing more and turn my brain off.
Michele
I wish I could disagree with this listen, but it is true. Working out, taking care of myself, my family, It is exhaustingbut on the days I decided to do nothing and just relax. It generally when my best ideas come to me.
Ramil Hinolan
I enjoy my rest day so much. I get to try different things away from my routine. I feel energize the following day.
Ivan M. Jose
I love rest days. I like to be able to spend time with my family as well as do the things that I love. Thus, I’m able to relax and regain my energy.
Lori Bosworth
I agree that rest days are so important. You come back from them with more energy!
Polly
I agree with all of these points specially number one. I’m a fitness trainer and we too encourage people to rest – to take a break – so they can attack their routine with renewed enthusiasm and energy. The body needs to rest to recover, repair and rebuild lean muscle mass.
Crickette, The Things I Have to Say
Pre-pandemic, I worked 4 days in my practice, and 2 days as a consultant in another. I only had Sundays as my real rest day, but it was enough then since my work as a consultant was rather light.
With Covid, I gave up the consultancy stint and focussed on my practice because I wanted to limit my exposure to people. And with the #newnormal–PPEs and whatnot, the clinic has become too exhausting that I have to take a break in the middle of the week. I did this because I don’t want to be in tip-top shape and when I stretch myself, my immune system is challenged.
So yes, rest days are golden.
Serena
I totally agree! I’ve set a really good exercise routine for like 2 months and I’m worried that if I take a “rest day” i’ll settle back into old habits. I’ll take this as a sign from the universe that I should rest. Thank you. Lovely reminder!
Rochelle
Ha, reading this makes me think I want a rest day now. It’s true that you feel so rejuvenated afterwards !
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Sally
I also believe rest days are important for the reasons you mentioned. They are great days to enjoy hobbies you like, try new things, and spend time with family and friends.
Anne
Totally agree , having a rest day after all the stress at work , chores etc will deffo help us to rebuild ourselves. I usually do a so called ‘me time’ , to rest and be away from all works.