We all know by now that active recovery is better than passive recovery. It’s better to keep moving between sets than to sit on your butt. Physically, it helps flush out waste products, prevent blood pooling and lightheadedness, and keep you warm. Mentally, it keeps you focused and motivated.

Moving between sets is one aspect to consider; resting too long is another. Most people don’t regulate their rest intervals—they just do their next set when they feel like it. That’s a mistake! How can you truly gauge progress if this parameter is constantly varying from one workout to the next?

A better approach is to set a rest interval and stick to it. I do this by pacing a specific distance between sets. For me, walking one length of the gym and back is 30 seconds, two lengths is 60 seconds, three lengths is 90 seconds, and so on. I don’t need to use a clock. From experience, I know that once I complete a set, that amount of pacing will give me the exact amount of rest I’ve assigned.

Here’s a quick video showing how I pace one length of the gym between sets:

Take-Home Message: Use a clock or a set distance to regulate your rest intervals—and keep moving between sets.