So far we have talked about creating a fitness journal which keeps track of your eating and exercise. Some may leave it at that. You may look as those two areas as being the only important ones when it comes to fitness.
But fitness extends beyond that. Overall good fitness can only be had when we take a good look at every area, including our sleep.
Sleep is vital. I really don’t get impressed when people tell me how little sleep they get because they are so busy or they have this and that to do.
I value my sleep. If I don’t get at least seven hours of sleep, I can feel the impact. It is amazing how good I feel when I have been getting a night of solid sleep.
There are two things I have done to try and increase the chance of getting good sleep. The first was to invest in a Sleep Number Bed.
My husband and I spent about 15 years of our marriage on an old mattress. We were constantly waking up with backaches. We finally took the plunge and invested in a Sleep Number Bed. I say invested because we have gotten a very good return—good sleep!
I love this bed because we can adjust our own sides. I know there are other options out there but my point is that you need a comfortable mattress if you want to sleep well.
The other thing I have done which has made a big difference is exercise. You see, exercise has the benefit of making it easier to sleep at night. So it all comes back together.
In your fitness journal what you might want to do is start keeping track of your sleep. What time are you lying down? You might crawl into bed at 9 p.m. But then you might stay up for two hours watching television. Make note of that.
Keep track of how much sleep you are getting. You might also keep track of how many times you wake up in the middle of the night, if that’s a problem.
Do this for several days or a couple of weeks and you will get a better feel for how much sleep you are actually getting. We can think we know but it’s not until you see it in black and white that it becomes real.
I also suggest setting goals if you find you aren’t receiving enough sleep. What can you do to get more sleep? Go to bed earlier? Remove the television from your room? Drink tea before bedtime? Come up with a routine that will help you fall asleep faster.
Related Articles:
Creating a Fitness Journal – Part 1
Fitness Journal – Your Meals – Part 2
Fitness Journal – Exercise – Part 3
Photo by Perfecto Insecto on Flickr