Recovery

It’s easy to think that if you just train as hard as you can, you’ll get fitter and stronger - no problem.

The reality is that your training is one important part of a number of factors that affect your overall fitness and wellbeing. Life throws obstacles at us that can derail one or more of these areas and it is up to us to stay on top of them as much as we can by developing and maintaining healthy habits.

Training is the stimulus, recovery is where we progress.

Sleep - this differs from person to person but generally 7+ hours a night is recommended to let your body recover and repair itself. Allow time before bed to calm your body and mind and maximise the quality of the sleep to come.

Nutrition and hydration - often overlooked as an element of recovery. Eating a varied, balanced diet and controlling what you put in your body is arguably more important than the exercise you’re recovering from.

Stress - lowering your overall stress levels and boosting your mood are hugely important for reducing the risk of health conditions such as heart attacks, hypertension and strokes. Shorter term, there is a positive correlation between reducing stress and improving gut health, energy levels and mental health. Try something as simple as meditation for 5 minutes, reading a book instead of scrolling or going for a walk in the woods.

No one is perfect all the time but try to focus on small improvements in each area and wait to feel the difference!