Occam's Razor is a principle that states "the simplest solution is most likely the right one." This really rings true when it comes to sleep. It's the first thing to get overlooked and most of us try to fix it with band-aids, like coffee, instead of treating the cause.
Too many people are focused on finding the best supplements, best workout, or best nutrition plan without first addressing with their sleep habits. You could be wasting a lot of time, energy, and money trying to fix a problem that can be solved by simply turning the TV/computer/phone off 30 minutes earlier. Do you really need to watch one more episode, one more video, check Instagram again?
Sleep will determine the degree of success we get from our workout and nutrition choices. Without adequate sleep, all our efforts in the gym and the kitchen will be stifled. It's like trying to win a race with your feet tied together.
It's not easy to change your habits. Like anything else, it takes time, commitment, and a little bit of sacrifice. Here are 3 simple tips to improve your sleep habits.
1. Get 6-8 hours every night. I know, I know, you've heard this before, but maybe that's because it's true.
2. Go to bed at the same time. Try to stay within an hour of the same time every night.
3. Get up at the same time. Again, within an hour of the same time. This also means no snooze button! When you snooze, your first decision of the day was to procrastinate.
I challenge you to try these 3 things for 1 week and see if you notice any changes. What kind of energy do you have? How's your mood? How are your workouts? How about your recovery from hard workouts?