When it comes to training, there’s an often overlooked aspect of any schedule or routine that doesn’t always get the attention or recognition it deserves. As it turns out, your sleep schedule adds to your growth and progress, so much so that without it, you’re likely to not improve as quickly or tire yourself out to the point of total body fatigue.
Taking the time to not only rest from your workouts but also get some quality sleep is vital to ensuring that your body is recovering fully and prepared for peak performance.
Sleep helps prevent injury.
Pushing yourself too hard at the gym without getting the sleep necessary to fully recover can quickly introduce injury and strain into the equation. Without giving muscles the time they need to repair themselves, tears, strains and pulled muscles are more likely to occur after a lift that’s slightly off or an attempt at a weight that’s too heavy.
Sleep boosts your immune system
One of an athlete’s biggest fears when they’re serious about their training is having to sit out and be inactive due to injury or illness. Unfortunately, when you’re overtraining and not getting enough sleep, your immune system suffers and ultimately can’t protect you as adequately from sickness, meaning you’re at home sick rather than being in the gym getting results.
Sleep improves your reaction times and accuracy.
When you’re well-rested, you’ll notice an improvement in your abilities over time, as well as a faster reaction time throughout the day, not just during your workout. Whether you’re a CrossFit athlete or play a sport, reaction times can help or hinder your performance and keep you playing at your best.
Successful athletes count their calories, their PR’s and their sleep patterns. As long as you’re not discounting the vital role that sleep can play in your workout routine, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a better athlete with each workout, meal and night of rest.
At Rhapsody CrossFit in Charleston, our holistic approach to fitness will help you achieve any fitness goal. Join us for a free class today!
