There Is More to Recovery Than Rest

Recovery is often described as what happens when you aren't exercising.

But recovery is actually much bigger than simply taking a day off.

Your body is constantly working to restore balance. Sleep, nutrition, hydration, stress, daily activity, and even the way you manage your schedule can influence how well you recover.

That means you can technically take a rest day and still feel completely worn down.

Maybe you're sleeping poorly. Maybe you're under a lot of pressure at work. Maybe you're rushing through meals. Maybe you've been sitting all day and your body feels stiff. Maybe your mind has been working nonstop.

Your muscles aren't the only things that need recovery.

This is one reason it can be helpful to think about recovery as a daily practice rather than something reserved for after a particularly hard workout.

Sometimes recovery means going to bed instead of squeezing in one more task. Sometimes it means eating a real meal instead of running on snacks. Sometimes it means taking a few minutes outside without turning it into another productivity exercise.

And sometimes recovery means recognizing that you are tired before your body forces you to stop.

There is no prize for consistently running yourself into the ground.

A sustainable approach to fitness leaves room for the rest of your life. You should be able to exercise and still have energy for your family, your work, your hobbies, and the ordinary things that make your life yours.

If your body has been asking for a little more recovery lately, listen to it.

Rest isn't something you earn by working hard enough.

It is part of taking care of yourself.

Adam