I often advise folks to take a few days off from exercise every six to eight weeks, provided they work out at a good intensity and are consistent. This allows your mind and body to heal and adapt from the previous weeks of exercise. Also, remember to breathe! When you stop moving, your breathing may become shallow, which could lead to an injury. Here's how long you should be away from exercise before resuming: If you're exercising using weight machines, try not to go more than four weeks without lifting weights. You can run twice a week for up to three months without any problems as long as you do so safely. After that point, you should start including some speed work into your routine. A good rule of thumb is to never go more than six weeks without including some type of cardiovascular activity in your workout regimen. The duration that you should stay away from exercise depends on what type of exercise you are doing. For example, if you are training your legs with walking or running, then it's best to give them a rest after four weeks, whereas if you are using weight machines at the gym, you can go for several months without visiting the gym. Just make sure you check with your doctor before stopping exercise programs that include strength training. Overall, it's safe to say that you should allow yourself time off from exercise every six to eight weeks.