5 reasons you should take a workout break

You are a ‘can-do’ kind of girl. You get your work done before the deadline, drink your green juice, make time to call your mum and never miss a workout. However, putting too much stress on your body with an intense fitness regime could be counterintuitive. Die-hard gym bunnies may shudder at the idea of a rest day, but taking time off every now and then is important. Rest days are crucial to recovery. Far from a sign of weakness, time for rest can be found in the schedules of even the most elite athletes. If you still need convincing, here are five great reasons for you to take a workout break this week.

It lowers risk of injury

Personal trainer Stephanie Gibson advises that repetitive, high impact sport without rest is likely to result in injury. Stress on your muscles and joints can lead to sprains and tears, but taking a day off allows your body time to ‘fix’ all the niggling aches and pains that crop up after long periods of intense exercise. Time off allows your body to recover and heal, so you’re less likely to cause yourself an injury.

It improves performance

When your brain and body are fatigued, your workout becomes a little lacklustre. Christmas is a hectic time of year, and with the last few weeks of work coming up, presents to sort, houses to decorate and meals to plan, it is no wonder you’re feeling tired and your workout is suffering. This is the perfect time to take a break from the gym. When you feel fresh and rested after taking a few days off you can hit the gym harder and get more out of your workout.

It gives your immune system a break

An intense exercise regime can literally run your immune system into the ground. If you are pushing yourself to extremes every day, you leave little time for recovery. Be careful not to overexert yourself and exhaust your body. This will leave you vulnerable to picking up all the nasty coughs and colds that are so common in winter. Take a break. Give your body time to recuperate and rebuild its defences. A tired body isn’t able to combat illnesses as effectively as a well-rested one. Better to take a planned rest day or two than be out for weeks with a nasty illness.

You’ll spend time with family and friends

Christmas is first and foremost a time for family and friends. When you have an intense exercise regime, it’s sometimes hard to detach from this to take a break and appreciate the bigger picture. However, you don’t want your dedication to working out to detract from the time you should be spending with loved ones. You will not suddenly gain three stone or lose all your strength or endurance from taking a few days off. What will be more valuable in years to come – precious memories made with the people close to you, or one gym session?

If you can’t do nothing… try active recovery

So maybe you shouldn’t attempt a killer workout in the gym tonight, but you could try dialling down the intensity for some active recovery? Try a gentle yoga class to stretch out all those aching muscles, or go for a leisurely walk, or swim. You can stay active, just keep the pace calm and give your body a chance to heal and relax.