Why You Might Wake Up Feeling Achy (It’s Not Just Age)

Ever wake up with muscular pain that seems to come out of nowhere?

That happened to me recently. I woke up with a nagging pain in my mid-back that worked its way into my hip.

The truth is, I’ve had a lot on my mind lately and I haven’t been as focused on health habits that prevent issues like this in the first place. That made me realize: if I, someone who understands and practices massage, movement and recovery for a living can slip up, it’s no wonder why so many of us wake up with some sort of muscular discomfort.

Many of my clients tell me, “I wake up with muscle aches because I am getting older”.  I get it. I’m getting older every day too and sometimes it feels like “age” thinks my body is part of a comedy act. While age does play a role, it’s not the whole story. Often, waking up in pain has more to do with recovery. That’s what I’m going to touch on today and I’ll expand on this important topic in an upcoming blog post.

What is Recovery?

Recovery isn’t just for athletes. It’s the process our bodies go through to repair, reset and prepare for the next day. This includes forming simple yet incredibly important wellness habits such as quality sleep, hydration, proper nutrition, movement, stress management and bodywork.

Why Recovery Matters

When you sleep, your body does the heavy lifting of repair. Muscles, joints and connective tissue all need this downtime to reset. If we’re not giving our bodies what they need, mornings can feel stiff, achy and even painful. But when we focus on incorporating the following habits into our daily and weekly routines, our bodies are able to recover, helping us wake up energized and ready to move through the day with ease.

Common Recovery Mistakes

I’ll dive deeper into these recovery topics in upcoming blog posts.

Not enough deep sleep

Poor sleep quality limits healing.

Dehydration

Muscles and joints need water to stay supple.

Lack of movement before bed

Light stretching, mobility work, or even a few minutes of foam rolling can help circulation and ease tension.

Poor nutrition

Processed foods and low protein can slow the body’s ability repair and recover.

Our muscles repair using the fuel we give them.

Unaddressed tension

Stress posture and skipped bodywork sessions all build up over time.

Daily Habits to Focus on Today

The good news is research consistently shows that small changes can have a big impact.

• Stay hydrated throughout the day.

• Prioritize 7-8 hours of quality sleep.

• Add gentle stretching before bed.

• Fuel your body with protein and whole foods.

• Schedule regular massage or bodywork to help muscles recover properly.

Takeaway:

Waking up is uncomfortable and feeling “stuck” throughout the day doesn’t mean you are “just getting old”. It’s often your body’s way of saying , “I’m not practicing habits that help my body recover so that it’s ready for the next days activities.” By improving recovery, we can wake up feeling more mobile, less achy and ready for the day.

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