Over the past several years, running has turned more into a hobby for me rather than something that I am using to train or meet a goal. This lack of routine results in quite a conundrum when it comes to rest days. Sometimes, I can go months without taking a true rest day, and sometimes I really need one to get moving again. Without a strict schedule on when to run or rest, it takes listening to my body to make a plan. As a morning running, my body is usually saying "a bit more sleep" or "just check your messages real quick then go". The moment I get out the door, I am almost always happy I did, and then the cycle repeats the next day.
Every so often, I actually am extra tired from what could be too much exercise, and the rest day is incredible. After that rest day, I am more energetic to get out and exercise and do things. The opposite is also prone to happen, especially as a morning runner. If I break a rhythm of hopping out of bed to run, then I can easily fall into the trap of deciding if I am going to run in the morning, rather than just bouncing out to start. Getting back into that rhythm becomes quite the challenge.
Leaving the decision of a rest day to the morning when you wake up is something most experts would advise against, but most people also aren't getting up as early or running as much as me, so maybe it isn't worth listening to them anyway.
I guess the key to all of this is that old saying, "whether you're a lion or a gazelle, when the sun comes up, you'd better be running". (Of course in winter in Amsterdam, you'd better be home, have breakfast, shower and be on your way to work before the sun comes up).