We get it, taking rest days can be tough. It’s hard not to get your daily dose of adrenaline or go hang out with your gym bestie for an hour. But the truth is that rest days are pivotal in ensuring proper recovery as well as muscle growth. Skipping your weekly rest days can lead to burnout, adrenal fatigue, and slowed gains inside the gym during your actual training days. So when your Whoop strap’s recovery bar is not as high as you’d like it to be, don’t ignore it. Take a recovery day and try one of these five things to scratch that fitness itch instead.
1. Go On A Hike: Hop on Google and look up local trails in your area. Grab a few friends and hit the great outdoors. Be sure to pack plenty of water and remember, this is not a workout. It’s a chance to get outside and enjoy everything nature has to offer while remaining active. There’s no need to push the pace or run up those steep hills. Take it slow and enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors.
2. Enjoy An Urban Hike: No time to make it out of the city? Strolling the streets of your neighborhood or a new neighborhood is a great way to get outdoors and move around for an hour. Tune into your favorite podcast and stroll the streets while exploring your favorite city.
3. Go For A Swim: Swimming is very low impact, making it the perfect recovery workout. Head on out to your local YMCA or high school pool, get yourself a day pass, and enjoy an hour or so of leisurely swimming. Not sure where to start? The Invictus Competition Program has a great series of swim workouts programmed for their rest days.
4. Hit A Long Romwod Session: The Netflix of stretching, Romwod is a great way to work out mobility problem areas that plague you during your training. Each week, Romwod offers a longer 45-minute session that’s perfect for active recovery days.
5. Take A Yoga Class: Having trouble motivating yourself to turn on Romwod? Head on out to a Yoga class. Yoga is not only great for your mobility but can also help to improve your core strength as well as clear your mind. It’s the perfect combination of mindfulness and recovery that makes this the perfect rest day activity.