SLEEP: YOUR SECRET SUPERPOWER 💤
In a world where companies will try to sell you supplements you don’t need and every second social media post will try to convince you there’s a quick fix to be had, why don’t we just opt for the basics? 👀
Sleep is available to us all and it’s FREE.. 🍎 Let’s talk about some of the benefits:
With a good night’s sleep:
• Our muscles can repair and grow, leading to increased strength and power 💪
• Our reaction time, agility and motor control are improved ⚡️
• Our aerobic capacity is improved meaning we take longer to fatigue 🥵
• We have reduced inflammation and decrease our risk of injury 🏥
• We can consolidate the acquisition of new skills 🧠
The recommendation for most adults is around 7-9 hours but some very active individuals may need more 💤
The most important thing is having a consistent SLEEP SCHEDULE 📆 e.g going to bed at the same time and waking at the same time (yes, even on weekends!)
OUR ADVICE 🗣️
⏰ Create a sleep routine.
• Have a set time every night 🌙 that you start to unwind before bed.
• Say goodbye 👋🏼 to screens (💻 and 📱), minimize exposure to artificial lights 💡 and cognitively demanding tasks 🧠
• Do an activity that helps you to relax – listening to a podcast, reading a book, yoga, NSDR 🧘♂️
• Try to avoid eating large meals 🍽️ within 2 hours of bed time, especially if they are spicy or high in fat
• Take a hot shower or bath before bedtime 🛁 This lowers your core body temp 🌡️ which is exactly what you want to happen before 🛏️)
• ⏰ Get up when your alarm goes off – don’t hit snooze! Having a consistent wake time helps with having a consistent sleep time – set yourself up for success for the following night
At Unity health just isn’t exercising – it’s how we eat, sleep, recover, think and interact with one another 🌱
If you’re looking for more than just a gym, get in touch to arrange a no-sweat intro with a member of our lovely team 📲