Should you sleep in or exercise?
When it comes to your health, getting enough sleep and exercise is imperative. But which is more important? When you’ve got to choose between sleeping in or waking up to fit in a workout, which should you choose?
As it turns out, the answer is not black and white. If you go to sleep early enough and have had at least seven to nine hours of sleep, then it is worth waking up to get a workout in. In fact, having enough sleep will improve the duration and quality of your workout the next day, while in turn, working out regularly can improve the quality of your sleep.
However, if you generally only get six hours of sleep or less, cutting off those precious minutes of sleep in favour of exercise could do more harm than good to your mental health, not to mention that a lack of sleep can reduce your coordination and energy levels, making your workout potentially dangerous. Sleeping an appropriate number of hours is imperative to proper immune function, appetite, and energy levels. If you’re not a good sleeper, it’s probably worth waiting to work out at lunch or in the evening. Try to schedule your exercise routine no later than 7pm, as working out any later can actually impair your ability to fall asleep that evening.
Overall, regardless of the hour, you should be aiming to get at least seven to nine hours of sleep per night, according to the American National Sleep Foundation, and three to four days of exercise per week for optimal mental and physical health benefits.