Sleep - What It Can Do For You And How You Can Get Enough Amount Of It

You Need To Have It

You probably wish you could sleep less. Shaving even an hour off your sleep requirement each night would give you an extra 30 hours a month.

The ability to gain more time has lead people to try all kinds of sleep modifications. Ten minutes of browsing online will reveal attempts at everything from polyphasic sleep to cycles such as 36 hours awake and then 12 hours asleep.

While controlling your schedule by reducing sleep sounds alluring, all of these attempts have the same result: failure. Even people who try to maintain schedules like the polyphasic sleep for a period of time will give up sooner or later.

The reason no one has conquered sleep is because it's simply something your body has to have on a regular basis. Just like you need air to get through the day, you need sleep to recharge your batteries. It doesn't take long for people who attempt sleep experiments to see just how much the human body needs sleep. Even if they are able to shave hours off their sleep, they realize this doesn't translate into increased productivity. 30 hours a month is useless especially when you feel that you're just pushing yourself.

Sleep is a critical component of getting in shape. This is the time when much of your muscle repair is done after a workout. Not being able to get all the sleep you need will create stress, and this can be the reason why your weight loss efforts will not go through successfully. Regular sleep is also vital for your overall health.

Don't Sabotage Your Ability to Sleep

You have to make time to sleep. Almost everybody needs 7 to 8 hours of sleep. While many people get by on 6 hours of sleep, most of these people are doing more harm than good.

Sleeping for a whole 7 or 8 per day may seem like a dream. But the truth is it can be a lot easier when you make it a priority. Making sleep just as important as eating well and working out can change the way you view it.

Part of getting a good night's sleep is not sabotaging yourself during the day. There's nothing wrong with a cup or two of coffee in the morning. However, caffeine stays in the body longer than most people realize. Ensuring a good sleep means you should limit your coffee consumption to before noon. It also means you should avoid soda or energy drinks in the afternoon.

Naps have become a trendy topic in recent years. More people feel napping is a good idea. The truth is napping might actually destroy the schedule of your sleep and it can make you feel sluggish. Instead of trying to nap, if you feel a drop of energy in the afternoon, get up and take a 20 minute walk. Going outside for this short time will burn some calories, raise your energy and won't create a problem when you try to sleep later.

Wind Down Before Bed

Sleeping well is easiest when you have a schedule. You need to get up from bed and go to sleep at the same time everyday. Make your bedroom all cooled down for about an hour or two before going to bed.

Try to avoid bright screens in the last few hours before bed. Studies have shown the light from these screens can mess up sleep by stimulating your brain. If you have to use your computer or laptop, use a program that will reduce the impact on your eyes.


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Zach Hunt is an Spokane Personal Trainer expert & owner of Physzique, a personal fitness coaching company in Spokane, WA helping people to look & feel great. Go to Spokane Personal Training for more info on these services & more fitness tips.