March Fitness Goal

This month, our fitness goal is all about the zzzzzzz's!

As a whole, our country really underestimates the importance of sleep. We put so much emphasis on filling our schedule that we forget to sleep!

Here are some guidelines to making it a priority:

How Much? The average adult needs 7.5-9 hours of sleep per night! Researchers have discovered that only 3% of the population carry a gene that enables them to function well on 6 hours a night.

How it Affects You: It's not just daytime drowsiness that you have to deal with. Chronic sleep deprivation can cause generalized fatigue, moodiness, and inability to cope with stress. It can also have a negative effect on your immune system and has a direct link to overeating and weight gain.

How To: 
-Establish a consistent bedtime routine and stick to it, even on the weekends
-Avoid screen time right before bed, which can cause over stimulation
-Consider sleep environment, like a dark cool room with the TV off
-Avoid caffeine or sugar right before bed.

Please visit these articles to learn more about sleep deprivation and how to sleep better!

Because I work night shift, I really have to focus on getting good sleep when I can. I have become fascinated with sleep cycles and rhythms.
We sleep in 1.5 hour cycles, and waking in the middle of a sleep cycle can make it difficult to become fully alert.

I use THIS bedtime calculator to determine when I should go to bed to ensure enough sleep that aligns with my sleep cycle.

Check out January and February fitness goals, too!

Happy Snoozing