MORE THAN A CARNIVAL, Crop Over is a festival. This year like many others previously, Barbadians and others will enjoy Crop Over to the max. There were many parties, and other events during the period which began weeks ago. The festival culminated this weekend with Foreday Morning Jam, Pic-O-De-Crop Finals, Bridgetown Market, and Grand Kadooment. In addition, there are many other all-inclusive and other parties.
Friends from overseas and local acquaintances keep encouraging your patronage at various activities at this time. Lack of sleep, increased alcohol intake and just being on your feet for long periods are a feature of this weekend of non-stop partying and social activities. Just by watching the Grand Kadooment or Foreday Morning Jam, attending the various shows and parties are also taxing on our bodies as these events last long and many persons are for long periods on their feet with little sleep before or after in most cases.
After this, it is time for a return to regular life, that is, back to productive work. Some workers take a holiday break at this time and travel overseas with their families, but others try to get back into the strides of everyday life. Some persons take a few days off and get some relaxation by having massages, spa treatments, or yoga. In order to manage your recovery, you have to prepare your bodies properly for the stress being placed on them. Prevention is the best order of the day or days.
While jumping, be it Foreday Morning Jam or Grand Kadooment, you will be surprised that many revellers don’t prepare themselves properly. Wear proper footwear, keep hydrated with water or a sports drink, take a break if necessary and walk or chip as you go down the road. Get some rest and rehydrate after you make it to Spring Garden, have a good healthy meal and some sleep before you “hit the road again”. Drink lots of water during and even after the event.
Many instead find that they take unusually greater amounts of alcohol. This is a diuretic and can dehydrate you in addition to making those muscles and nerves feel worse after. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables before, during and after the activities. A day of naturally good fruits and veggies could help to regenerate you faster. You may have deprived yourself of these necessary minerals and vitamins before and during Crop Over. Your body would literally suck them in. Maybe a smoothie would be a good idea. A green power punch with celery, cucumber, spinach, and apple mixed together would make for good recovery.
In order to prevent the sunburn, application and re-application of sunblock lotion would assist in preventing sunburn if you are sun-exposed as a reveller in a costume band or just watching from the sidelines.
After all of this is proper rest and recovery. The sore muscles, the burnt skin will need time to recover. Don’t overdo it then, work continues on Tuesday morning. Get to work as scheduled but get some rest, as much as you can before and after work. Take care of your bodies now and always.
