If you’re really into working out or have just started your fitness journey, it is tempting to skip rest days. However, both rest and recovery days are vital to your progress in the long run. That is due to many reasons that can’t be overstated. Without rest days, your progress will slow down; in the worst-case scenario, you can get setbacks quite a bit. So, when it comes to getting fit and staying fit, you should never ignore rest and recovery days. As we said, it can be tempting to push yourself to your limits constantly, but this can get detrimental quickly. To help convince you, we explain the importance of recovery and rest days in your fitness journey.
They allow you to recover properly...
The importance of recovery and rest days begins with letting your body heal. Intense workouts leave your body tired and sore, and if you don’t give yourself enough time to recover, this stacks up. That means that your body is constantly trying to recover, so your progress grinds to a halt. As such, taking a day to rest and recover after particularly intense workouts greatly benefits your progress. Again, going hard on your workouts can feel good, and it can be tempting to skip rest days. But, as any professional trainer will tell you, taking the time to rest is equally as important as working hard. And while you’re resting, you should know how to relieve sore muscles effectively. That is important right after you complete your training, as it starts the recovery process as soon as possible and speeds up recovery.
They help you avoid injury...
The risk of injury during workouts is always there, and this is something everyone knows. You can never predict when something might go wrong; all you can do is exercise properly. However, if you skip out on rest, your focus slips more easily. That leads to careless exercising and a higher risk of injury. Additionally, if you don’t allow your body to recover from the workout, this can stack up and eventually cause a problem. If you want to minimize your chances of getting injured, taking the time to rest up is the best call. And if you have a home gym, we recommend having a safe space to store your equipment. Experts from Spyder Moving Colorado recommend renting out a storage unit for this purpose. But remember to research the storage company to ensure they’re trustworthy first.
Resting allows your muscles to develop...
It’s easy to assume that all it takes for your muscles to develop is to train hard. And while it’s true that pushing yourself is essential, it’s not everything. That is mainly because your muscles only grow while in their repair phase. Essentially, during every workout, you cause tiny muscle tears which heal back stronger while you rest. That means you can push yourself harder the next time you work out. But, by refusing to rest, you are only slowing your progress since your muscles don’t have enough to develop. If you’re struggling to pace your workouts, consider hiring a personal trainer. A professional will be able to help you pick out the best workouts for you, as well as tell you how to pace yourself properly. All in all, if you want to work out seriously, this is the best choice.
Resting helps you avoid burnout...
Training too much can very easily lead to your getting burnt out. That is because exercising releases stress hormones, just like working long hours. So, by avoiding rest, you are actively stressing yourself out, which can lead to many issues. Namely, this can lead to your body being unable to calm down and leave fight or flight mode, and as we already mentioned burnout. Of course, this only gets serious in particularly extreme cases, but it’s worth mentioning anyway. Remember, there is no point in stressing yourself out for no reason, so take the time to rest. After all, working out has benefits for mental health if done regularly. So, why take away the benefits by pushing yourself too fast? Pacing yourself is one of the most essential parts of working out.
Resting allows you to train even harder
Overall, the importance of recovery and rest days lies in allowing you to train harder every time. After your rest day, you’ll find you are much more focused and stronger. That will enable you to take on bigger and bigger workout challenges. In the long run, this will be much more beneficial (and noticeable) than trying to squeeze in as many days of working out as possible. After all, being able to do more intense workouts means that your progress will get faster. But, if you don’t take the time to rest up and recover in between every session properly, you will only exhaust, burn out, or even injure yourself. So, be careful with your schedule, and if you’re not sure if you’re doing it right, consult a professional just in case.
The importance of recovery and rest days in your fitness journey – the takeaway...
So, to recap, taking the time to rest between workout sessions is as important as working hard and challenging yourself. If you don’t rest and recover, you’ll slow your progress or even see a move in the negative direction. If you’re unsure how to pace yourself properly, it’s always best to consult a professional instead of trying to do it yourself. We hope this explanation of the importance of recovery and rest days in your fitness journey helps you, and we wish you a good day.
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