Knowing when to rest vs making excuses can be pretty murky waters.
Do you:
-routinely tell yourself you’re going to workout but then decide you’re too tired and are better off taking a rest day, ultimately missing a lot of workouts?
OR
-push through & run your body into the ground, not taking an unscheduled rest day, no matter what.
Whichever you are, you might be wondering whether you’re doing the right thing. This article will help you tell the difference:
Signs You’re Making Excuses
You:
-Typically get enough restful sleep OR
-Get less than 6 hours sleep for reasons ?????? your control (watching TV, scrolling social media)
-Aren’t under a lot of stress
-Skip several workouts per month
-Bargain with yourself, saying you’ll just get it done at another time but then never do
-Rarely regret doing a workout and always feel better afterward
If your health is a priority, you need to be showing up for yourself consistently. This means following through on what you need to do, even if you don’t feel like it in the moment.
Try this:
-If you’re trying to become a morning person, set your clothes out & do as much as you can the night before so you can go on autopilot when the alarm goes off.
-Develop a bedtime ritual to get more/better sleep
–Know exactly what you’ll do for a workout
-Give yourself a reasonable time limit
-Have accountability
-Find the time of day that feels the easiest to follow through
Signs You Need Rest
You’re:
-Regularly getting less than 6 hours sleep for reasons ??????? your control (kids, busy time at work, medical condition)
-Under an unusual amount of stress
-Typically very disciplined but occasionally just can’t muster the energy to get it done
-Recovering from an injury or illness that you just can’t shake
-Regularly forcing yourself to workout but feel worse afterward
Treating your body with love & kindness, giving it rest when necessary, is crucial for overall health.
Try this:
-Prioritize stress relief (journaling, meditation, nature walks)
-Do more restorative workouts (yoga, stretching, lower intensity cardio)
-Build in 2-3 mandatory rest days per week
Join The Community
If you’re tired of the #nodaysoff and #nopainnogain attitude you see on social media, come join my Live Diet-Free Facebook community. We’re all about eating and moving in ways that make us feel better & enhance our quality of life while reaching our goals.
