Work, stress, exercise, and poor food choices all wear down our bodies. On the flip side, it is important to realize we can directly combat there ill effects of sleeplessness, soreness, anxiety, and disease by simply getting enough rest. Rest being not just sleep, yet also pleasurable activities such as a hobby, massage, or a "play date" (time out with your friend).

RawFit wrote a nice essay describing the importance of rest/recovery, what it means, and how to obtain the best quality recovery.

Rest: Time is one of the best ways to recover (or heal) from just about any illness or injury and this also works after a hard workout. Your body has an amazing capacity to take care of itself if you allow it some time. Resting and waiting after a hard workout allows the repair and recovery process to happen at a natural pace. It’s not the only thing you can or should do to promote recovery, but sometimes doing nothing is the easiest thing to do.

Those of us who are exceptionally busy with heavy workloads will need fluid replenishment. I recommend a mixture of 16 oz of a sports drink with 1 - 2 scoops of whey protein after a high intensity exercise or work load session.

Replace Fluids: You lose a lot of fluid during exercise and ideally, you should be replacing it during exercise, but filling up after exercise is an easy way to boost your recovery. Water supports every metabolic function and nutrient transfer in the body and having plenty of water will improve every bodily function. Adequate fluid replacement is even more important for endurance athletes who lose large amounts of water during hours of sweating.

And remember, WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOUR OVERALL HEALTH IS ALSO GOOD FOR YOUR SEX LIFE!