The BeWell Tanger Center for Health Management, BIDMC's onsite wellness and exercise resource center, answers your questions in this ongoing column in BIDMCtoday.
BeWell will offer a FREE 2-week pass to any BIDMC staff member whose question is published in this column -- so e-mail your health- or fitness- related question today to the BeWell staff at mdacost2@bidmc.harvard.edu .
Q. When you are feeling run down or fatigued, and don't have much free time, is it best to spend a free hour at the gym or to take a nap/relax?
A. When you have a very busy schedule, it is a matter of planning and prioritizing to try to achieve adequate rest while fitting in exercise. Planning well is key. Remember, regular planned exercise does not necessarily mean a big time commitment, and you can derive a benefit from even a moderate intensity workout. It is possible to complete a balanced program of cardiovascular, strength training and flexibility exercises in 30 to 45 minutes per session, three times per week. The same goes for relaxing, meditation or taking a nap: plan for 15 to 30 minutes of “down time” of your own each day. It is also important to maintain as balanced a diet as possible. Fueling your body regularly, not skipping meals and having healthy snacks when you feel hungry in between meals also decreases the chance of feeling run down or fatigued. Finally, you should check with your primary care physician if you have been feeling run down for a while.