Effective Rest Day Practices for Mental and Physical Recovery
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Chapter 1: Understanding Rest Days
What activities do you engage in during your rest days? Everyone has a unique perspective on what rest means.
After a hectic couple of weeks filled with events, I'm finally looking forward to a good night's sleep. Typically, I've only managed 4-5 hours of sleep per night.
Some individuals opt for sports, while others prefer a casual outing with friends over drinks.
Some may choose to take a leisurely walk to stay active and burn off some calories, while others might indulge in complete relaxation for the day.
For some, rest days turn into "cheat days." I used to have these too, but I've since reevaluated that concept and plan to elaborate on it in a future post.
Interestingly, there are those who do not schedule any rest days. They often design their workout routines so that the muscle groups targeted on a given day can rest for 1-2 days, allowing for daily training.
Personally, I find it hard to do nothing on my rest days. I feel an urge to stay active, even when I'm supposed to allow my body some recovery time.
At 1:30 AM, exhausted from the week’s activities, I contemplated eating and heading straight to bed. Instead, I chose to engage in a light workout: some warm-ups, stretching, and a gentle recovery walk in nature.
This light activity left me feeling rejuvenated and energized. Sometimes, a little movement is all it takes to lift your spirits.
If you're feeling fatigued, consider a mild workout.
What do you typically do on your rest days?
Remember, rest days are crucial not only for physical recovery but also for your mental health. Use this time to unwind from the hectic week.
You are not alone in this journey. Your body, mind, and spirit are all in this together, navigating through the week's challenges.
Be attentive to their needs. Prioritize self-care and treat yourself kindly.
Thanks for reading! I plan to catch up on some Medium stories this weekend. Fortunately, I subscribed to my favorite writers, so I won't miss their updates.
~Ha
Feel free to follow me back, and I appreciate those 50 claps!
Chapter 2: Active Recovery Techniques
The first video titled "Do THIS on your Rest Days | Active Recovery Workout | Recover Faster & Improve Flexibility | 20 Mins" offers an effective active recovery routine that can enhance your flexibility and speed up recovery.
The second video, "REST DAY STRETCH for Better Workout Recovery & Flexibility in 15 Minutes," provides a brief yet impactful stretching routine designed to improve your recovery and flexibility on rest days.