We live in a go, go, go society most days. Being busy, and being tired has become the norm. But just because it's normal, doesn't mean that it's good for you, or healthy, or that it has to stay that way. And when it comes to your mindset around exercise and weight loss, it's easy to think the more you workout the more you lose weight so you must work out religiously to see any results.
I'm heading into the final week before the wedding and even I have been the victim (by my own doing) of a busy schedule and being constantly on the move.
But rest days are just as important if not more important for your health as movement is. With obsessive workouts, too much intensity, or even just lack of sleep can lead to chronic stress on the body and fatigue. Which can lead to the opposite of all your health goals!
Giving your body a chance to rest allows it to rebuild the muscles you have worked from previous exercises, rest the body and recover your energy (it's not infinite and doesn't just come from more caffeine!), and recharge all parts of your being. When you take time to slow down and rest it actually allows you to get close to your goals (whether that be weight loss, more energy, a clearer mind, etc).
Needing rest is often viewed as being weak but it's actually a very underutilized superpower! Incorporating rest days into your week can look different every day. This was definitely something I used to struggle with, being on a 7 days a week workout regimen, I hit my fair share of burnout periods because my body was under so much stress and fatigue.
Well, I'm here to tell you not just that you can rest, but that you need rest!
Did you know that yoga can help lowering cortisol levels, reducing blood pressure, and increasing the quality of sleep?
Walking supports our cardiovascular system but also is a low-impact weight-bearing activity that supports bone health, blood sugar balance, and immune function without stressing the body (note: walking can be used as a more intense activity if you want it, but doesn't have to! Its a universal tool).
But if you are someone who is constantly on the go, having a day where you read a book on the couch is rest too! Rest can be gentle movement or sometimes no movement.
Here are some of my favorites.
✨Take a Yoga class (not hot yoga or yoga sculpt but more vinyasa/stretching focused) ✨ Meditate
✨ Stretching
✨ Go for a walk ✨ Standing and gently twisting your body/spine
But also non-movement-based practices of ✨ Getting lost in a book ✨ Slow Belly Breaths (think 4 seconds in, 6 seconds out) ✨ Laughing ✨ Taking a bath ✨ Humming or singing or listening to calm music
What you need at different stages of your life will make this look different. Honor where you are and what you need.
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