--- title: Gym: Why You Shouldn't Skip a Workout description: Think of exercise as an investment in yourself canonical: https://time.com/4021340/why-shouldnt-skip-workout/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-09-03T13:49:36.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:01:47.984Z article:section: Health og:title: Why You Shouldn't Skip a Workout og:description: Think of exercise as an investment in yourself og:url: https://time.com/4021340/why-shouldnt-skip-workout/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfd000c933213ff61/6987789c524fc00bbcdebc37/health-weight-exercise-3.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2560 og:image:height: 1440 og:image:alt: TIME.com stock photos Weight Loss Health Exercise Weights og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Why You Shouldn't Skip a Workout twitter:description: Think of exercise as an investment in yourself twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfd000c933213ff61/6987789c524fc00bbcdebc37/health-weight-exercise-3.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Why You Shouldn't Skip a Workout by [Laurice Rawls / MIMI](https://time.com/author/mimi/) ## Laurice Rawls / MIMI Author Sep 3, 2015 1:49 PM UTC  Elizabeth Renstrom for TIME by [Laurice Rawls / MIMI](https://time.com/author/mimi/) ## Laurice Rawls / MIMI Author Sep 3, 2015 1:49 PM UTC [_MIMI_](https://www.mimichatter.com/) _is a Time Inc. property._ Your favorite workout pants are dirty in the hamper, your iPod is on 3%, and your bestie just texted asking you to join her at happy hour. We all have those days where getting to your workout feels more difficult than the actual exercise. So we reached out to [Franci Cohen](http://www.francicohen.com/), a board certified personal trainer, nutritionist, and the creator of a cardio resistance workout, to get the scoop on why you should listen to that little voice in your head telling you to get out there and sweat. ### You Have A Cold Running on the treadmill with a runny nose isn’t ideal but, it’s possible a good workout session could help you get rid of your cold. “Working out when you have a cold can actually be beneficial. It can boost immunity, and allow you to rid yourself of the invading bug a lot faster by flushing it out of the body by increased perspiration, respiration, and urination,” says Cohen. ### You Missed Your Workout Class Missing Zumba class may feel like grounds to head home and hop in bed early, but use this opportunity to try something new. Catch the late cycling class or try mixing up your own workout routine. Still sad you missed Zumba? Turn on Spotify’s Zumba playlist (yes, it exists) and create your own routine. ### Your iPod Is Dead / You Forgot Your Headphones Music can be a great exercise buddy, but forgetting your headphones isn’t a sign to go home. Try thinking of all the reasons why you started this journey and how far you’ve come. Instead of throwing in the towel (literally and figuratively), use this time to clear your mind and focus on each muscle you are working on. ### You Can’t Find the Time A wise person once said, “You and Beyoncé both have the same 24 hours. So no excuses.” Okay, so maybe you don’t have the access to trainers, dieticians, and specialty fitness routines like Beyoncé, but think of exercise as an investment in yourself. Some alone time to relieve stress and clear your head goes a long way. Cohen suggests getting a buddy to help you fight through the days when you’re “just not feeling it.” Of course, be mindful and listen to your body. If you have a fever or your body feels achy, you may want to skip your workout and give your body time to rest. After all, it’s all about living and feeling better. _This_ [_article_](http://www.mimichatter.com/5-reasons-you-shouldnt-skip-the-gym-1327026706.html) _originally appeared on_ [_MIMI_](https://www.mimichatter.com/)_._ _More from MIMI:_ * [Back to School Bootcamp: 5 Minute Routine](http://www.mimichatter.com/work-out-5-minutes-total-body-1315507001.html?xid=inline) * [This Changed My Life: The Workout For People Who Can’t Stand Working Out](http://www.mimichatter.com/workout-for-people-who-hate-working-out-1078037459.html?xid=inline) * [Back to School Bootcamp: Moves for When You’re Feeling Lazy](http://www.mimichatter.com/workout-from-your-couch-1313409944.html?xid=inline) ### See the 10 Healthiest Cities to Live in America  Honolulu, Hawaii Best Place for Lifelong Health The heavenly climate helps, but the key to well-being here also includes enviable health care and a rich cultural tradition of looking out for one another. Colin Anderson—Blend Images/Corbis  San Francisco Bay Area, Calif. Best Place for Eating Right. The "farm to table" movement began here. The region's bounty of produce and year-round growing season make eating healthy—and local—a natural. Getty Images  Burlington, Vt. Best Place for Raising Healthy Kids This New England city offers great schools, excellent pediatric care, loads of culture and limitless options for healthy outdoor fun all year long. Matt Hogan/www.mphoganphoto.com  Silicon Valley, Calif. Best Place for Workplace Wellness With treadmill desks, meetings on bikes, time off for creativity, and gobs of organic food, tech titans are reinventing how to stay healthy on the job. Jim Wilson—The New York Times/Redux  Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. Best Place for Aging Well Yes, it can be cold. But with a plethora of stimulating activities and a robust web of support, the Twin Cities prove that growing old doesn't mean slowing down. Getty Images  Denver and Boulder, Colo. Best Place for Keeping Fit The urge to get outside and get moving is contagious in these Rocky Mountain cities, where physical challenge is built into the landscape. Celin Serbo—Aurora Photos/Corbis  Plano, Texas Best Place for Staying Safe Once a rural outpost, this booming, diverse city has kept its small-town vibe, thanks in part to a police force and community that knows how to work together. Misty Keasler—Redux for TIME  Portland, Ore. Best Place for a Healthy Environment Small, walkable neighborhoods, 300 miles of bike paths, and urban policies that foster active living and sustainability make for one clean, green city. Getty Images  Boston, Mass. Best Place for Health Care This history-rich city is home to some of the nation's most advanced medical institutions and policies that help ensure that quality care is available to all. K.C. Cohen—Courtesy of Boston Children's Hospital  Provo and Orem, Utah Best Place for Spiritual Well-Being A stunning Rocky Mountain backdrop and a tight-knit population that lives its faith contribute not only to this region's serenity but also to lower rates of disease. Getty Images ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4021340/why-shouldnt-skip-workout/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4021340/why-shouldnt-skip-workout/"},"headline":"Why You Shouldn't Skip a Workout","datePublished":"2015-09-03T13:49:36.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:01:47.984Z","description":"Think of exercise as an investment in yourself","url":"https://time.com/4021340/why-shouldnt-skip-workout/","keywords":["Exercise & Fitness","Workout","gym"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfd000c933213ff61/6987789c524fc00bbcdebc37/health-weight-exercise-3.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Laurice Rawls / MIMI"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfd000c933213ff61/6987789c524fc00bbcdebc37/health-weight-exercise-3.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"TIME.com stock photos Weight Loss Health Exercise Weights","caption":"TIME.com stock photos Weight Loss Health Exercise Weights","creditText":"Elizabeth Renstrom for TIME","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/exercisefitness/","name":"Exercise & Fitness"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4021340/why-shouldnt-skip-workout/","name":"Why You Shouldn't Skip a Workout"}}]}] ```