Weather is changing and you can see more runners outside. Do you feel tired? Maybe its stress!
One of the most effective strategies to increase running performance is to obtain enough good-quality sleep every night, yet many runners struggle to do so.
Stress has a major impact on your capacity to sleep soundly. In other words, runners who want to perform well must get enough sleep, and getting enough sleep requires reducing stress.
Lack of sleep has been shown to have a negative impact on athletic performance, therefore for many runners, reducing stress so they can enhance their sleep could be the key to their next personal best. Here are a few strategies for reducing daily stress so you can get more rest:
Exercise is a healthy form of stress, but it’s still stress, and running or working out immediately before bed might interrupt your sleep. Try to avoid doing strenuous workouts in the late evening as much as possible. If possible, switch to a morning run or move your run to the afternoon/early evening.
If you want to get a good night’s sleep, try to avoid blue light for at least 30 minutes (preferably one hour) before going to bed. The production of sleep-inducing chemicals like melatonin is reduced by blue light, which is emitted in significant amounts by devices like your phone, tablet, or computer.
Turn off all electronics for at least half an hour before night to reduce or eliminate your blue light exposure. If that’s not an option, consider investing in a pair of blue-light-blocking glasses or downloading a blue-light-blocking programme for your smartphone or computer.
For more information on how to improve your sleep visit article on Running Magazine
If you’re exhausted while jogging, you’re more likely to get hurt. Check some facts on running injuries HERE