Getting a good night’s sleep has a positive impact on every aspect of your life and helps you achieve your personal best. From that important business meeting, to running a tough race, sleep is the best fuel you can get.
1. Stay alert
Often find yourself drifting into a daydream or longing for a lunchtime nap? It might be worth checking in with your sleep routine. Research has shown that missing out on the recommended 7 to 9 hours a night of shut eye can have long lasting effects, with concentration being one of them. This means that you will also have problems with coordination, problem solving, and staying on the ball for those critical moments. So, in order to stay alert and at your best, try hopping into bed earlier in the evening.
2. Be raring to go
It’s always great to take on the day feeling rested and refreshed, and getting a great night’s sleep can do wonders for waking up bright-eyed and bushy tailed! If you’re tackling something new and challenging, like the Spartan 5k Stadion obstacle course in Twickenham later this year, having this refreshed and energised mood can be critical to success.
3. Fight disease
It’s said that an apple a day can keep the doctor away, and so can getting a full night’s sleep. Research from our partner charity, The British Heart Foundation has discovered that consistently getting a low amount of good quality sleep can put you at risk of lots of health conditions including obesity, heart disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. So in order for you to be at your personal best for the long-term, it’s a great idea to prioritise those 40 winks.
4. Keep going for longer
Getting a good night’s sleep also boosts your stamina so you can keep going for longer. Sleep deprivation has been seen to decrease production of carbohydrates that are stored for energy use during physical activity, increasing the possibility of fatigue and low energy. So if you’re participating in a long distance event, like the 26 mile Strathclyde Loch Marathon next month, you’ll need the best sleep possible in order to achieve a new PB.
5. Avoid allergy flare ups
Allergies can be a real pest when you’re trying to achieve your fitness goals, so picking a sleep environment that will help you avoid allergy flare ups will do you a world of good. Choosing a mattress that has antimicrobial properties or an allergen resistant cover can help you sleep allergy free. Don’t forget those allergy resistant pillows too!
Click here to get your Travelodge Dreamer™ bed now
More information on British Heart Foundation research can be found here.
