There are many reasons that we don't want to give up the time needed to get a proper night's rest. With the invention of the electric lightbulb it has become easier to work or play during the dark hours of the night. Electronic devices such as radio, television and computers have given us an ever growing list of options when it comes to work and entertainment. And it's all available 24/7.
Two Important Types of Rest
There are two important types of rest to consider -- sleep and downtime.
Sleep
You need to get enough sleep every day to allow your body to function at it's best. Sleep is the time that your body and brain work to repair damaged tissue amongst other things. If you don't get enough sleep then your body will not be able to rebuild itself properly. Over time you will begin to see the effects of this.
Getting enough quality sleep is very difficult. People are stressed and distracted which makes sleep difficult. We also tend to have erratic sleep habits rather than getting our bodies into a comfortable rhythm. You need to figure out how much sleep you need every day. It varies from person to person and can even vary throughout your lifetime. You may only require 6 hours a night. Maybe you need 9. Regardless, you need to figure out how much and make sure that you get it.
You should also have a set time to go to sleep (and wake up as well) as much as you can. This allows your body to have a cycle that will naturally allow you to sleep better. You probably remember a time when you wanted to sleep in on a weekend, but you woke up at the same time as usual just because your body was used to it. Take advantage of that natural rhythm to get good quality sleep.
It is also important to consider what you do just before sleep. You want to start to settle down before bed time to get your body and your mind ready for sleep. Taking some time to relax, meditate, read or some other calming activity can really help. Be careful not to take a hot bath or shower though -- as relaxing as they are they raise your body temperature while sleeping naturally lowers it. It's also best to avoid exercise just before bed. Once again, this raises your body temperature and ramps you up rather than calming you down, even if you feel tired.
Downtime
You also need to consider the resting time that you provide for your body between workouts. People get fooled into thinking that if a little bit of something is good then a lot is better. Your body needs to rebuild damaged muscle tissue after a serious workout. It is very important to give your body the time it needs before another workout. A good rule of thumb here is to wait until your muscles don't hurt anymore. For most beginners this may mean only 1 or 2 workouts a week.
It is also a good idea to alternate muscle building workouts with cardio workouts. They work the muscles differently and give them more time to rest. You'll also get added benefits that you won't get by focusing on just weights or just cardio.
And don't forget that your mind, emotions and spirit all need time to be refreshed as well. Make sure that you spend quality quiet time alone. And quality time with family and friends is important too.
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Remember, don't think of sleep as wasted time -- it's the magic that makes your waking hours worthwhile!