I was really curious about this question….
I guess it kind of depends on your journey and where you are in training… I went on a 2 week complete break after my last ironman was cancelled… I’ve just recently tried to get more of a schedule going with swim bike run, but haven’t been able to get into it mentally, so don’t think I had reached the mental and physical regeneration…. So, started something completely different (yoga) and am hoping that will help reenergize and recoup my mental state.
Anyhow, I guess it would also depend on what is going on on an individual basis. But no matter what, I give myself a hard deadline to start building up to the maintenance program, keeping in mind when my race dates are. And then praying that I can start to get more motivated as training progresses