Is it necessary to take breaks from training sometimes?

Author: Timko Ilya - master of the whole project and fitness trainer.
2016-05-06

Such a question begins to torment a person when they have been training for a considerable amount of time without rest. They’re working hard for one, two, three years, and then they start to ponder. And here are the questions that arise in their fatigued mind:

1. Is it necessary to take breaks sometimes?

2. If "yes," how do you know when and how often?

3. How long should the break be?

4. Should you completely stop training or switch to lighter workouts?

5. Who am I and what am I doing here? )))

If the answer to the last question is best sought in religion and philosophy, then I will try to answer the other four questions now. Let’s get started.

Is it necessary to take breaks sometimes?

Yes, it is. You will eventually get tired from any activity. Both physically and mentally. Training stops being interesting, you feel apathetic, and you have a strong reluctance to go to the gym.

Moreover, strength training not only loads the muscles but also stresses the joints and tendons. These take longer to recover than muscles do. Therefore, injuries and general "fatigue" of the musculoskeletal system steadily increase month by month, year by year. Of course, you can take chondroprotectors, but practice shows that this is usually not enough.

Even professionals take breaks. Even the best of the best. What can we say about ordinary enthusiasts for whom health is more important than titles and awards? As stated in the "Book of Changes": If you keep a bowstring constantly taut, it weakens and loses its strength.

How do you know when and how often to take breaks?

This is very subjective. If you feel generally very tired and have no desire to do any form of training, it seems like it’s time to rest. It’s also time to take a break if you have accumulated many injuries and your body constantly aches. However, this is not muscle soreness.

How often? Personally, I rest for one month each year. That is, once a year. You can also take breaks every six months or even every 3-4 months. But not more often. So, about 1-2 times a year. Well, fanatics might do it only once every two years. In general, about that.

How long should the break be?

It depends on how tired you are and how often you take breaks. I believe that the break should be no less than 1 week and no more than 1.5 to 2 months.

If there is only fatigue and no significant injuries, then 2-3 weeks of rest will be sufficient. If fatigue is accompanied by injuries, then a month or even longer may be needed.

However, you need to understand that the longer you rest, the more time you will need to get back into the rhythm. If the break is one week, it will not affect your results. If it’s 2-3 weeks, then you will spend 1-2 weeks getting back into your regular workout routine afterward.

Do you need to completely stop training?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Again, this depends on your subjective feelings. If you have no desire to follow a specific program and the injuries and fatigue are not significant, you can switch to lighter workouts of 30-50 minutes, twice a week. This way, you can do only what you want in a “light” mode without overburdening yourself with repetitions and weights.

The advantage of this approach is that you won’t need to get back into the rhythm after such a break; you'll be ready to go again right away. This is how professionals typically take breaks since they constantly lack time for preparation.

But if you can no longer stand to see that gym at all, it makes sense to stop training altogether for a while. Just don’t torture yourself with feelings of guilt in such cases. Simply enjoy the rest.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many options. From frequent (every 3-4 months) short (1-2 weeks) breaks with reduced loads to global (1-2 months) complete cessation of training.

Remember, the most important thing in training, as in any endeavor, is consistency. If you continue to train year after year, there will be progress, even despite breaks. I would even say more. A timely and well-placed break helps accelerate progress. During a break, you regain strength and heal your injuries. So, rest well, and may the strength be with you.

Tell in the comments: how, when, and how long do you take breaks? And why. Good luck!