Just another day feeling 'fine' (Credit: New Africa/Shutterstock)

Why Do People Feel Guilty About Resting When Sick? Survey Explains The Workplace Wellness Gap In A Nutshell

The average American feels fully healthy only 16 days each month; the other half involves fatigue, body aches, or outright illness, with winter being the worst season for feeling unwell.

Nearly half of Americans (46%) feel guilty about resting when they’re not technically sick, even though it takes an average of four days to recover from initial symptoms.

One-third of workers don’t have enough time off for “unwell days,” or those times when they’re struggling but not sick enough to justify calling out, forcing them to power through and prolonging recovery.

Most Americans (85%) know daily habits matter as much as avoiding germs, but 59% admit their wellness routines fall apart when winter illness strikes, creating a cycle that’s hard to break.

Most people assume they’re healthy most of the time, but research tells a different story. According to a survey of 2,000 American adults, the average person only feels completely healthy for 16 days each month. The other half of the month entails battling everything from nagging fatigue and body aches to full-blown illness, creating a wellness gap that many workers and families struggle to acknowledge.

The survey, conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by Bayer, found that Americans experience an average of five “unwell” days during winter alone, even when not technically sick. One in five people report even more frequent struggles, logging at least a week’s worth of days when something just feels off. Winter emerged as the season with the most health complaints, though respondents said they’d rather deal with symptoms during colder months than have them ruin sunny summer days.

What makes someone feel less than 100%? Body aches topped the list at 28%, followed closely by fatigue at 26%. Nearly a quarter of respondents described simply feeling “off” without a specific diagnosis, while 21% pointed to the classic runny nose. Other common complaints included feeling sluggish, weak, or battling an upset stomach. More than half of those surveyed (51%) said they actively dread the thought of getting sick this winter season.

Why Americans Feel Guilty Taking Time to Recover

Rest matters, but guilt stands in the way of recovery. While 45% of respondents acknowledged that allowing the body to rest is essential, nearly the same percentage (46%) admitted feeling guilty about taking recovery time when not outright sick. Americans worry about disrupting their wellness routines (52%), missing something important (51%), or losing motivation to maintain healthy habits (50%).

This guilt creates real consequences at work. About one-third of Americans believe they don’t have adequate time off to recover from “unwell days” when they’re not sick enough to stay home but still struggling. On average, workers take just three unwell days each winter to recuperate. That’s not nearly enough time. It typically takes four days from the first symptom before people start feeling better.

Six in 10 Americans get sick every winter, yet many still tell others “they’re fine” when they’re clearly not. One in five people admit to doing this at least once monthly. The consequences of pushing through illness linger: congestion keeps 25% of people down the longest, while 24% struggle most with feeling weak. Nausea (23%), stomachaches (22%), and persistent headaches (19%) round out the symptoms that refuse to resolve quickly.

1 in 3 Americans feel they aren’t allotted enough sick days off to fully recover from illness. (Photo 24739672 | Sick © Pressmaster | Dreamstime.com) The Connection Between Mental and Physical Health

Most Americans (85%) recognize that staying healthy involves more than just avoiding germs. Good daily habits matter just as much as dodging viruses and bacteria. This understanding drives many Americans to build wellness routines, with 54% prioritizing these practices at the start of each year. Those who maintain consistent routines report feeling more confident about their health decisions (83%).

However, not everyone feels certain their current approach is working. While most people say their wellness routine makes them feel strong (68%) and ready to face the day (78%), roughly one-third question whether they’re getting maximum strength from their habits. About 22% wonder if their routine truly prepares them for daily challenges.

Three-quarters of respondents (77%) believe mental and physical wellness are deeply connected, recognizing that one cannot thrive without the other. Nearly two-thirds (62%) report prioritizing wellness this season more than at any previous time. Yet 59% admit that maintaining healthy habits becomes harder when battling winter illness, creating a cycle where sickness disrupts routines, making recovery more difficult.

“When people tune into what their mind and body are asking for, whether it’s rest, movement, nourishment or medicinal support, they’re better primed to maintain their overall wellness throughout the year,” said Dr. Gabriela Zuniga, head of Medical Affairs for the Americas at Bayer Consumer Health.

How Americans Try to Feel Healthy Faster

When illness strikes, Americans turn to several strategies to speed recovery. Sleeping as much as possible ranked as the top approach (38%), followed by taking over-the-counter medications for symptom relief (32%). About 22% rely on warm showers to help them feel better, while 16% focus on nourishing their bodies with what they’re missing, whether that’s fluids, vitamins, or nutrient-dense foods.

Americans described their ultimate “wellness win” in various ways. Some focused on physical markers like passing medical exams “with flying colors” or maintaining better mobility. Others emphasized daily energy levels, saying they’d feel successful if they had “good energy daily” or could get through a day without pain. Still others prioritized consistency, like making it to the gym regularly or choosing healthy snacks over unhealthy ones.

Balancing productivity demands with genuine health needs is an ongoing challenge for millions of Americans. The survey data shows that current workplace policies and cultural expectations don’t align with the reality of how often people feel less than optimal. With Americans only experiencing full health for half of each month, the traditional approach of saving sick days for severe illness may not serve workers or employers well.

“Focusing on wellness as an everyday practice helps people feel more in control of their health,” said Dr. Zuniga. “When we prioritize small, sustainable habits, we can create a foundation that supports our overall well-being.”

The research shows a gap between how healthy Americans think they should feel and how healthy they actually feel throughout a typical month. Recognizing this gap, and accepting that feeling “off” is common and legitimate, may be the first step toward creating better personal and workplace policies around health and recovery.

Survey Methodology

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans who have access to the internet. The survey was commissioned by Bayer, a pharmaceutical and consumer health company that manufactures over-the-counter medications for symptom relief. It was administered and conducted online by Talker Research, a third-party survey research firm, between November 14 and November 18, 2025. The research examined Americans’ experiences with health and wellness during the winter season, including frequency of illness, common symptoms, attitudes toward recovery, workplace policies, and wellness practices. Respondents provided information about how many days per month they feel fully healthy, how they respond to feeling unwell, and what barriers they face to proper recovery.