7. Breathe Properly
As HuffPost reports, when it comes to workout plans, “improving our breathing could help to lower blood pressure, decrease stress, improve athletic performance and maybe even increase brain size.” There are several keys to proper breathing; first is to breathe from your diaphragm, through your belly, not your chest. Second, avoid shallow breathing, or taking short breaths where you don’t get enough oxygen. Lastly, make sure you breathe rhythmically and smoothly. “If your breathing is erratic, it’s hard to get into the zone.”
8. Give yourself a rest day
To boost performance and maximize results, you need to give your body a chance to recover. Yes, that’s right, we’re telling you that instead of working out more and working out harder, you should be resting more and giving your body a break to see results. According to fitness and nutrition expert Jay Cardiello, “never taking a day off sets the body up for a breakdown. You become more susceptible to severe muscle soreness, a suppressed immune system, improper sleep, a decrease in strength and performance, and injury.”
