Vai Vēloties Atkārtoties Pēc Olimpiskām Normām? Alisons Feliksa Saka: "Pirmkārt Aizpildiet Savu Kausi

Track and field star Allyson Felix s rest and recovery tips and explains why motherhood inspired her to advocate for paid leave.on PinterestAllyson Felix, mom of two and the most decorated track and field athlete in U.S.

Track and field star Allyson Felix s rest and recovery tips and explains why motherhood inspired her to advocate for paid leave.

on PinterestAllyson Felix, mom of two and the most decorated track and field athlete in U.S. history, understands the importance of rest and recovery. Photography courtesy of Allyson Felix

When it comes to national policies around paid sick or family leave, the United States falls short compared to other developed countries.

Around 28 million Americans lack access to paid sick time, which disproportionately affects low-income workers and their families, particularly caregivers.

A recent survey from Theraflu and Wakefield Research of more than 1,000 employed U.S. adults who care for someone in their household found that 80% of respondents couldn’t afford to take a sick day.

More than half of respondents said they worked while sick because they needed the income, while 28% said that taking a sick day could put their job at risk.

Working parents are often obligated to continue their responsibilities even when they’re sick. Mothers are more likely than fathers to bear the brunt of this responsibility, even in the most egalitarian households.

Without paid sick leave, burnout is inevitable — whether you’re a caregiver or not. If left unchecked, burnout can lead to serious health issues like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

That’s why track and field icon Allyson Felix is on a mission to help make paid sick time a fundamental right rather than a privilege.

The five-time U.S. Olympian partnered with Theraflu to raise awareness for The Right to Rest & Recover Fund, which has offered microgrants to families that help offset lost income from unpaid sick days. The Fund has distributed more than $1 million in microgrants since 2021.

As a mom of two, Felix knows firsthand how physically and emotionally taxing it can be to care for young children when you’re unwell. As a former elite sprinter specializing in the 200m, 400m, and relay events, Felix understands the importance of rest and recovery for both the body and the mind.

Now retired, the most decorated American track and field athlete in history — with 11 Olympic medals across five Games and a three-time world champion — has her heart set on a new goal: Paid sick leave for all.

“I don’t think it’s a conversation that we’re having enough of,” Felix told Healthline. “I love that Theraflu is doing something about it for people who are experiencing this hardship.”

Rest and recovery prevent burnout

Regardless of your parenting or caregiving status or even your fitness level, everyone benefits from rest and recovery — and from sick days when you need them.

Clarinda Hougen, MD, primary care sports medicine specialist at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles, CA, said that from an exercise science standpoint, rest and recovery are fundamental.

“When we exercise, we place stress on our muscles, tendons, and other tissues,” she told Healthline.

“Healing the microtears that occur in muscle tissues during exercise results in muscle hypertrophy and can only occur during periods of rest. In other words, strength

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