Why Getting Enough Sleep Is Vital For Your Training?
Getting enough sleep is vital not only for your athletic performance but for your physical and mental health too. Here’s why restful sleep is so important.
You know that what you get up to outside of your training is just as important as physical work. You don’t want to do anything that could harm your performance, and sleep certainly plays a part in this.
Why is it so important to get enough sleep when you’re training? Let’s find out below!
The Importance Of Getting Enough Sleep
Here are the reasons you should have a restful sleep each and every night:
1. Have A Balanced Schedule
The more well-rested you are, the more energy you’ll have to tackle physical challenges. It can be tricky finding the balance between your training and your sleep schedule.
Your chronotype will impact your workout time. This essentially means whether you’re a morning or evening person.
A balanced schedule of sleep and training will make you a better athlete. The two go in hand in hand:
- Sleep helps boost workout performance;
- And working out helps you sleep better at night.
It’s a win-win situation. So get comfortable and cozy in your ladies’ nightwear and rest up.
2. Improve Physical Health
So getting the right amount of sleep can help feel more rested, but it also has a wide array of physical benefits.
It can boost your immunity, so you’ll be able to fight off any infections and colds better.
Also, people who lack enough sleep at night are prone to stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.
Moreover, studies have shown that if you regularly sleep less than six hours a night you increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
3. Control Your Weight
Sleep can help you control your weight. Studies have shown that people who sleep less than seven hours a night are more likely to put on weight. This is because of hormones.
Sleep-deprived people have less leptin, which is a chemical that makes you feel full; and more ghrelin, which makes you feel hungry.
So if you’re looking to get fit and healthy, make sure you’re getting enough sleep.
4. Maintain Mental Health
Not only does sleep improve your physical health, but it also helps your mental health.
Poor sleep is directly linked to depression and is even associated with suicidal thoughts.
So the first step you need to take for maintaining your mental health is to get 8-9 hours of restful sleep every night.
Relaxing and unwinding should be an important part of your training routine. However, for some people relaxing is easier said than done.
If you’re struggling to fall asleep, there are some top tips you can follow, to help get the rest you need.
5. Avoid Negative Impacts
Just as getting the right amount of sleep can help your body and mind, not getting enough can negatively impact them.
Your mood will suffer and it could be a struggle to motivate yourself to get moving.
It’s not just mental effects either. Not getting enough sleep also means your muscles will take longer to recover. That’s because the muscles repair and grow when you rest.
Sleep Is Important
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to creating a sleep schedule alongside training. The important thing is to find one that works for you.
But sleeping 8-9 hours a day is not enough to maximize your fitness gains. The quality of your sleep also matters.
So do everything you can to wake up rested and relaxed. This includes:
- Reducing screen time before sleep;
- Darkening your room;
- Doing meditation/yoga/stretches right before getting into the bed;
- Having a light dinner and avoiding snacks before bedtime;
- And everything else that helps you sleep better.
Do you have any tips on getting a good night’s sleep? Share them with our community in the comment section below.