Sleep is incredibly important, but we often don't get enough due to our hectic schedules. Just like we plan other aspects of our fitness, such as what we eat and how we work out, we can also plan our sleep patterns to promote better rest. Here are some tips to help you get the best sleep of your life.

According to Katy Widrick, a fitness instructor and blogger in a recent post about the importance of sleep, planning your exercise routine around your sleep schedule can help to guarantee you get a good night's rest. For example, although the time you choose to exercise does not really affect your exercise quality, it can affect your sleep quality. Widrick recommends doing cardio in the morning rather than the evening as it can give your muscles time to wake up, but prevents your brain from getting overstimulated before bed. Rather, you should try a more low-impact workout before bed such as yoga, to help your brain desensitize itself and prepare for “rest” mode.

Rest: How Much Sleep Do You Need? Sleep Foundation Recommended Hours Of Shut-Eye

One of the most important questions around sleep is how much you need. Although you may have heard of an ideal “eight hours of rest,” according to the National Institutes of Health, the amount of sleep your body needs to function best differs depending on the individual. It also changes throughout your lifetime, with children and teenagers typically needing more sleep than adults and the elderly.

Other ways to help ensure you get a good night's rest is to create an ideal sleeping environment. This involves turning off technology, keeping track of your caffeine intake, and trying to keep to a “sleep schedule” that involves going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day.

Upgrade Your Sleep Schedule - Get Fit While You Sleep

Source: Fix.com Blog

See Also:

How Much Sleep Do We Need To Stay Healthy?

Can Too Much Sleep Be Unhealthy? Too Much Or Too Little Linked To Health Problems