Do's and Don'ts for a Productive "Active Rest" Day - Part 3 of 3

This post is a continuation of our Rest Blog mini-series: What is rest? and 6 signs that you need more rest.

Do’s and Don’ts for a productive “active rest” day

Here are a few tips to make the most out of your active rest day.

DON’T be ashamed to take a rest day (or a few) if you need them - overtraining is counterproductive to your overall progress.

DO listen to your body. Only you will know if you need rest or need to get in that next workout today.

DO rest until all the soreness is gone until you exercise again, especially if you are prohibitively sore.

DON’T be concerned that you are losing ground when you take a few days to recover - this is what you need to come back stronger than before.

DON’T be tempted to put in a full workout when you have committed to rest. It is sometimes hard to scale back when doing something like yoga or a short jog, both of which can become taxing on your system if you don’t make a conscious effort to take it easy.

DO focus on eating well. Nutrition plays a key role in your body’s ability to recover.

DON’T stress about missing a workout. Rest is crucial to your overall fitness goals.

DO enjoy yourself on your day off.