When to Skip Your Morning Workout
If you’re an avid morning workout-er (I just made that word up, clearly), you might be reluctant to miss a workout for the sake of sleep. Maybe it’s been drilled into your head, “how you start your day is how you live your day” or “no pain, no gain” or you’re convinced if you don’t workout, you won’t be able to enjoy dessert.
But what if I told you sleep is just as important, if not more important, to your wellness and weight loss goals as working out?
It’s true.
I’m sure we’re all aware, to some extent, that sleep is important for our health. More and more research is supporting this, though, and shows that poor sleep or insufficient sleep may lead to increased appetite, weight gain, hormone imbalances, and increased risk of depression, heart disease, diabetes, and other health concerns.
We even have apps, watches, rings, and supplements designed specifically to help us improve our sleep.
All this to say…. sleep is super important!
And it warrants missing a morning workout if you’re not getting enough shut-eye. Now, I’m not saying miss every workout or change your entire routine to workout in the evenings. What I am saying: prioritize sleep the same way you prioritize your workouts or anything else important to you. And if you hit the hay a little later than you’d like, go ahead and postpone your workout to ensure you get enough sleep.
So what’s “enough sleep” anyway? It varies person to person, but 7-9 hours is good for most people. You’ll want to feel rested in the morning, and ensure you’re getting uninterrupted sleep, too.
Here are some tips to help you snooze peacefully all night long:
Slowly reduce caffeine intake during the day. Try to keep it to 1-2 cups of coffee or caffeinated tea in the morning and enjoy your cup o’ joe with breakfast to avoid the blood sugar spike and hormone wonkiness that comes with caffeine on an empty stomach.
Set an alarm for the same time each morning and work backwards to determine what time you need to hit the hay. Aim to get in bed 8-9 hours before you need to wake up and remember to allow time to fall asleep and read or enjoy your bedtime routine, if needed. I like to use the bedtime reminder on my phone to remind myself it’s time to wind down at night.
Establish a bedtime routine. Take a bath, do a nighttime meditation, sip herbal tea, or read a book. Turn the t.v. off and put your phone in another room to avoid distractions, notifications, and blue light.
Keep a journal next to your bed to jot down any thoughts or worries that may otherwise keep you up at night.
Eat your last meal 2-3 hours before sleeping so your body has time to completely digest your food before you head to bed. Heavy meals or alcohol before bed can interrupt sleep and leave you feeling less rested in the mornings.
Drink a calming tea (chamomile, lavender, or another sleepy time blend) before bed….but not too much so you don’t need to wake up to go to the bathroom!
Happy sleeping!