Exercise is a very important part of staying healthy. It keeps your weight in check, can strengthen your body and muscles, and is great for your heart. It can also help give you more self-confidence and improve your looks. While working out and being consistent is hard, it is well worth the eventual results.
However, you also need to take some time to recover from these workouts. While sleeping on the right mattress for you is great for recovering and giving your body a break, it is also a good idea to take some rest days.
This article is going to take a closer look at the importance of getting good rest after a hard workout or exercise.
Rest is When Your Muscles Actually Grow Stronger
While many people believe that your muscles grow during a workout, that isn’t actually the case. The muscle growth in your body actually takes place while you are resting. During exercise, your muscles suffer several micro-tears from being pushed hard to their limits.
When you are done exercising is when these muscles repair themselves and grow larger, stronger and more resilient.
So if you continuously lift or exercise and take no breaks, you aren’t giving your body a chance to build back up those muscles to become stronger. You will also replenish your energy during these rest days, which is never a bad thing.
Rest Reduces Your Chances of Injuries
Giving your body a break to rest can also lower your chances of suffering an injury. Any activity where you put some extra strain on your muscles and body can lead to an accident or injury occurring. But if your muscles are tired, overworking them can lead to an overuse injury. An injury will keep you out far longer than a rest day will, so if you are struggling to utilize proper form, it is best to rest and not push yourself too hard.
In addition to overworked muscles, trying to exercise without rest may lead you to “cheat” in terms of your form because your body is too exhausted to maintain proper form. Working out with poor form can lead to injuries or the development of bad habits that can lead to general soreness or discomfort.
To Reduce Pain and Keep You Comfortable
Rest is also important to manage pain. Soreness after working out is normal, but don’t force yourself to go back the next day if this pain is still there. If you do, your workout likely won’t be very effective, and you won’t have an enjoyable time.
If you are constantly sore and uncomfortable, you may lose the motivation to work out and may resent it. Always take a break when you need it. Working out and being healthy is a lifelong goal, so don’t have a short term view of it. Taking a rest day for a more comfortable workout the following day is never a bad idea.
In conclusion, we hope this blog post has been able to help you learn the value and importance of a good rest after a workout.