With the idea of “no pain, no gain” as a recognizable slogan, many people end up fixating too greatly on this as their motivational motto and end up over-training. Although consistency is always key as well as increasing demand relative to what our bodies can handle, there is a progressible limit one should be cognizant of.
There are certain signs that we should recognize as red flags, warning us that rest is needed (and most likely long overdue):
-Decline in training performance
-Sore for too long after training
-More sensitive to injury
-Fast resting heart rate
-Restless and/or sleepless nights
-Waves of mood swings
-Small appetite
If you check 1 or more of these, it’s time to rest and recover. This will allow your body and mind to heal properly and come back stronger the next time you go to train. There are various ways to overcome muscular stiffness and mental fatigue, such as hot baths, manual therapy, cupping, yoga, mediation, etc., just find one that works for you that you can be consistent with for your recovery days!