When you approach fitness, you need to think of yourself as the project manager of your body’s resources.
It’s not unlike managing resources at work. We’ve all had a boss or client dump a load of work on us, expecting immediate results without allocating the proper resources.
Sure, the work gets done, but it usually isn’t our best work. If it happens frequently, we become burned out, the work suffers and we might start looking for another job.
Just as it takes time and resources to process the workload on your desk, it also takes time for your body to process the signals you send when you start a new workout routine. Rest is how you give the body time and resources to react to the new signals you’re sending to the muscles.
The best thing you can do, of course, is make sure you get a good night’s sleep. In order to do that, you need to condition your body to rest by developing a consistent pattern. The body likes routine—doing the same things at the same time—so having a consistent bedtime will help. You also need to make sure that the sleeping environment is conducive to your individual preferences. Factors to watch include:
Even a good night’s sleep might not be enough. When your body is injured or if you’re sore, you need to augment that sleep by making sure you are in restful position several times during the day.
Anytime you stop using a muscle, you are resting it. If you sit in a comfortable chair with a heating pad on your lower back, you’re allowing sore muscles to rest and replenish. When you give yourself permission to be still and let your mind shut off, you are getting valuable rest. How long you rest depends on the degree of soreness or injury.
Zoning out in front of the TV, playing a video game or reading is not resting. True rest is when you completely shut off the mind and remain still. If you have ever opened the hood while your engine is running, you know that before you repair anything, you need to turn it off. The body is no different. It doesn’t try to repair itself with the engine running. If your muscles are under load they can’t begin the healing process.
Remember that rest is always a part of activity. When you overload your muscles in a vigorous workout, you need to allow equal time for them to rest and heal. Make sure you schedule that downtime and get a good night’s sleep. You can’t maximize the results of your workout without it.
Originally published in Grosse Pointe Today.