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Maggie Schlegel
March 9, 2026
- Maggie Schlegel
- Last updated
Exercise Rest Days: Recharge Over the Holidays… Without Losing Your Routine
The end of the year has a way of draining even the most well-intentioned fitness fanatic.
Between holiday travel, emotional overload, disrupted schedules, and social demands, your usual rhythm disappears – and with it, your motivation.
You might feel like you should be “keeping up” with your routine. But what if your body’s actually begging you to slow down?
At Sultivate, a Reformer Pilates Studio in Sedona, AZ… we believe that exercise rest days aren’t something to squeeze in when everything else falls apart – they’re a vital part of your overall practice, especially during the holidays.
Because rest isn’t giving up.
It’s what lets your system reset, your energy rebuild, and your goals stay sustainable. And yes, you can rest… without losing your routine.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Why rest is a critical part of your movement practice
What rest actually does for your body, brain, and nervous system
How to rest without guilt – and still stay connected to your goals
Let’s redefine what real recovery looks like this season.
Why Rest in Exercise Feels So Hard (Especially Over the Holidays)
You’d think giving yourself permission to rest would be the easy part.
But for a lot of us – especially during the holidays – it’s actually harder than pushing through.
There’s this quiet pressure to “stay on track.” You might worry that taking a break will undo all the progress you’ve made. Or that rest is a sign of weakness. Or that you’ll never get your momentum back.
Spoiler: none of that is true.
Our world celebrates hustle, even when it costs us our health. And that mindset often sneaks into our fitness goals, too. But your nervous system wasn’t built for non-stop activity. It needs time to recalibrate and breathe.
When rest is framed as failure, it becomes something to avoid. But when you see it for what it really is – the missing piece for a healthy life – it becomes something you can embrace.
This season, rest isn’t the thing you “fall into” when everything else breaks down.
It’s the thing that keeps you whole.
So here’s the big question…
Are Rest Days Important? (Yes – Here’s Why)
Are rest days important?
Yes. And not just a little – they’re essential.
Rest is when your body actually absorbs the benefits of your workouts. Without it, your muscles can’t recover, your nervous system can’t regulate, and your energy never fully resets.
In fact, pushing through fatigue too often can lead to burnout, sleep issues, mood swings, and even decreased performance.¹
Physiologically, rest supports:
- Muscle repair and strength-building
- Nervous system recovery (especially the parasympathetic side—your “rest and digest” mode)
- Hormonal balance
- Immune support during high-stress seasons (like, say… the holidays)
And emotionally? Rest days create space. They remind you that your worth isn’t tied to how hard you go… or how often you sweat. That you’re allowed to pause and still be making progress.
Your body is not a machine. It’s a system that works in cycles – exertion and recovery. Action and time to absorb the benefits.
Rest is not the opposite of effort.
It’s what makes effort sustainable.
Before we move on… let’s clear up a common misconception about “exercise rest days”.
What “Exercise Rest” Actually Looks Like
When we hear “rest day,” most of us imagine lying on the couch doing absolutely nothing. And sure, sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
But rest doesn’t always mean total stillness.
Rest days can take many forms – what matters most is that they allow your body and nervous system to recover from stress (including the physical kind).
Here are a few different ways exercise rest might look:
- A quiet walk without your phone
- Gentle stretching or mobility work
- A slower-paced Reformer class (like Relax at Sultivate)
- Breathwork, grounding, or time in nature
- Taking the stairs slower, not faster
- Doing less on purpose
This is sometimes called active recovery – a way of staying connected to movement, but with a softer intention. You’re moving to restore, not to perform.
Rest days aren’t a reward… they’re part of the overall exercise system when you want the best results.
And the more familiar they become, the less guilt you’ll feel when you need one.
So, how exactly should you add rest into your routine?
How to Build Rest into Your Holiday Routine (Without Losing Momentum)
The secret to staying consistent this season isn’t pushing harder… It’s all in the planning.
When rest is part of your routine – not something you fall into when you’re overwhelmed – it becomes a powerful tool, not a setback. And it helps you keep your energy and your movement goals intact.²
Here’s how to build exercise rest days into your holiday flow:
- Block out your rest days first. Just like you’d plan workouts, plan pauses. Even one rest-focused day each week creates space for your body to reset.
- Adjust based on your energy, not just your calendar. Some weeks will be busier than others. Give yourself permission to flex your routine depending on what your body’s telling you.
- Pair rest with a grounding ritual. Stretching in the evening. A cup of tea before bed. A short walk without music. These small cues help signal, “It’s safe to slow down.”
- Don’t double down after a rest day. The point isn’t to make up for time off – it’s to build a rhythm that’s sustainable. Trust that stepping back is part of moving forward.
The more intentional your rest becomes, the more sustainable your movement will feel.
Rest Days and Self-Worth: You’re Still Doing Enough
One of the hardest parts about rest isn’t physical… It’s emotional.
You might know rest is important. But part of you still wonders:
“Am I falling behind?”
“Should I be doing more?”
“What if I lose progress?”
This is where rest bumps up against self-worth.
In a world full of activity and “productivity”, it’s easy to feel like slowing down means you’re failing somehow. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Rest days don’t make you less disciplined.
They make you more resilient.
They allow you to listen, reset, and come back to movement with clarity and energy.
And here’s what we’ve learned at Sultivate:
The people who honor rest as part of their practice – especially during demanding seasons – continue reaching for their goals long after the holidays are over.
So the next time you feel guilty for taking a rest day, just breathe.
Remember: you’re not losing ground. You’re quietly gaining it.
Exercise Rest Days are Productive. Period.
The holidays can challenge even the most committed movement routines.
But the answer isn’t to push through at all costs. It’s to create space to pause – on purpose.
Letting go of guilt allows you to rest without losing momentum.
Your movement goals deserve consistency – not punishment. And your body deserves care – not constant output.
This season, choose rest that supports your rhythm. Movement that matches your energy. Routines that make you feel human, not pressured.
And if you need some active recovery with other human beings, book one of our Relax Pilates Reformer Classes.
Next up: “Pilates for Energy: How to Rebuild Your Motivation After Burnout.”
Sometimes the best way forward… is a gentle return.
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