🕛 Estimated Read Time: 2 minutes and 07 seconds.
Welcome to day 17 of the step challenge.
Getting enough good quality sleep is like a modern-day superpower that unlocks an easier and more enjoyable life.
Most people find that when they don’t get enough sleep, they:
- Crave more unhealthy foods and eat too much.
- Become more lethargic and less inclined to exercise.
- Feel less motivated and optimistic.
On the other hand, people who do get enough sleep:
- Crave less junk food and don’t feel the need to constantly eat in order to keep their energy levels up.
- Have more energy to workout (and get more steps!) and choose more active fun activities too.
- Feel more motivated, optimistic, and that taking on new challenges is much more do-able.
This is just the tip of the iceberg too!
Feeling well-rested can improve how you show up in your relationships, how you manage your finances, your ability to be productive and high-performing at work, and your overall ability to enjoy life more.
🪓 There’s a quote by Abraham Lincoln that says: “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”
Many of the most successful people in the world are also the biggest advocates of making time to look after their sleep. They know that the time invested pays back big time in productivity and better overall performance.
When they are well-rested, they can get more done in a shorter amount of time and do a better job at it too. Plus, when you wake up feeling refreshed, energised, and well-rested, then you’re able to enjoy life so much more.
The bottom line is that getting enough quality sleep can lead to a cascade of other healthy habits – including making it easier for you to get more steps in.
🤔 How Much Sleep is Enough?
Everyone tends to function better on a different amount of sleep.
Most people need more sleep than they might think, while some people actually function better on less.
However, getting a solid 7-8 hours is the most commonly beneficial amount for the average person.
If in doubt, aim for more sleep than you think you need and see how you feel.
When you don’t get enough sleep, you accrue sleep debt which is exactly what it sounds like. Your sleep “bank balance” falls short and it needs to be repaid. So if you have one or two late nights per week then it’s helpful to try to make up that sleep when you can.
Keep in mind that if you’re very physically active or going through a stressful period in your life, you’re likely going to need more sleep than normal too.
Someone who lives a frantically busy workday and trains hard in the gym every evening is going to need a lot more sleep than someone who is very sedentary with a relaxed and laid-back job.
So tonight, I want to encourage you to plan ahead, get your butt into bed early (set a reminder if you have to), and give yourself a good chance of getting a good night of sleep so that you can wake up tomorrow with energy to take on the last stretch of this Step Challenge.
Don’t forget to post your Step Challenge journey in the Sleekgeek Health Revolution Facebook group using the hashtag #StepChallenge AND tick off your steps goal on the Challenge Tracker.
You must be logged in to post a comment.