My 2014 New Year's resolution was to take one rest day per week.
I was quite dramatic in announcing my goal. I even made this ridiculous photograph...
The reason I was so dramatic was because even just a year ago, taking a rest day was a huge deal for me and caused a lot of anxiety.
Things started off well. I purposefully planned and tracked my rest days to make sure I indeed took one once a week. But then I had knee surgery. I took a lot of rest days after that! I of course recovered, and sort of stopped keeping track of rest days. I still took them, but I took them organically, when I felt like I needed one. As the year progressed, my anxiety about rest days diminished. I am now at the point where I take 2 lower body rest days every 9 days. And I don't worry about it- at all.
With all these rest days I didn't get fat. I didn't lose fitness. Nothing bad came from it. I think the best thing that came from it was that slowly but surely, my anxiety about rest days fell by the wayside and I started to look at them as just part of the program. Because, as most people know, rest IS part of the program!
No resolutions for me this year! I already wrote out some of my goals for the next couple months, so that is what I am sticking with for now!
Did you make a resolution? How did you do?
What's your take on rest days? Are you happy for them? Do they cause anxiety?
I used to also freak out about taking a rest day as if all the hard earned fitness would just slip away in 24 hours...lol. I was much better about it this year, but I still tend to be anxious if I'm resting and see all sorts of fitness/running posts on Instagram. :S I'm working on it. ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't usually make resolutions but when I'm explaining how resolutions work to my first graders, I usually do the example of 'eating more vegetables,' lol.
I totally understand. On a day I don't workout, I feel like EVERYONE is working out. Maybe stay away from insta on rest days??
DeleteThat is a very good idea!!!
DeleteI do not make any New Year's resolutions bc if I don't fullfill them I get disappointed in myself. Taking schedule rest days is important. I don't ever schedule them but they always seem to come up at least once a wk anyways. -L
ReplyDeleteYou have my same rest day outlook!
DeleteGood job! 4 workouts is a good balance. Some people need more rest than others. No one size fits all. You killed your 1/2 so it clearly worked for you. :)
ReplyDeleteNice job! Yes I take about 1-2 rest days depending on what I've done or if my schedule gets hectic. I don't so much stress about taking rest days in general as I do WHEN I take then. I try to plan rest days around crazy work days if I have them, but sometimes those are hard to plan, so sometimes on non rest days I have a crazy schedule and wish that was the day I used. In general through they are so good for your body! My NY resolution was to not get any parking tickets. 2nd year in a row I made that resolution and I did it for two years now! Going for three!
ReplyDeleteI never got a parking ticket, but I have a feeling that isn't such a big accomplishment in Central PA as it would be in LOS ANGELES!
DeleteI totally understand about planning rest days for those super busy days. Especially because it will take your mind of the fact that you're not working out. (If you are like me, it helps to be preoccupied on rest days. Like a Sunday rest day would NEVER work for me!)
This is great news, getting over any anxiety is huge. Plus rest days are greatly important with heavy activity. No resolutions but I have plenty of goals for sure.
ReplyDeleteThanks! :) One of my 2015 goals is to race "for fun" more so that I don't have the race day anxiety of feeling like I have to prove something every time.
DeleteThat's so great that you were able to stop worrying about rest days! I used to feel the same way and its so nice to not freak out about taking a few days off. Its definitely part of the program!
ReplyDeleteGlad you are at that point too! :)
DeleteIt make too many rest days! One of my goals this year will be to take fewer. You did a great job embracing your goal!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ali :)
DeleteI used to have a lot of anxiety about rest days, but then I was severely injured this year in April and almost lost my left leg. I am only now able to run again, and only on a treadmill. Today is actually my first attempt at a SHORT and SLOW jog outside ;) Not being able to walk, let alone run, for several months really put rest days in perspective...I like to be active every day, but some days it is just a nice, slow stroll....You have such a healthy, strong and balanced workout routine (strength, cardio, and rest)!
ReplyDeleteI have no specific resolution just year. It just has to be better than this past year!
Oh my word I am so sorry this past year was such a nightmare for you! That really WOULD put rest days in perspective. I mean, I had knee surgery and was laid up for a couple weeks, but nothing like what you went through. I am so excited today is your first running day and I hope it went well for you!!!!! :)
DeleteI have a HARD time with rest days. I am still trying to embrace them. I don't ever make resolutions because I feel like I would be too disappointed in myself if I didn't complete them. Instead, I make goals, because I am really good at sticking to my goals.
ReplyDeleteI know you are good at sticking to goals! :) Resolutions tend to be very I WILL or I WON'T... cut and dry right off the bat, rather than something to work toward... Mine was pretty cut and dry. I WILL take one rest day a week.
DeleteI used to get really pouty about rest days and didn't see the point in them...that is, until I started doing triathlon. Now I LOVE my rest days and enjoy them as much as possible. Our bodies NEED rest and time to recover. This was definitely a huge mentality change for me over the past year.
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