We all do it but need more of it. It’s so good for our body and our mental health. Most of us think about it all day and can’t wait to get home to do it all night, hoping it lasts that long. Sleep is something we all love and it’s a key (and often missing) factor in reaching any of our fitness goals – and feeling our best every day.
According to Matthew Walker, sleep scientist and author of Why We Sleep, “Human beings are the only species that deliberately deprive themselves of sleep for no apparent gain. Many people walk through their lives in an underslept state, not realizing it. Every disease that is killing us in developed nations has causal and significant links to a lack of sleep.”
When I hear “underslept,” I think of being malnourished – yes, you’re eating fruits and veggies, eating breakfast and you’re not really sick or hungry but are you getting sufficient amounts of the nutrients your body needs to perform and feel its best? So, yes you’re sleeping at night and you don’t feel too crapy most days but are you getting the quality of sleep you really need to feel your best each day?
In this week’s YouTube video, I share my top 5 tips for restful sleep – tips I’ve used to help me consistently get 7 hours of good sleep. I share the science behind the tips, too, so you can do some more reasearch and make them work for you.
And a quick note if you’re struggling with late night munchies, battling sugar cravings or generally having a tough time losing excess body fat – tune in to timestamp ‘3:15’ where I talk about 2 key hormones that link sleep and metabolism, fat gain and appetite. Those hormones are leptin and ghrelin.
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5 Tips for Restful Sleep
- Track your sleep using an activity tracker to see your restful vs. restless hours each night
- Get up out of bed if you’ve been tossing and turning for more than 10 minutes
- Establish a nighttime routine
- Cut screen time before bed
- Try a breathing exercise to calm your nerves
Cheers to a restful night of sleep! Which tips have worked well for you? Comment below!
