This blog post was written by Emily Wheeler and is published as part of our blog exchange with Tar Heel Tone-Up
Today we are tackling an important – and probably relevant – question raised by some of our readers. We have 24 hours in a day, but for those of use who want to pack in as much as possible, it may not be possible to do it all. In some situations, we have to forgo study time, sleep hours, or a night out with friends to make it all work.
If it comes down to it– what’s more crucial: an hour of exercise, or an extra hour of sleep?
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/ask-well-sleep-or-exercise/
The New York Times polled two physicians and learned that sleep and exercise share a “bi-directional relationship.” They write that exercise can actually lead to deeper, more restorative sleep. But they warn that sleeping for less than seven hours is a risky path to go down, possibly resulting in next-day drowsiness and lower motivation.
A Shape.com article emphasized the absolute necessity of getting enough sleep at night, particularly if your goal is to maintain a healthy weight. The trainer featured in the article said that her opinion is that sleep is more important the exercise.
http://greatist.com/fitness/dear-greatist-which-more-important-sleep-or-exercise
Greatist.com makes a key point that not everyone needs the same amount of sleep. Not to mention – if you exercise more during a given day, your body might need more sleep time to repair and recover. They write that a key factor in workouts is their duration, and to aim for anywhere between 20 minutes and an hour, depending on your personal goals.
Sleep well and be active, my friends 🙂
image from theeffect.net
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