Monday evening I went on a run.

I was aiming for three miles however my back tightened up and prevented me from finishing so I walked the rest of the way home.

After taking time to analyse why my back was aching I realised that my sleeping patterns and hydration had been quite poor the entire weekend. I should have just skipped the run all together. Below are some of the reasons you might want to give your workout a miss:

1. Your back aches

Take it easy for a few days and see if your back starts to feel better. Pay attention to what makes the pain ease or worsen. If your back continually causes sharp pains when you bend or twist, or if interferes with your daily activities, it’s time to consult your doctor and skip your workout.

2. When you need rest

While exercise is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy and functional body, we have to allow time for adequate rest.

Many people expect personal trainers to exercise every single day however I’ve found that my workouts are much more enjoyable and effective when I can look forward to taking a day off to relax; taking these off days gives your body time to heal from the stress you have placed on your joints and muscles and can help you break through any challenging plateaus you might be facing. Similarly, do not exercise if you are exhausted. The best thing you can do is to get a good night of sleep and get back to working out the next day.

3. When you are overwhelmed or stressed

When your workload feels like it’s never ending and your schedule is jam-packed with babies and family commitments, the stress can truly take its toll physically and mentally. While exercise can be a stress-reliever, it isn’t always. Listening to your body is very important. When you exercise your heart rate elevates which can put added stress on your body and lead to increased stress levels overall thereby having the opposite of the desired effect. Trying to cram a visit to the gym into an already jam-packed day, can make things even worse.

On the other hand, exercise is one of the most common ways to reduce stress levels as it boosts the production of endorphins which can lead to a mood-boost after a workout. If you find that exercising works for you as a stress reliever and you feel better afterwards, then go for it. However on particularly stressful days, you may want to change your workout to something less intense like yoga, walking or a light jog.

4. When you are feeling under the weather

As a consequence of Covid-19 most of us will now stay at home if we are feeling even an inkling out of the norm. If you have a fever, if you are coughing or have a sore throat, working out is definitely not the best thing for your body. You probably also won't get a great workout since fevers boost your resting heart rate which leads to less effective exercise. Wait until your doctor advises it is best to return to the gym or workout class.

Skip your workouts when necessary and B-Active For Life.

Betty Doyling is a certified fitness trainer and figure competitor with more than a decade of experience. Look for B. ActiveForLife on Facebook