With a little extra time on your hands, it can be easy to fall into over-training. Running to interrupt work is a great stress release, but it is possible to do too much of it. So how do you avoid fatigue or over-training?
It is important to note when your energy takes a dive during work or training. There are small things you can do, like eat a snack with high carb levels, stand up walk around and stretch. Over time, you’ll develop a sense of what it looks like to best prepare for work and exercise and cool-down based on your individual needs.
Here’s the thing. Right now we are in a season of extremes. Some of us are extreme couch surfers who need a little extra push back towards our goals, while others have dived in full force with their job or over-training with the extra time that they have. Neither extreme is optimal. A balance of rest and training must be found in order to hit your goals and stay healthy.
Sleep
Sleep as much as you need. If you are working from home, use your lunch break for a nap or your previous commute time to sleep in another ten or twenty minutes. Sleep is vital. Adequate sleep will help you reach your full potential and achieve optimal performance whether working or exercise. Sleep will help you regulate your hunger and boost recovery. All of your work or training does not happen in running shoes, some of it happens by turning off the alarm and snoozing just a little longer.
If you are struggling to get the sleep you need, read 10 Best Practices to Improve Sleep Quality for Runners.
Your body needs to take breaks. Listen to it and treat it kindly.