The Importance of Rest Days

6 Jan 2025DediKate

Think of rest days as an important part of your exercise plan! They allow your body to recover so you can give everything to your workouts!

When it comes to exercise and working out...

It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking ‘more is better’ – while it’s great that you are obviously enjoying what you are doing, this sort of mindset can do more harm than good!

Read on to find out why rest days are important!

Any effective exercise programme should factor in rest days as an important component. Think of these days as a part of your routine, rather than ‘the days you don’t workout’

Below are a few reasons why rest and recovery are so important within your fitness journey!

Preventing burnout: Having a rest day a few times a week will prevent you from both mental and physical burnout and help keep you motivated for your next workout!
Your muscles need time to repair and recover after you have pushed your body in a workout! They need rest to be able to effectively adapt and get stronger.
Consistency: We are aiming for a long term healthy lifestyle here after all! You’re more likely to be able to maintain working out 4 days a week than try and make it happen everyday!
Efficiency: A rested and recovered body and mind will enable you to complete your workouts with more intensity! You will get a greater sense of satisfaction and notice strength and fitness changes because you are able to push your body more!
A balanced lifestyle: Exercise should be seen as a great addition to your life – not an added stress! Planning your workouts sensibly along with your other commitments is key.
Review & adapt: If your body is fatigued but you had planned a tougher workout, maybe have one of your rest and recovery days instead? Or try a lower impact option such as DediKate Pilates or Low Impact workout.
Incorporate gentle forms of movement and relaxation on your rest days - this is really helpful for tired muscles. Maybe try a DediKate Calmé or BeYoga session!