31 Days to a Better Body Body: Day 5 – Get Your ZZZZZZZZZZZs
Confession.
For the last year, yes YEAR, this has been my biggest struggle. I routinely go to bed around midnight (or later) and get up around 6 am. It’s starting to show. Literally. My skin is duller than before, I have more breakouts, I get frequent headaches, and I can’t remember my name half the time. Kidding. I do know, I don’t have the clarity I should. Not too mention, I’m less patient and overall just feeling “run down” much of the time.
Time for a priority shift.
I must sleep more.
Maybe this is why I'm not getting enough sleep?
Benefits of Sleep
1. Our bodies repair themselves during the night. Those strength training workouts? We build muscle at rest not during the workout.
2. Improved metabolic function. There is evidence that links regular quality sleep with weight loss.
3. Increased performance, creativity, ability to learn, memory, and mental clarity.
4. It’s called beauty sleep for good reason. That is when the majority of cell turn over happens and our bodies repair themselves from the stresses of the day. (See #1.)
5. Positive outlook and decreased likelihood of mood disorders.
6. Improved immunity
7. A well rested person is more likely to workout regularly and pass by those cookies at the office.
8. In my experience, being well rested also leads to a better body image.
9. Decreased likelihood of being in an accident.
10. Longevity. One study showed that people who slept 6.5 – 7.5 hours lived longer than those who slept less than 6.5 hours or more than 8 hours.
So how much sleep should we be getting. Well the above study suggests 6.5- 7.5 hours. Others say 8 – 9 hours. My theory is my body will let me know when it’s well rested. I feel my best when I get between 7-8 hours and anything less than 6 and I feel half zombie.
What about you? Do you sleep enough? Anyone else notice a connection between body image and sleep?
Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn
Check out our family’s adventures at New School Nomads as we plan to take a year long road trip through the United States!
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This is my (almost) sane quest for insane health. Let's 
sleep makes all all all all all the difference here. in everything.
hi jENN, funny you bring this up today, I didn’t sleep well at all last night
I notice I tend to crave sugar more when I am tired and feel justified eating chocolate! Also I feel much more emotionally vulnerable. The world is just a better place when you get 8 hours a night!
Interestingly though a good, hard workout will usually give me the mental clarity and energy I need to get through the day when I am really tired,… chocolate… not so much!
Oh MC steals the show again- and my heart. I have been sleep deprived, sleeping with one eye open keeping an eye on Captain Urethra, so I can relate. Sometimes I can ‘catch up’ by sleeping 14 hrs at a time or something and I’ve always been able to do that…I don’t care that the experts say it’s not possible- I know it is for me.