Okay so ... you love, you need, but you probably just don't get enough … sleep! The average adult requires 7-9 hours of sleep per day (HA, wouldn't that be nice) but they usually only actually get 5-7 hours. But want to know something that is going to blow your mind? You fitties actually require even more sleep than the average adult to promote rest and recovery from your rigorous daily workouts. To put it into perspective, a pro athlete requires 10-12 hours of sleep per day, that's double what the average adult actually gets!
At this point, you probably know the various benefits that come from getting a full night of sleep and you probably also have experience of the negative effects that come with pulling an all-nighter or sleep deprivation. So we are going to skip over the basic benefits and instead talk about what is actually going down during each sleep stage of a full cycle:
Stage 1 is a light sleep. It is that period that you are easy to wake and doesn't necessarily hold much value other than preface for the good stuff that is coming your way.
Stage 2 is the onset of sleep. This is the stage in which your muscles begin to relax, your internal temperature drops, and your heart rate & breathing rate slows down.
Stage 3 is your restorative sleep, this is where the magic happens! Blood pressure decrease Your circulatory system repairs and recovers Blood flows to muscles increase Growth hormones release and repair muscles, bones, and internal systems Nervous system repairs and recovers New memories and information is processed Energy is restored
Stage 4 is REM sleep. This is where your heart rate picks back up, your brain is very active and you start to dream.
Need help falling asleep? Try controlling and slowing your breathing, scent your bedroom with lavender, or listen to calming/relaxing music right before you begin to doze off.
As you can tell from the brief description of each stage, a full sleep cycle is absolutely crucial for maintaining good health. Aim for 8-10 hours to help your body recover, keep a fixed sleep schedule, maintain a restorative sleep environment and remember that quick naps throughout the day are always recommended!
Big thanks to Casper Mattress for sharing knowledge and giving us tips to sleep like a champ! Check out their mattress here
