We always hear that we need to get enough sleep, but many of us take that fact for granted.
Sleep is a time for recovery, repair and restoration of the body and mind which is so important when we are training for fitness goals such as the LRC Mammoth March event.
Our partners, Mammoth Mattresses are leading the way with research on the importance of sleep so much so, they have their own Dr. of sleep science.
Dr Nicola Barclay, University of Oxford Sleep Scientist shares with us why sleep is crucial to self-improvement.
“So, why is sleep crucial to a happier and more productive person? Well sleep is important for regulating our emotions and our cognition, our ability to accurately interpret our environment, to communicate with others and react appropriately to stressful situations is disrupted when we haven’t had enough sleep.
But lack of sleep also alters important chemicals in our brain and bodies that control the emotions. So these are some of the reasons why we see associations between sleep and depression, anxiety and a multitude of mental health difficulties. Getting better sleep is essential to being happier and more productive person.”
Here are our three top tips on sleeping your way to being fitter and ready for the LRC Mammoth March event;
1.Create a sleep routine – If we try to go to bed at wildly different times every night, our body clock never has a schedule to fall back on. Going to bed at the same time each night lets your body know that it is time to start unwinding and preparing for rest.
2. Be mindful of what you consume – Beverages like caffeine and alcohol can prevent you from getting a restful night’s sleep and eating too close to bedtime is also not advisable.
Our top LRC tips are to leave drinking caffeinated drinks after 2pm and when relaxing with a glass of wine, or your preferred alcoholic beverage at the weekend, have a glass of water alongside to aid hydration.
3. Minimise screen time in the 1hr leading up to bed time – Scrolling through the news or social media right up until (and sometimes after) your head hits the pillow forces your brain to stay active in order to process the huge amounts of information you’re consuming. What’s more, the light from your smartphone screen can disrupt the release of vital sleep hormones like melatonin.
Try setting a time after which you say goodnight to the internet for the day. Get in the habit of doing something else in the run up to bedtime rather than scrolling through your phone, such as reading a book or engaging in meditation, as this will help you feel more relaxed as you fall asleep.
By taking the time to investigate your relationship with sleep now, you can improve it in the long run.
A good night’s sleep starts with the right mattress and thanks to our partnership with Mammoth Mattresses you can access 40% off any of their range using the code – LRC40.
You can explore the selection of premium mattresses right here.