What if I told you that I know a way that can not only dramatically improve an athlete’s performance, but also improve their intelligence, mental health, and relationships?
Sleep and mental health are very closely linked. Anyone who doesn’t get enough sleep can attest to the fact that it makes you more irritable, more irascible and generally in a worse mood than usual. In more scientific terms, there are a number of biochemical processes that link sleep and mental health. People who get little or no sleep have a much higher risk of developing depression and anxiety disorders; they also find it harder to cope with stress.
They get caught in a vicious cycle. Poor sleep often leads to mental health issues and contributes to anxiety and stress, which in turn can disrupt sleep. If an athlete has mental health issues, start by asking them to pay more attention to their sleep. By helping your athlete get a good night’s sleep, you’re helping to protect their mental health first and foremost.
Unfortunately, there are a number of factors that can prevent athletes from getting a good night’s sleep on a consistent basis that don’t concern most people. Following a regimen is extremely important for a good night’s sleep, but athletes often have very disordered routines.
Normally, an adult needs about seven hours of sleep a night, but even with a fairly consistent schedule, many athletes struggle to find enough time to sleep because they often have to get up early for training and travel. What’s more, athletes (especially teenagers and young adults) often need more sleep than the rest of us, because they need eight or nine hours of sleep to be at their best.
Sleep isn’t just good for mental health – it’s during sleep that muscles repair and the body rebuilds and assimilates nutrients: so if athletes are actively training but not getting enough sleep, they’re not training, they’re injuring themselves. This is why you should do everything you can to make sure athletes get enough and good sleep. It is very important to understand how much sleep we need and to support athletes’ efforts to improve sleep quality.
