Sleep, it’s something many of us very much enjoy and very much look forward to. When we are as active and busy in our lives sometimes the importance of a good nights rest can be overlooked and our recovery can take a hit.
When I was playing international rugby, traveling a lot and sleeping in hotels we had a coach that would go over the importance of getting a good nights rest. Sounds simple I know but they had a list of other things besides a comfy pillow and blanket to assist us in sleeping well. Things like:
turn your phone off or keep it in another room
turn your television off
draw your shades and blinds so the windows block out as much artificial light from the outside
drink plenty of water before bed
and finally take many deep belly breaths in your nose and out your mouth as you first get comfortable in bed
Now, I can honestly say I don’t do all these things, I tend to fall asleep with some noise and usually leave the television on. However, every once in a while we will turn the television off and fall asleep to the quiet and the more natural darkness. I can notice a more refreshed feeling in the morning and I much more calm. It’s a simple change up but I can feel it’s benfits. Like waking up when camping and sleeping in a more natural environment.
I challenge you to try to do one or a few of the above mentioned tactics and see if you notice a difference in your sleep. There is a lot more to those fun and handy electronic devices we are always grasping for and some things are unseen and not always beneficial for us. If some of these things aren’t your style, then try to make sure you get a solid 8 hours of sleep as regularly as you can. Your body and mind will thank you and you will recover and perform that much better in the gym and everyday life.
Sleep well and see you in the gym fresh and ready to go!