Why rest is important

We all know that we need 8 hours of sleep. We also know that sitting and resting can be bad. Yes, sitting can be bad when done the majority of the time. But you do need to sit and rest after your workouts so you are able to complete your workout next time. 

- Taking a day off to rest: Your workouts should include rest days during the week. This gives the muscles time to rebuild. When you lift weights, your muscles get micro-tears. Once the workout is over, your body uses protein to rebuild the muscles (which is why a high-protein diet is important, but that’s another discussion). If you don’t give your muscles time to rebuild, then they won’t get stronger before your next workout. So make sure to have a day off in between your heavy lift days.

- Active rest days: If you are the type that likes to move and work out every day, you can still include an active rest day. This means you are still resting your muscles but just going out for an easy workout. These include but are not limited to walking, yoga, stretches, light weight workouts, and a fun activity with friends. These are great ways to stay active while allowing the muscles to rest. Walks are your best friend when you are sore because you need the light movement to help reduce lactic buildup. (We will discuss the benefits of walking in another post) 

- Sleep: Making sure that you get enough sleep doesn’t always depend on duration. You also want to get enough REM sleep and deep sleep. This is where your muscles will really work on recovery. Without an ample amount of good sleep, we might feel sluggish when we hit the gym the next day. We won’t lift heavy or we might skip it altogether. 

We often discuss the hustle and the idea that sleep is for the dead. However, without adequate rest, you will reach a plateau and feel stuck. So, take a break from the gym and go for a walk. If you're very sore, stretch your muscles and focus on improving your mobility. Don't make every day a rest day, but remember it's fine to take time off if your body is demanding it.