The game is over, the crowd’s going home, and the adrenaline is finally starting to fade. But for athletes, the work doesn’t stop at the final whistle. What happens in the hours and days after a big game can make all the difference when it comes to bouncing back stronger and staying ready for what’s next.
Follow along as we take you into the locker room to break down what athletes actually do after a big game, both right after the action and in the days that follow.
The Immediate Post-Game Routine
The clock hits zero, but your recovery is just getting started. What you do in the minutes and hours right after a game can set the tone for how your body bounces back and how you’ll be ready for the next one.
1. Cool Down
First things first: don’t just hit the bench and call it a day. Light movement like walking, slow cycling, or gentle stretching helps flush out lactic acid and gets your body into recovery mode. You don’t want to break a sweat again here. Just help your muscles chill out and reset.
2. Hydrate Like You Mean It
Rehydration is essential after pushing your body to the limit. You’ve lost a ton of fluids and electrolytes through sweat, and getting them back is top priority.
Products like Primitiv Performance’s oral rehydration solution can help your body regulate itself. Packed with sodium, potassium, and vitamins A & C, plus 25 mg of CBD per stick ack, it helps you hydrate and support recovery at the same time. The nano emulsion tech gets that CBD working fast, so you’re not waiting around for your body to catch up.
3. Refuel
Your muscles are hungry. A quick mix of protein and carbs within 30-60 minutes post-game helps replenish glycogen stores and kickstart muscle repair. Think shakes, bars, or a solid post-game meal. Whatever it is, just don’t skip this step.
4. Therapy Time
Cold plunges, ice baths, or contrast showers (hot to cold and back again) are staples in many locker rooms for good reason. They help reduce inflammation and soreness, keeping your body feeling fresh instead of stiff the next morning.
5. Start the Mental Wind Down
Once your body’s taken care of, it’s time to settle your mind. The adrenaline rush doesn’t just disappear. Some athletes turn to breathing exercises, meditation, or even a quick journaling session. This is also where CBD can come in clutch, calming the mind and shifting the gears of your nervous system.
The immediate post-game window is about being intentional. You showed up and gave it everything. Now it’s time to give your recovery the same energy.
The Day After
The next day is when the soreness kicks in, and so does the real recovery. While it’s tempting to go full coach mode, the day after a big game is for keeping the body in just enough motion to promote healing without overdoing it.
- Prioritize Sleep Like It’s Part of Training
If you didn’t crash hard the night of the game, now’s your chance. Quality sleep is when your body does most of its repair work, restoring muscle tissue, regulating hormones, and giving your brain a much-needed rest. CBD before bed can help ease lingering tension and support more restful sleep, which is key if you’re dealing with soreness or a racing mind.
- Move, Just a Little
You definitely don’t need another high-intensity session, but you shouldn’t stay totally still either. Active recovery helps improve circulation and keeps you from tightening up. A gentle yoga flow, a walk outdoors, or some laps in the pool can do wonders for keeping things loose without overexerting.
- Targeted Relief Where It Hurts
Some spots might need extra attention, especially if you took a few hard hits or went all-in physically. Primitiv Performance’s transdermal topical cream is great for zeroing in on sore joints or muscles, delivering a blend of CBD, CBG, CBC, and CBN with a cooling menthol kick. It’s made for those spots that are still barking the day after.
Recovery means doing the right things to help your body come back stronger. The day after a big game is your chance to listen in, take it slow, and support your system with tools that work with you, not against you.
Mental Recovery
Physical recovery gets a lot of attention, but mental recovery is just as crucial. After the intensity of a big game, your brain needs time to reset, too. The adrenaline, pressure, and emotional highs (or lows) don’t just fade when the game ends. Building in time for mental recovery can help you stay focused, balanced, and ready for whatever’s next.
1. Take Time to Reflect
Post-game reflection helps athletes process what went down. That might mean reviewing game footage, journaling your thoughts, or having honest conversations with your coach or teammates. It’s not as much about focusing on what went right or wrong as much as it is about making space to learn and grow without judgment.
2. Let Go of the Stress
All that built-up tension needs somewhere to go. This is where CBD and cannabis can become powerful tools in your recovery kit. CBD may support relaxation and help calm the nervous system, making it easier to shift from “go-mode” into rest and reset. Some athletes prefer low-dose THC blends to unwind, especially when paired with activities like breathwork, sound baths, or a quiet night in.
3. Ride Out the Dopamine Dip
After the high of competition, it’s normal to feel a bit low. That post-game dopamine crash can hit hard, especially after an intense win or loss. Building mindful rituals like meditation, stretching, or simply spending time outdoors can help balance things out.
Cannabis, when used intentionally, may ease that transition and help restore emotional equilibrium, especially when paired with other grounding practices. Mental recovery may look like rest, but it may also look like reflection, intention, and allowing yourself to fully come down from the game. When your head is in a good place, your body follows.
Make Recovery a Part of the Game With Primitiv Performance
Finally, as a pro, a weekend warrior, or someone pushing themselves to be better — building a solid post-game wind-down routine can make a big difference in how you step up for the next challenge. If you’re looking for clean, athlete-driven support, check out Primitiv Performance’s CBD lineup.
“What we’re doing with Primitiv and Primitiv Performance right now, we’re trying to create innovative ways for people to apply the medicine in ways that work for them,” says Johnson. “By doing so, we’re able to attract new users because we’re educating the consumer to the healing powers of the plant. We believe the future of healing is in personalized plant-based medicine.”
With products that help you hydrate, recover, and reset, featuring nano CBD, essential electrolytes, and targeted topicals, we’ve got your back on and off the field. Explore the lineup and find what works for your game!
The contents of this blog are intended for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
