5 Signs, That You Need A Rest Day From Training!
Yes I mean days of absolutely NO fitness, Nothing Strainius, No Activity that pushes your limits like AT ALL.
You and me know CrossFit can be pretty exciting and this couldn’t be any truer, ESPECIALLY for the A-Type of person and the Adrenaline Junkies that always strive to be better, faster and stronger. There is just something about CrossFit that is so inviting & so many different aspects to work on in order to get better.
It’s one of the few sports that is so attractive that it can get people to come EVERY SINGLE DAY, even when they’re sore, tired or beaten up. I have multiple clients who just can’t keep out of the gym! They describe this as having this big FOMO – fear of missing out, that they struggle with taking rest days - even if their body is begging for it.
Yep, I know what you’re thinking. It’s the complete opposite for other sports & programs. While some make you feel a bit lazy, CrossFit will actually inspire you & motivate you do more, be more & achieve more.
Yet, even when it’s quite difficult to find the right balance between rest & work especially for those who like to push themselves to their limits, it is a must to pause, take a break and rest whenever necessary & needed.
You see, rest & recovery are also essential parts of training. Oftentimes, training too much can actually sabotage the progress one has been working so hard for. And, do you wanna know why? Because they just. don.t’ rest.
But Rest Is One Of The Main Ingredients In Improvement Here Is Why You Need Rest:
Well, if you haven’t rested, this is your sign to do so now and here are the reasons why.
Rest days are the days a person takes a break from his or her regular workout routine. ALL training is meant to do, is to stimulate your body with exercises and drills, so you afterwards can REST and grow stronger, faster better than you were before. This means that Rest is highly important & highly beneficial, and almost is 50% of the equation - because our body needs that pause after training to be given a chance to repair & recover –
This not only helps us to prevent injuries but also increases performance. The best part is it also allows our mind to rest & relax as well, giving us the ability to refocus and come stronger in our workout routines.
Now, allow me to ask you this question. Do you need rest? At this point, maybe, you don’t. Maybe, you do. Below are 5 things to consider when you look out for signs from your body that you need rest.
5 Signs That You Need Rest
#1 You’re really sore.
Yes, it’s normal to feel sore after a workout. However, if your soreness continues for more than a week or if you are experiencing high level of soreness and you just can’t identify what caused it, you may be in dire need of REST.
#2 You’re not looking forward to your workout.
You want to do more & be more, to be faster & stronger and you push yourself to the limits achieve these, but when you’re already dreading your workout and feeling so stressed & frustrated, this might be a sign your body needs rest. Your mind needs rest. YOU need REST.
#3 You’re sick, injured or in pain.
One of the clearest signs you need rest is this. When you’re already sick and in pain and your body, no matter how motivated your mind is, just gave up, it is high time for you to give the rest your body deserves. I can not stress this enough, it is NOT normal to always have stiff back, achy knees or sore shoulders. These are clear signs you need to change something.
#4 You’re energy depleted.
You either feel extreme thirst, hunger & light headed . These can be signs of dehydration &/or under eating for your recovery. And when you are not fueling your body for your activity levels, it is definitely not okay to carry on with your workout routine because it will only worsen your case, potentially leading to more serious problems. Whenever you feel this, call it a day and rest. Give yourself a chance to get your food and fluid levels back to normal.
#5 Your workout feels harder than usual.
When you already feel like working out is so hard, when you’re already dragging yourself to move, when you’re having difficulties in performing routines you normally crush and when you’re losing the emotional capacity & focus to complete your routines, that’s probably a sign that you need to take a rest.
Conclusion
If you are experiencing any or all of these signs, it is definitely time to listen to your body - and take some action towards more kindness towards yourself.
Because, if you want to get better, stronger and faster, you MUST take rest days. Training is only 50% of the equation and it can only stimulate the body to get stronger IF we remember to add the other 50% of the equation and that is REST.
So, my best advice is to give yourself at least one day when you do no planned strenuous activity and 1 day where you do only light strains that leave you feeling better after the workout than you did before the workout.
Hope this inspires you to take the rest you truly deserve. If you’re interested to read more relevant topics, click this link:
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