I’m in lot of different fitness groups and one of the common complaints when it comes to working out is feeling like you’ve hit a wall. Whether it is struggling to actually get the workout in on any given day, or finding the energy to gear up and sweat it out - there are times when all of us aren’t feeling it. Personally, I think this time of the year is one of those universal times. The excitement of resolutions has worn off, the weather isn’t warm enough to have us thinking of summer clothes. Maybe your lifestyle or professional obligations are crippling you, or you are trying to cram in exercise at a time that is less than ideal. Maybe you’re like me and can only work out in the morning, when the sun hasn’t even risen - a task I’m finding harder and harder this month!

While exercise is important and oh-so-needed, it’s also really important to listen to your body and what it needs. So, if your body is telling you you need to not exercise, but you know it will benefit you, what can you ask yourself?

Are You Sleeping Enough?

You could very simply, be burning the candle at both ends, which will contribute to an overall feeling of sluggishness. You might have a busy job, or you might have other duties outside of work and exercise, and something is going to give. The quality and quantity of sleep we get each night is crucial to overall health but also to the effectiveness of our workouts. Personally, since I try to wake up for thing in the morning, I act like a little old lady and go to bed early each night, with the hope of getting 8 hours of sleep. Analyze the amount of sleep you actually get - from the time your body actually shuts down to the time you wake up in the morning (subtracting any time you are up in the middle of the night.) Are you getting enough? At the very least, you should be getting your 7-8 hours.

The second thing you need to assess is if you are sleeping properly. There is a handy article on https://www.insomnia.net/sleep-health/effects-poor-sleep/ highlighting the impact of poor quality sleep. Remember, it’s not just about the quantity of sleep, but the quality.

Are You Aggravating An Injury?

You might have had an old shoulder injury, or a problem in the past that you’ve been trying to push through. Or maybe you have overtaxed your muscles/joints and haven’t given them the rest time they need to heal. Instead of ignoring the injury or pain you are feeling, you should take a step back from your normal routine and consider what changes need to be made for your body to fully recover. It’s vital you analyze your workout processes, from your form on the various machines, to the equipment you use, to the shoes you wear. Something as basic as insoles or a new pair of shoes can help make a workout easier on the feet. On https://biopods.com/faqs/ there are some handy details about the benefits of wearing insoles, especially if you have an old foot injury, or you do a lot of running. With an old injury, it’s important to focus on fixing that before you progress with your workout routine.

Beyond your feet, take time to study the proper technique for each type of workout. If you are hunching your shoulders while taking a spin class, or pushing with the balls of your feet instead of the heels on an elliptical, you might be doing more harm than good with each workout you complete. It takes concentrated effort to get the technique correct - but it is worth it in the long run, since it will help you avoid injury and truly engage the muscles you are meant to when doing a particular workout.

Have You Been Fighting Off Illness?

Have you been getting run down a lot lately? If so, it could be your lifestyle, or it could be the fact that you are doing too much in the gym. Take the time to sit back and notice what your body needs. It might just need a couple days off from pushing it at the gym - and that is okay! Sometimes our body needs the opportunity to get ill, so we can rebuild and replenish ourselves. And you never know, a week away from the gym could be exactly what the doctor ordered!

Or consider significantly dialing it back when you aren’t feeling well - perhaps swap out that intense interval run for a soothing yoga class. That way you are still working muscles and getting in a little workout, but you aren’t taxing your body in the same way you usually do.

Are You Doing Too Much In Other Areas Of Life?

Being healthy is more than just hitting the gym 5 days a week. We need to consider all areas of our life - work, family, social, food - when looking at making better healthier choices. Personally, I often find that when I don’t get enough sleep I tend to eat worse which has me less inclined to hit the gym. We are one being and all the parts are connected. So we need to take care of our emotional and physical health by taking into account a lot of different factors.

Consider if perhaps you are over-committed. Perhaps you need to learn to pare down to the basics - learn to say NO to things that aren’t essential and won’t help you fully flourish. Honestly, this is one of the things I’m working on accomplishing this year so that I am pulled in fewer directions and can give my whole self to any task I say YES to.