Why is Rest So Important?
Getting adequate rest is essential for mental and physical health. Most people don't realize that rest is just as important as working out. The body needs rest time to repair and rebuild itself after training. During rest, the body adapts to the stresses of training and grows stronger. It is very important to incorporate rest days into your training program. A lack of rest can lead to over-training, plateaus, illness, or injury.
Body Needs Time to Recover from the Workouts
When you are working out, you are putting stress on the body. Your body needs time to adapt to the stress you are giving it. When you don't get enough rest, the body releases cortisol, a stress hormone. Too much cortisol can impact your body, affecting immune function, weight, brain, and mood. Remember to take rest days to allow your body to recover.
Adequate Rest Reduces the Risk of Injury
Training without adequate rest can lead to injury. Not getting enough rest can also lead to overtraining and catabolism. Overtraining can cause injury, sleep disturbance, and even depression. Enough rest can reduce the chance of injury. Research has shown that getting enough rest not only decreases the risk of injury but also improves performance. Make sure your body gets adequate rest to stay injury-free.
Muscle Only Grows When You Rest
Did you know the body actually builds muscle during rest? When you exercise, particularly with strength training, you break down your muscle tissue. Your muscles needs time to heal and rebuild after each workout in order to become bigger. When you rest, your muscles are repaired, which is when mass is gained.
Rest is Important for Mental Wellbeing
A good rest is essential for good overall mental health and brain function. Without adequate rest, the brain cannot function optimally. Your brain needs regular breaks from stress. The study found that when you sleep your brain cleans itself of neurotoxic waste products that accumulate in the awake central nervous system. Get enough rest by sleeping at least 8 hours daily.
Tips
1. Get enough time to get rest and recover from the physical activity.
2. Remember to incorporate rest days into your training regimen.
3. Don't train every single day.
4. Make sure to get a good nights sleep.
5. Try taking a warm or cold shower or bath to ease any pains and aches.
6. Avoid overtraining.
7. Stay properly hydrated and eat a balanced diet.
8. Try a massage.
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