Your body will tell you it needs rest in more ways than you think, and some of these signs may not be as obvious as feeling tired or having sore muscles after a workout. While these are tell tale signs that you need a break, it’s important to be aware of the others so that you’re not over-working yourself and causing both mental and physical burnout.
You may need a rest day if you find that sleep, no matter how much, just isn’t cutting it. If you’re getting over eight hours of sleep and find that you’re still tired then that means your body is trying to play catch-up with all of the exercises you’ve been putting it through. Sleep is a very important part of our workout schedule, arguably as important as the workout itself. We need decent sleep in order for our muscles to regenerate and create new growth hormones. If you’re overworking your body then that means you need extra healing time. If your muscles are still sore after three days of recovery, this may be a sign that you need to reign in the intensity of your workout.
There are also some mental symptoms your body might experience that show your body might be calling out for a rest day. First of all, you might find that you’re dreading your next workout. It’s completely normal to dread working out to an extent. Exercising involves a lot of mental and physical exertion, so feeling a bit lazy from time to time is to be expected. BUT if it gets to the point that you physically can’t get off the couch because you’re dreading going to the gym that much, this may be a sign that you need a break. If this is something you experience frequently then you may also want to consider if your workout is suited to you. Maybe you need to try something different or less challenging to spice it up a bit.
Another mental sign of burnout is grumpiness and irritability. If you find you’re getting annoyed at your family or co-workers more than usual, this may be a sign that your brain wants a break from working out. Mental exhaustion can lead to short tempers, and this may cause unnecessary negative tension with your loved ones. Give yourself a break! Give them a break!
It’s important to give yourself a proper rest day when needed, and this doesn’t just mean sleeping. You need to make sure you’re nourishing your body with the right nutrients that will help heal and repair you mentally and physically. For maximum rest-day-ness, try and take a break from staring at screens as well. While it may seem relaxing to spend a day binging a TV show, this blue light and eye strain will only cause unnecessary stressors in your brain. Try taking a gentle walk instead of spending the day outside on a picnic.