Picture this – it’s already after midnight on a Sunday night and you have to be at work by 8 am. You’re about to set your alarm for the next day and you’re trying to decide if you’ll have time for an early morning workout. Is it better to sleep that extra hour or make time for exercise?
This is a scenario many of us gym-goers face throughout the week. Sleep is important for your overall well-being, but exercise seems to be equally as important. What should you choose?
Sleep
In general, adults need 7-9 hours of sleep a night and most fitness experts agree that sleep is more important than exercise.
Amy Leigh a wellness coach told the myfitnesspal blog that, “Sleep and exercise are both incredibly important for your body, but if you have to choose one it has to be sleep. Adequate amounts of sleep gets your body the time it needs to replenish and refresh your cellular functioning. If you do not get to do that, your health will suffer greatly.”
Exercise
Even though sleep seems to be the general consensus, exercise is also a must. If all you have is 10 minutes try doing a quick at-home workout, which will save you time. If you still don’t have time in your morning schedule for any workout, you can always walk to work or ride your bike.
“Exercise changes the brain and is critical for brain health. What’s good for your body is good for your brain, too,” John Assaraf, brain researcher and CEO of NeuroGym said.
