I recently took a week off from training.

I was so stressed out about a launch at work, my eye twitch was out of control and I was sick of not having enough time for things I wanted to do, but kept putting off, like writing.

So I made the conscious decision to not train at all. There would be zero training sessions for seven days. The only rule I put in place was to not let guilt seep into my brain for sleeping in until 6.30am or for going straight home after work. And I tell you what – it was bloody great.

Because I had allowed myself the week off and had voiced it out loud, I didn’t feel bad about not going. On top of that, my eye twitch hasn’t played up in about a week, which I think is a combination of:

• a) the work launch going well;
• b) allowing myself some extra sleep;
• c) wearing my glasses again; and
• d) having that extra time to write and work on creative things that make me happy.

I feel rested and in control and because I maintained good eating habits during that time, I don’t feel like a big sack of shit ¯_(ツ)_/¯ #winnerwinner

My point is, it’s okay to take time away from training now and then.

Sometimes those of us who train nearly every day feel like we can never stop training. That if we do, we’ll lose all our fitness and strength in a day and will have somehow let ourselves, and other people, down. Newsflash: it ain’t true. I mean, if you’re someone who just loves to train day in/day out, including whilst on holidays and even when you’re sick, then bloody good on you. But I am not one of those people and I am telling myself, and YOU, that no matter who you are or what you do, it is okay to feel that way.

You are allowed to take a break if you need it.

If you’re constantly fatigued, if training becomes a chore, if your mentality is a sour one every time you walk into the gym, maybe it’s time to have a few days off. It’s normal to feel that way now and then and it’s better to take a few days break than to continue with a reluctant, negative attitude that spills over into other areas of your life.

Now that I’ve had a week off, I can’t wait to get back into it.

I’ve got a packed week of work, appointments, F45 sessions and Pilates sessions and I am keen as a bean to get amongst all of those things and get shit done. The fact that I am now excited again about training means that I definitely made the right decision in having a break, even if I am going to be in a bikini on my holiday next month.

I’d rather be happy in my brain first and foremost, than look physically fit and be miserable and stressed. I hope if anyone reading this is going through a similar thing, that you take this as permission to look after yourself, even if it means slowing down for just a little bit.

Han x