I'm Tired. Should I Still Train?

We've all been there.

You've had a long day at work. You didn't sleep particularly well. Your energy is low and the last thing you feel like doing is picking up a barbell.

So, should you still train?

Sometimes, yes.

Sometimes, absolutely not.

The important thing is knowing the difference.

Being Tired Doesn't Always Mean You Should Rest

There are days when you're tired because you're busy.

Maybe you've had a long day, but you've still eaten reasonably well, you've slept enough recently and your body feels good.

Sometimes getting yourself into the gym is exactly what you need.

You might start the warm-up feeling sluggish and finish the session feeling completely different. Moving your body, getting your heart rate up and spending an hour with your training partners can sometimes give you more energy than sitting on the sofa.

But There Is a Difference Between Tired and Run Down

There are also times when your body is telling you something.

You've had several nights of poor sleep. Work has been relentless. You're stressed, your recovery is poor and everything feels heavier than it normally would.

You might still be able to force yourself through the workout.

But should you?

Training harder isn't always the smart choice.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is reduce the intensity, scale the workout or take the day off and recover.

You Can't Burn the Candle at Both Ends Forever

We all have periods where life gets busy.

Work, family, social commitments, poor sleep and training can all start competing for the same limited amount of energy.

You might be able to get away with it for a while.

But eventually something usually gives.

If you continually train hard while under-recovered, you're not giving your body the opportunity to adapt to the training you're doing.

You can start feeling constantly fatigued, your performance can suffer and your risk of picking up an injury can increase.

More isn't always better. Better is better.

This Is Where Having a Coach Helps

One of the benefits of being coached is that you don't have to make every training decision yourself.

We can see how you're moving.

We can see when you're struggling.

We can adjust the workout, change the movement, reduce the load or suggest that today is better spent recovering.

Training isn't about proving how tough you are every single day.

It's about knowing when to push and knowing when to pull back.

Sometimes You Don't Have a Choice

Life doesn't always give you perfect conditions.

You might have a new baby. You might be working long hours. You might be travelling. You might have a stressful period at work.

Sometimes you're going to train tired because that's the reality of your life.

That's okay.

The answer isn't necessarily to stop training altogether.

It might simply mean that your training needs to change to match what you currently have available.

A lighter session is still a session.

A scaled workout is still a workout.

And sometimes a walk and an early night is exactly what your body needs.

Training Should Complement Your Life

Your training should make your life better, not leave you feeling completely broken.

We want you to get stronger, fitter and more capable so you can enjoy everything outside the gym.

That means understanding that recovery is part of training too.

You don't get better simply because you worked harder.

You get better by training, recovering and adapting.

So next time you're tired, ask yourself what kind of tired you are.

If you just don't fancy training, get yourself through the door and see how you feel.

If you're genuinely run down, listen to your body and adjust accordingly.

And if you're not sure?

That's why we're here.