QOTW: Rest day versus active recovery day — what’s the difference?

Have you ever truly taken a rest day?

no structured workouts, no tracking steps or logging food– just being.

Active recovery days look like:

day off from the gym but still moving your body: walking, slow run, yoga class, stretching, mobility work etc…. still moving with a purpose
lower intensity, still intentional.

So what’s the big difference?

a true rest day is meant to rest the body and the mind: read, nap, talk to loved ones, eat w/o tracking, watch your favorite show (and maybe stay off of social media…..).
a recovery day is about lower intensity movements but still intentional. Still hitting daily goals & habits with nutrition & movement.

How often should you have a true rest day? Everyone is different. My advice is to do your best to implement a rest day and see how it goes. Perhaps once a month is enough for a true rest day, while others need more in their schedule. Active recovery days should happen 1-2 days per week.