The Importance of a Rest Day
Rest days are beneficial for both physical wellbeing and mental wellbeing. When we work out, we create tiny tears in the muscles that heal and make us stronger. If we don’t ever rest, we risk further injury, and the workout won’t be as beneficial. Resting replenishes glycogen stores, repairs tissue, and allows your body to adapt to the stress of exercise.
Resting can reduce the mental load of practice schedules and allow you to perform better in your daily life, reducing burnout and increasing motivation. This can really help with your levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. With cortisol levels in check, your hormones can be more balanced.
Athlete Burnout
Often, a lot of athletes struggle with plateaus in their training where they aren’t improving. Resting can help with this and can facilitate continued improvement.
Better Sleep
Rest days can also lead to better sleep. Usually, exercise helps people sleep, but too much can be tiring and have the opposite effect. Resting can reset your sleep patterns leading to a better week.
Food Absorbtion
Rest days can also help you absorb nutrients from food, facilitating muscle repair and growth.
Written by: Claire