REST GOOD.
I am a beast! That’s always been my mentality. I used to tell myself “I’ll rest when I die,” and I’m sure many of us have this mentality when it comes to training. The truth is that rest is actually just as important as putting in the work.
In my younger days I had a poor relationship with rest. It was the last thing I wanted to do: I felt like the harder I went, the faster I would improve and the stronger I would get. What happened was actually the opposite. I felt more stressed, I got injured more often, and on top of this, my sleep was off. All this stems from over training. This had to change. I kept asking myself “How can I continue to win if I’m always tired?”
“Overtraining is more destructive than under training. When our nervous system is completely shot, our immune system is compromised and easily infiltrated. When that is compromised, injury is more likely as well. So, if we haven’t rested, what do you think training ‘hard’ is going to do? Rest is when the body recuperates and cultivates energy to be spent. It is the ultimate therapy. Nothing beats sleep. No healing can occur without sleep. So get some good sleep in and establish some semblance of a rhythm.” -Nick Bautista, Trinity Collective https://www.trinityspaces.ca/blog/goodnowgreatlater
It helps to break REST into 3 categories: passive, active and social.
PASSIVE REST:
In my opinion, this is the most important type of rest, but it's not always the easiest to take. Certain types of people feel like it’s a waste of time to be passive, lying or sitting down, doing absolutely nothing. However, this kind of rest is quite beneficial for a person's health. In the world we live in today, especially with our smartphones in our faces all day long, when do we get the chance to sit quietly with our own thoughts? For me, passive rest comes in the form of meditation, sleep, reading or writing. I now aim to get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep, though sometimes you just have to thug it out.
ACTIVE REST:
While high intensity training has its benefits, there are also many benefits to lighter activities. Some lighter activities can include riding a bike, hiking, swimming, yoga, and others. These can also help manage stress levels, boost your mood and add to your well being. We don’t always have to go hard to get results. My favourite thing to do is to step out into nature, turn my phone off and walk through the trails filled with beautiful trees and animals. This is also a great way to purify the lungs and to be present with your thoughts.
SOCIAL REST:
Spend time with good people who appreciate you. Spending time socializing is not slacking off. Having good conversation relaxes the mind, improves the mood and can be a good way to de-stress. Social bonds are important, and maintaining them is good for your overall health and well-being. Express your thoughts and feelings.
“There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.”