When you’re consistently hitting the gym and feeling great, it can be hard to take a break. After all, exercising offers a boost of feel-good endorphins in addition to the many other health benefits.
But taking a break at least one day each week from your workout routine could benefit you more than going to the gym every day. Here are a few signs that your body is ready for a rest day:
• If your muscles are consistently achy for more than a day, you may be overworking them, leading to injury.
• If you’ve been feeling agitated or stressed more often than usual, it could be a sign that you need a mental and physical break.
• If you’re noticing changes in your sleep patterns, like napping more than usual or needing to go to bed significantly earlier.
4 Tips for Improving Your Cognitive Health
Did you know that cognitive health plays a major role in longevity? As we age, changes occur in our cognitive function, but there are things you can do to stay sharp. Here are some of our favorite tips.
1. Get regular exercise. Regular exercise has been shown to improve memory and thinking skills, and can help protect against age-related cognitive decline.
2. Eat a healthy diet. Eating a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help improve your cognitive health.
3. Get enough sleep. Getting enough quality sleep can help improve memory, focus, and problem-solving skills.
4. Challenge your brain. Doing activities that challenge your brain, such as puzzles and brain games, can help improve cognitive function. Learning new things and taking on new challenges can also help keep your mind sharp.
Motion is Medicine
When we think of protecting fragile things, we usually picture storing breakables in a cabinet, or keeping them locked in a safe place where nothing can hurt them.
And while we only get one spine, the best way to protect it is much different. In fact, the best way to ensure your spine works properly for years to come is to keep it moving! You may even find it helps with back and neck pain or sore muscles.
For our spines, motion is medicine, and it’s important to make sure your spine gets its daily dose of movement regularly. As many of us sit for work each day, consider this your reminder to get up and take that walk during your lunch break. Setting alarms every couple of hours on your phone can help remind you to stand up and move.
What are some of the ways you sneak movement into your day?