Illness and Exercise

I have just recovered from a week of illness.  Maybe being older has given me wisdom, but I have learned that when illness comes, rest is needed.  There is no need to exercise when it may prolong an illness and rest is always good.

The bummer part is that I supposedly started my vacation last Friday.  However, due to commitments to other peers, I worked the weekend and a few days this week.  Thank God that my boss was kind enough to convert some of the vacation days to sick time to compensate so I could have the PTO next year.  Needless to say, the work was completed, my illness has subsided, and I'm ready to get back into my exercise routine.

I know this sounds like a silly concept, but many I know continue their exercise routine right though an illness.  This can be done for the younger crowd (30 something and younger), but for those of us who are older, we have to have a longer view in mind.  We need to let the illness take its course and allow our bodies to build up the immunities needed to fight the illness; that takes rest. 

When I say Rest, I don't mean going to the golf course or playing ball with your kids.  Rest is sitting around and doing nothing; sleeping as much as possible.  Personally, I find it difficult to sleep at night when I'm sick, so anytime during the day when I can sleep, I do it.  As such, my illness was a firm four days instead of a drawn out two or three weeks of dreaded battle which results in a half effort on everything.  Today, I am ready and fit to start exercising at full speed again and when I go back to work, I will be able to give 100% of my abilities.