SLEEP IN OR EXERCISE?

There's been a constant toss up in the field of sports psychology and Sports science about the benefits of sleep and the benefits of early morning exercise.

If you’re looking for the short answer, BOTH are beneficial. But the real debate I wish to stir up here is between getting an extra 15-45mins of sleep or maintaining a tight morning regimen of exercise.

Now we’ve all heard since we were young tykes running around the house after dinner at 9:00pm that “you have to get to bed!”, and when we asked why the classic response was “well, you have a big day ahead of you tomorrow!”.

Off we went to bed, only to repeat the same scenario again the next evening.

Years go by and we’re 17 staying up late chatting with friends and there it is again “ better get to bed mister/missy you’ve a big day tomorrow!”.

Now this notion of big day shrouds the true meaning of getting rest. Fundamentally, our bodies do require rest. Research shows that, on average, the human body needs between 6.5-9 hours of sleep. Granted a tough day of work and kids running about the house 9 hours doesn’t sound too bad. But getting the even 8 hours is often not the case.

Given we do get the magical 8-hours, what benefit does it have over a morning fitness routine.

Firstly, let's look at the benefits of sleep.

Sleep is our bodies docking station. As you plug in your smartphone for the night in preparation of its big day, you too place yourself in your double wide charging station. Much like the electrical juices that replenish the phones system, the reduced cardiac output, muscle recruitment, and brain function (non-autonomous actions) puts the body in a state a repair, allowing for homeostasis to take place throughout the body. Blood glucose levels drop, oxygen stores replenish, and toxins get filtered. All positives one would say. Let us not forget how fresh and ready to tackle the world we feel after a good nights rest!

In a nutshell sleep provides us with many benefits that we simply naturally require.

Routine fitness on the other hand is something that would seem to rival sleeps benefits. As with “getting a good nights rest” has become synonymous with parents telling kids to get to bed, so has understanding the minute benefits of routine exercise when asked “why do we have to run laps again?”

Studies show that a short 5-10min workout in the morning immediately after rising boosts productivity, curbs early morning cravings, improves attentiveness, elevates positive emotions (smiles instead of frowns), manages blood glucose levels (ideal for diabetics), improves blood pressure, and the list goes on…

If we weigh out the pros and cons between the two we see many similarities. However, given the acute response to the nervous system when routine exercise is implemented into morning rituals it would seem to favour morning exercise.

Granted this is based on the argument of 15-45 minutes more sleep or exercise, NOT 3 hours of sleep vs. exercise.

It is fundamentally important to get a minimum of 6 hours of sleep, but given the circumstance that this minimum “requirement” is met and you wish to opt for more time in bed, think of the rest of your day and the relative increase in success and productivity you can/will experience given a short morning workout.

The choice remains yours, but something to think about.

Enjoy! “Progression is built through consistency and tested by Passion”