After a week of busy workdays, your day off has finally arrived.
“I’m worn out this week, so today I’ll just lounge around at home all day.”
Many of us probably think this way.
Of course, when you have been short on sleep for a while or your body feels very tired, getting plenty of rest is important.
At the same time,
have you ever felt “I didn’t do anything, yet I still feel somehow tired by evening”?
In fact, just because you are tired, staying completely still all day does not always lead to the best recovery.
Does Moving When You Are Tired Backfire?
When you are tired, moving your body can feel like it will only tire you out more.
But “moving” here does not mean a hard workout.
Taking a walk around the neighborhood.
Walking to a café.
Going shopping.
Strolling slowly through a park.
We mean light physical activity like this.
Much research has been done on physical activity and mental health, and physical activity, including walking, has been reported to show a positive relationship with mood and psychological well-being.
So on your days off, rather than
“I’m tired, so I won’t move a single step,”
gently moving your body, if you feel up to it, can also be an option for shifting your mood.
Spending Time Somewhere Green Is Another Option
Even more interesting is the relationship between natural environments and our physical and mental state.
Spending time in natural settings such as parks and forests has been studied from many angles, including stress, mood and cognitive function.
A meta-analysis of recent research also reported that contact with natural environments shows a small but positive effect on some cognitive functions, such as attention and working memory.
Of course,
“Walk in a park and your fatigue will be completely gone”
is not what this means.
Even so, for those who spend much of the week in an office or in front of a computer, walking somewhere green and seeing different scenery can be a chance to shift your mood.
There is no need to travel far.
Simply walking through a nearby park or a tree-lined street can give you time that feels different from your usual work environment.
A Do-Nothing Day Off Is Not a Bad Thing
So, is a day off spent relaxing at home a bad idea?
Of course not.
You have been short on sleep for a while.
You are not feeling well.
Your body feels very tired.
On days like these, there is no need to force yourself to make plans.
What matters is
not assuming that “rest = not moving at all, all day”.
For example, take it easy in the morning, then go for a 20–30 minute walk in the afternoon.
Have lunch nearby and come back home.
Walk to the park, then relax at home afterward.
Combining “rest + light activity” like this is another way to think about it.
It is important to adjust according to how tired you are and how you have been sleeping that day.
Is Your Mind Still at Work on Your Day Off?
Another thing to consider is not your body, but how you rest your mind.
Even while lying on the sofa, you might be:
Scrolling social media.
Watching short videos.
Checking the news.
Checking work emails or Slack.
Then even if your body is still, you are taking in new information one piece after another.
And if you check work messages, you may start thinking about work even on your day off.
On your days off, it is worth being mindful not only of resting your body but also of making time to put psychological distance between yourself and your usual work.
It can also help to think about your day off not only in terms of “what not to do,” but from the perspective of
“how to spend time that is different from usual”.
Don’t Limit Yourself to Doing Nothing or Packing Your Schedule
On a day off when you want to recover from fatigue, you do not have to go out.
On the other hand, being tired does not mean you have to spend the whole day in bed or on the sofa.
If you are feeling well enough, you might:
Rest slowly.
Walk a little.
Get some fresh air.
See different scenery.
Step away from work and your phone.
Combining activities like these is one option.
At La HEAD, in a calm, fully private room, you step away from your computer and phone, close your eyes, and receive slow, unhurried care not only for your head but also for your neck, shoulders and arms.
Your day off is neither just for getting through a long list of plans, nor just for doing nothing all day.
What matters is choosing between “resting” and “moving lightly” according to how tired you feel.
Why not think of your day off as time to reset the body and mind that worked so hard all week, and get ready for the week ahead?