Please note that I am not a fitness professional! I’m only sharing my personal insight and perspective stemming from experience ♡
People who are trying to create or define their relationship with exercise often ask questions like How often should I workout? or Should I work out every day? After starting 75 Hard for the first time in June or so of 2021, I’ve become accustomed to working out every single day. And not only daily, but twice per day.
The more familiar you are with something, the more likely it is to become normalized for you. So, since I’ve been operating under the 75-Hard mentality of twice-daily workouts, I wouldn’t bat an eye if someone worked out every single day.
But again, the more familiar you are with something, the more likely it is to become normalized for you. And that’s my entire point—start with where you are.
What do I mean by this?
Basically, it’s easy for me to say I could easily work out every day because I already work out every day. But that’s because, starting with where I am—with the experience of working out twice per day—working out daily sounds great.
But where are you starting from?
What does your starting point look like?
If you’re not sure, don’t worry. I got you ◡̈
We’ll talk about that now!
So, Should I Work Out Every Day?
When thinking about if you should work out every single day, there are a number of important details to keep in mind as you formulate your answer to the question, “Should I work out every day?”
I’ve thought of three pros and three cons when it comes to daily exercise. However, keep in mind that there’s no way these two lists are all-inclusive! There are far more benefits, just as there are many other drawbacks, to working out every single day. If you think of any—whether they’re pros or cons—feel free to let me know!
Until then, here are the 3 benefits and the 3 downsides that came to my mind!
3 Benefits of Working Out Every Day
If you asked me, I think there are a myriad of benefits to working out every day, but again—remember where I’m coming from. Of course I think working out every day is excellent. That’s because it works for me. But does it work for you? That’s the real question!
Consider if these benefits are interesting to you.
- Consistency
- Mobility
- Surplus of Energy
Consistency
They say consistency is key, and I agree! I love the routine of working out on a daily basis. It all comes down to momentum. “An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force,” as Newton’s first law of motion says.
I apply this outlook to my workout routine. To me, it’s far easier to keep going and continue to work out on a daily basis. The moment I stop, the harder it’ll be to restart.
Mobility
Rest is important, but sometimes, I find days off make me stiff. Stretching, lifting, and simply exercising daily are three habits that help me maintain mobility in a way that I’ve never experienced before.
Surplus of Energy
I find exercise to be rejuvenating and energizing. I leave the gym with more peps in my steps than I had when I entered the gym hours earlier. There’s something to be said about the mental boost that exercise creates for many people, too.
3 Downsides to Exercising Daily
When seeking to answer the question, “Should I work out every day?” it’s imperative that you look at both the pros and cons. Choosing to fixate on the potential downsides of exercising without weighing the upsides to daily exercise would not be a well-rounded approach.
Likewise, if you only look at the pros without paying attention to the cons, then you’re slipping into a headspace of toxic positivity. So, now that we’ve talked about the positive benefits that you might experience when working out every single day, let’s take a moment to consider the negative detriments that some people endure when engaging in daily exercise.
- No Downtime or Rest
- Boredom from Monotony
- Lack of Energy
No Downtime or Rest
Rest is very important. There is a lot to be said about giving your muscles time to recover from the tension, pressure, or intentional stress that you’ve put them under through exercise.
Boredom from Monotony
It is understandable if you find daily exercise to be boring or monotonous. This is especially true if you repeat the same workouts day in and day out.
Switching things up can keep exercise interesting. Consider changing your workout environment, like lifting in the gym one day and going swimming the next.
When you are prepared for boredom or monotony, you can work with them instead of letting them stand in your way.
Lack of Energy
Exercise can be energizing. It can also be draining, especially if your body is not accustomed to exerting so much energy every day or you aren’t sure how to recover between one day and the next.
What Does an Ideal Workout Plan Look Like?
An ideal workout plan is one that you can stick to—in other words, commitment is key. But it’s hard to commit to something that you don’t see the benefit of, which is why the right workout plan for you might not look the same as someone else’s ideal workout plan.
For instance, if I were to create a workout plan that required me to go for a 5-mile run every morning, that would not be ideal because I won’t stick to a daily run. Maybe someday I could, but I know that, at this point in my life, I would not commit to a daily morning run. That’s because I don’t register running as something that is most beneficial to me.
Knowing that about myself is important because it lets me rule out running and set myself up for success instead. Likewise, if you are not a fan of strength training or you don’t see the point of lifting weights, then a workout plan focused on lifting might not be for you. Understanding the type of exercise that you can commit to will help you immensely.
Taking the first step and starting to work out is… Well, literally a start. But in order for exercise to benefit you to the greatest extent, you have to stick with it over a long period of time. So, an ideal workout routine is one that is tailored to your goals, prioritizes what is important to you fitness-wise, and can be maintained over time.
What’s Your Answer to the Question, “Should I Work Out Every Day?”
Like so many other aspects of fitness, exercise, and nutrition, whether or not you should work out every day depends on a lot of factors that are unique to you. Only you know if working out daily will benefit you, just like you will be able to tell if daily workouts are detrimental to you.
At the end of the day, you know yourself better than anyone else. Even so, we all could use a little support, guidance, and help when answering questions like, “Should I work out every day?” Don’t hesitate to contact credible personal trainers, experienced dietitians, and knowledgeable nutritionists if you think that will ensure you are making the right decision for you.
For now, feel free to let me know what your workout routine looks like! I’ll be posting a YouTube video on this same topic shortly so you’re more than welcome to subscribe, too.
I’m always interested in hearing what other people are up to, what their fitness game looks like, and everything exercise-related! Thank you for being here today and reading my thoughts on the matter. I hope I’ve helped you answer the question, “Should I work out every day?”
Can’t wait to see you over on IG and YT! ♡
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