This post was written by Shawn Glenn, ATC, a certified athletic trainer at Parkview Sports Medicine.
The best things we can do for ourselves are to exercise and eat healthy, right? These are the main messages if you want to lose weight and stay in shape. “Try this diet” “Try this new trendy workout at the gym” Researchers and fitness influencers are constantly talking about superfoods that can help keep you looking young and easily solve stubborn love problems. I have a fresh perspective. But you have a little secret. One of the biggest things you can do for your body is, drumroll… rest!
Yes, I said rest! You need to rest as much as you need to be active and eat nutritious food. When you rest, your body recovers from all the stress you endured throughout the day. Think of this as your internal reset button. Without this, stress will accumulate so much that the entire system will crash.
What does rest actually look like?
Let’s define rest. We call this a “meaningful break” that your mind can use to recalibrate and filter your day. For the brain to do this effectively, it needs to stop taking in new data, which usually requires about 7 to 8 hours of meaningful sleep.
The role of sleep in recovery
Now that we have defined rest as sleep, we can return to the importance of this function in relation to health.
Stress from exercise can have a negative effect on your body. For most of us, work, busy schedules, and the demands of life create countless stressors. There is a saying: “Work hard, play hard.” However, I recommend switching to a “sleep well and feel well” mindset. To get the most out of your day, you need to prioritize rest. If you don’t, by dinner time your body will tell you it can’t handle any more stress and start shutting down, whether you want it to or not.
Sleep is just as important as eating healthy food and exercising regularly. If you’re trying to lose unwanted weight or gain weight through workouts and it’s not working, focusing on rest could be the magic ingredient you’ve been missing. This is more effective than any social media trend or superfood star.
tips for better sleep
If you’re looking for guidance on how to get the best sleep possible, check out these articles on your Parkview dashboard:
Mindfulness and sleep
Motivation to unplug for a better night’s sleep
Is sleep restriction therapy right for you?
4 strategies for better sleep
