A very easy activity may allow your muscles to recuperate in 24 hours, but a more strenuous workout may take two to three days. Workouts that are really strenuous may take much longer. How well you sleep is another aspect that might impact your recovery time. Lying awake for several hours because you can't get off of your bed due to pain requires even more recovery time. Generally, if you feel sore after your workout, then you have done a good job of recovering. Soreness is your body's way of telling you that it needs rest to repair and rebuild muscle tissue. However, if you feel sore for several days after a hard workout, then you need to adjust your schedule so you can give your body the necessary time to recover.