I feel like there’s two groups when it comes to the subject……
1- I’ll sleep when I have time. Gulp down another cup of coffee, get your workout done and everything else then sleep last.
2- Sleep is a priority! Key to staying healthy and getting in solid workouts. I won’t sacrifice it!
I’ll admit I used to be in the first group. I consumed way too much caffeine to get everything accomplished in a day. And to be 100% honest my sleep pattern is still all over the place(thanks to swing shift + 2 little kids). I do take naps a lot to get caught back up on sleep. I’ve been realizing more & more the importance of sleep and how much we really do NEED sleep. I’m defiantly NOT an expert when it comes to this topic but let me share a few things I’ve learned…
So the medical experts say, your heart will be healthier if you get between 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Sounds easy, right? Well, not really but that’s what we should aim for. When we sleep our body relaxes lowing the heart rate and dropping the blood pressure. You can see the pattern.. the less you sleep, the longer your heart rate and blood pressure will stay elevated. Sleep really does make a difference on our over all health!
Sleep reduces inflammation and helps the body repair itself. During deep sleep, your body works to repair muscle, organs, and other cells. Chemicals that strengthen your immune system start to circulate in your blood. Here is a great article from the medical experts on sleep https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/ss/slideshow-sleep-body-effects Sleep allows the body to repair cells enabling you to bounce back stronger and faster. When we’re not getting enough sleep our body/muscles won’t repair properly. And this could lead to injury for athletes. For athletes/ runners sleep is especially crucial for performance!
Fighting Sickness- You know the old saying, “Sleep it off“? There’s actually truth to that! Sleep helps you flight off those nasty little germs. During sleep your immune system identifies harmful bacteria & viruses in your body and destroys them. How cool is that?! Another great article on sleep & sickness https://www.healthline.com/health/sleeping-when-sick#benefits-of-sleep
At times I’ve felt guilty, embarrassed and lazy because I require more sleep then others. Throughout my adult life there’s been times when I need alll the sleep… Hello first trimester and growing a tiny human… Hello marathon training and running all the miles. I’d sleep 9-10 hrs + naps! Thing is our bodies really do require good, consistent sleep. We(I) shouldn’t feel guilty, embarrassed or lazy. Our culture is such a “go-go” society. We’ll pay way too much money for energy drinks, pre & post workout drinks/shakes, supplements, vitamins you name it.. to get more energy & sleep less. But plain and simple(also free) just SLEEP more. Maybe we put too much on our calendar and really don’t have time to sleep? Maybe we feel like we have to be superwoman and get all the things done? Maybe we need to run all the miles? Maybe we should just slow down, cut back, sleep more and truly take care of our bodies?
A few tips that work for me to get a good nights rest
- Drink a hot cup of Nuun Rest buy it here https://nuunlife.com/products/nuun-rest?variant=31464313192484
- Take a hot bath with Dr Teals Epsom Salt. They’re all so good! https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dr-Teal-s-Pure-Epsom-Salt-Therapeutic-Soak-6-lbs/17325251
- Foam roll to loosen all those tight, stiff muscles buy it here https://www.amazon.com/foam-roller-exercise-roller/b?ie=UTF8&node=3407871
