6 signs your body needs a break
Our bodies are incredible. They can endure a lot. They get us through our everyday tasks, hectic days, hard workouts and the many twists and turns life can throw our way. Have you ever stopped to think about how our bodies respond to this every day action? Well, our bodies are talking to us each day, we just have to take the time to listen.
We will be walking you through 6 signs that our bodies are craving a much-needed break.
Body Cramps and Aches
Cramps, joint pain and muscle fatigue are some of the many inflammatory responses our bodies relay. This is a sign that the body needs more time to recover. This doesn’t always have to be connected to a hard workout. Sometimes a stressful day at work or a non-stop weekend can trigger these same inflammatory responses. Eating natural anti-inflammatory foods, consuming Omega 3 fatty acids and rest can help to give your body the recovery it needs.
Increased and prolonged soreness
Moderate muscles soreness and delayed onset muscles soreness (DOMS) is nothing to be alarmed about. Soreness is a natural response to building muscles and getting stronger. However, if the soreness is preventing you from completing every day activities or the discomfort lasts for more than 72 hours, your body is telling you something different. If you do experience increased muscles soreness , step away from the weights for just a couple days. Perform gentle exercises such as walking and stretching. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and consuming an adequate amount of protein to aid in muscle recovery as well.
Your appetite is out of whack
If we are over-worked, we feel stressed, right? Our bodies will immediately respond to this stress with hormones. Cortisol is a stress hormone that plays a significant role in controlling blood sugar. Corticotropin-releasing hormone inhibits our appetite and glucocorticoids stimulates it. How your appetite responds to stress will give you a better idea of how your body regulates these hormones.
Lingering Injuries
If you find you have minor injuries that are nagging and not healing properly, that can be a sign that your body wants a break! Back off just a bit on the intensity of your work out, focus more on mobility and stability during this time and allow your body to rest before you jump right back into it.
Mood Changes
Our mental health is extremely important. You not only have to check in physically, you have to check in mentally as well! If you are typically even-tempered and find yourself having a short fuse or in an overall funk, take time to decompress and take a break. Seeking help from a licensed therapist is a great way to understand how to properly care of your mental health.
Lack of concentration
If you notice a brain fog or a hard time concentrating…don’t ignore it. Physical fatigue or tiredness can have a negative impact on our mental capabilities. If you are not able to focus at work/in class or find yourself being more forgetful, slow down
Taking a break doesn’t mean you are being lazy. Our bodies are not meant to go 100 mph every single day. Refresh and get your body back to baseline so you can get back to being energized, healthy and productive!
Equip | Encourage | Empower 