Recovery provides the foundations for long term health

The world revolves around a fast paced rhythm, where everything about life is run at break neck speed and has to be performed to the max. Stress levels continue to rise so people hit the gym because working out reduces stress right? That may be true but if every aspect of your life is carried out with intensity, there is no room for recovery.

‍Technology has allowed us to work longer, work faster and very rarely leave it behind. We are contactable 24 hours a day by everyone. So work is no longer exclusively for office hours, working late has no cut off. Even on holiday it takes a strong willpower not to ‘just check’ emails and even if you don’t respond, your brain has been exposed and therefore subconsciously will struggle to disconnect.

‍So work is hectic but so too is life outside of business hours. There is pressure to be busy not just through factoring in kids, parents, social commitments, pets and all that comes with that, but the competitive pressure to be one step ahead, or at least keep up with, our fellow peers has a much stronger influence than we’d like to think.

‍It’s human nature to want to be perceived as in demand, whether workwise or socially, or both,  as it is deemed to command respect, admiration and a little bit of envy. How people will marvel at how we do life!

‍BUT

‍Work hard, play hard….leads to burnout – hard.

‍Recovery is just as, if not more, important. Recovery is the foundation for long term health, particularly nervous system health. If you live life constantly in fight or flight mode, something will give. The human body is not set up to withstand consistent high pressure, there has to be down time, there has to be recovery. Exercising is very good for stress but equally as effective is recovery, to allow the nervous system to reset, regulate stress and restore energy. Similar to a battery, the body has limited life before it needs recharging.

‍Pushing ourselves to the limit doesn’t make us stronger it can exacerbate stress levels. The body finds strength during recovery. Working hard, training hard, poor sleep hygiene and emotional challenges all impact the nervous system. The Nervous System helps to regulate your body in two different states :

‍Sympathetic – fight or flight. Helping us to respond to stress.

‍Parasympathetic – rest and digest. Helping with repair, healing and restoration.

‍Life, as we know it, has a more sympathetic influence therefore recovery is essential to restore the balance so the parasympathetic system can counteract. Neglecting recovery can reduce the nervous system’s ability to regulate stress. This can lead to:

‍·       Persistent fatigue

‍·       Poor sleep

‍·       Low energy

‍·       Brain fog

‍·       Mood swings

‍·       Increased stress

‍Recovery redresses the balance.

‍Prioritizing self-care and creating space for recovery will regulate your nervous system, providing better support for sleep, energy, and mental and physical wellbeing. This may include:

‍·       Practising good sleep hygiene. Tuning into your circadian rhythm and aiming for 7-9 hours a night.

‍·       Gentle movement such as yoga, stretching or walking.

‍·       Breathwork and mindfulness. Taking time out to be present.

‍·       Getting outside in nature to relax and ground you.

‍·       Meaningful time spent with friends, family or community groups for social connection.

‍·       Balanced nutrition and hydration

‍·       Getting proper rest away from screens and work related activities.

‍If you allow your nervous system to feel safe, it will shift from protection to restoration mode. This will have a huge impact on your long term health and regain a focus on balance and stability. Recovery doesn’t stop you living life to the full, it facilitates it by laying the foundations to enable you  to live your life the way you want.

‍Final thoughts

‍A life without challenge is a life without meaning but a nervous system without recovery is the road to ill health. Investing in recovery will enable your nervous system to support, build and nurture your body to master life’s challenges, alongside its ability to heal, adapt and function at its best. Our bodies are not machines but complex adaptive systems. In order to achieve peak performance we must pay attention to all the parts that make it whole, so we can capitalize on the zest that makes life worth living.

‍PS “Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create” Jana Kingsford Discover the path to long term health Contact Positive-Soul today.

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