As I am writing this, I am basking in the fact that last night I got almost 8 hours of sleep. This is a big deal for me because it doesn’t always happen. Sometimes it’s because of my own foolishness in staying up later than I should and other times it’s just a matter of dealing with menopausal symptoms.
So what does any of this have to do with fitness? Believe it or not, sleep is a vital component to a fit lifestyle. A lack of sleep can mess with your mind, your physical motivation and even you’re eating habits.
I have noticed that when I am going on a few nights of not getting adequate sleep I can feel foggy. That causes me to become very unproductive. I also have less enthusiasm to workout and if I do, I don’t put as much effort into it so therefore, I don’t reap the rewards of a good workout. I’m also more likely to eat things that aren’t healthy which only adds to my sluggishness.
Ideally we should be getting 7 to 8 hours of restful sleep each night. If you establish a bedtime routine, that can help you fall asleep earlier. I would suggest not watching television before bedtime. For a period of time I was watching these shows on the “Animal Planet” where animals would turn on people and either seriously hurt them or kill them. No wonder I had trouble falling asleep afterward. That type of program is not exactly relaxing.
Reading is something that relaxes me and I find that I fall asleep earlier when I end my evening doing that. I know some people will drink chamomile tea which helps them to relax.
But sleep isn’t the only important part of your day and fitness routine. So is rest. If you go, go, go from the time you wake up until you attempt to lie down to sleep, you are going to feel overtired or unable to unwind.
I realize that life keeps us busy but we have to find time in the midst of our day to sit and rest. It might be different for you but I find that my lunch break is the best time of day to sit and rest. I carve out half an hour to eat lunch and watch a little television. It helps me to unplug my mind from work and other things going on around me.
Don’t underestimate the importance of sleep and rest. How much sleep do you get? What good or bad habits have you established?
Related Articles:
Fitness Is Good for Your Health