Exercise and Recovery Time

When working out is a regular occurrence in your life and it is as regimented as brushing your teeth or picking up the mail, there comes a time during your travels toward better health and fitness that you must begin to contemplate taking time away from your exercise routine. The body will not perform to the best of it’s ability when it is consistently asked to perform day after day and month after month without a timeout every so often.

So how do you know when it is time to step back from your physical fitness schedule? What signals does your body send your way to alert you to its need for a break? How often do you need to stop to smell the roses and allow your body to rest and rejuvenate? Let’s take a look at some of the answers to these thought provoking questions.

~How do you know it is time to take a little time away from your workout routine? You know when your body is: screaming at you to “give it a break,” your body is tired, you feel worn out, you lose your motivation for something you once loved, exercise becomes an omen, you hate what you are doing, you are injured, you don’t feel well, your heart rate is continually climbing at rest, you get sick, or you just plain can’t remember the last day you didn’t work out.

~When do you take a break? Everyone’s body reacts differently to the requirements of exercise. Being aware and taking action on behalf of yourself when it is time to step back from your physical routine is imperative to the continued support of your body’s ability to perform in it’s tip top manner. Apply your common sense: listen to yourself, watch for signals and take action when any of the red lights flash notifying you that something isn’t working for you. Stop when you are tired, take a day off when you are under the weather and acknowledge your needs when enough is enough.

Unfortunately, taking time away from our exercise schedule is one of the very last things we tend to do for ourselves. However, if regular downtime is not built into your exercise routine you will begin to suffer and not work to your potential. Remember, it is all about balance and exercise is no different than any other aspect to living a healthy, balanced, well-rounded lifestyle.