Many times, people are looking for the next “hack” or supplement that will be a game-changer in improving their health or fitness. Honestly, one does not need to look further than a good night’s sleep.
Unfortunately, our society prioritizes the opposite. The hustle is praised whereas one who prioritizes rest is viewed as lazy or “not fun.”
A book worth checking out if you want to learn more about the value of sleep is “Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams” by Matthew Walker.
Some interesting tidbits from the book:
- routinely sleeping less than six or seven hours a night demolishes your immune system, more than doubling your risk of cancer
- insufficient sleep is a key lifestyle factor determining whether or not you will develop Alzheimer’s
- inadequate sleep disrupts blood sugar levels
- short sleeping increases the likelihood of your coronary arteries becoming blocked and brittle, increasing your risk for cardiovascular disease
- too little sleep increases the hormone that makes you feel hungry, which may subsequently impact your weight loss efforts
- the shorter you sleep, the shorter your life span.
The list honestly goes on. I encourage you to check out the book!
I’ve touched on its importance, yet I recognize many people are challenged by getting adequate sleep. People who do shift work or those with children are particularly in a tough spot. In those cases, when one cannot increase the number of hours they sleep, they can better focus their efforts on improving the quality of the sleep they do get.
I’ve put together a small e-book with strategies to help you improve your sleep habit. Simply email at coachcandiced@gmail.com “SLEEP” and I will send it to you!
Your friend in wellness and fitness,
Coach Candice
Need help optimizing your lifestyle? Book your No Sweat Intro, our FREE consultation, today!