Exercising while sick is something many people wouldn’t even think about! But if you are a real gym rat or just like to exercise, you would prefer to skip a workout for nothing. If you are ever ill, it is a reason for you to panic. Are you unsure whether you can exercise while you are ill? These are the rules of exercising while you are sick.
Consider your symptoms
Being sick is a broad concept. When you are ill, you can suffer from various things. For example, consider whether you are contagious or not. Could you infect other people if you exercise? If so, we recommend not going or going for another workout where you can keep enough distance. Your own health is important, but so is that of other people. So you can exercise with a cold, but perhaps with a bit of distance. Do you have a fever? Then stay in bed comfortably. Your body needs all the energy to ensure that you get better again. Exercising is actually counterproductive here.
Keep your distance from others where possible
Are you going to exercise while you are sick? Then be thoughtful and take your fellow man into account. Leave equipment in the gym clean and keep a little distance from others. If you are sick, do not go to group lessons for a while and do not train with your gym buddy. Isolate yourself in a small personal bubble at the gym to avoid infecting others. Exercising outside is also a sensible option.
Remember that you don’t have to exercise if you really can’t
We completely understand that exercise is important. It can sometimes feel like skipping a workout, especially if you’re very motivated. Yet sometimes it can be better for your health to get some rest. As we said before: if you have a fever or the flu, it is better to stay in bed. If your body is not fit, you can get injured more easily and you can only make yourself sick for longer. If you want to get better as quickly as possible, it is sometimes better to take a break from illness. As a rule of thumb you can use this: can I perform significantly less well than normal because I am ill? Then stay home.
Go for a less intensive workout
Would you really like to get moving? Then we recommend opting for a less intense workout. This allows you to get some exercise, but you don’t exhaust yourself. For example, go for a walk or do yoga. Lying still all day is not for everyone, and we understand this. It’s nice to get some fresh air and you also feel like you’ve had a workout after all.
