How Does Sleep Affect Athletic Performance?
Lucila Bilenca - December 23, 2022

Have You Earned Your Tomorrow

By Edgar Guest

Is anybody happier because you passed his way? Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today? This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through; Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you?

Did you give a cheerful greeting to the friend who came along? Or a churlish sort of "Howdy" and then vanish in the throng? Were you selfish pure and simple as you rushed along the way, Or is someone mighty grateful for a deed you did today?

Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that's slipping fast, That you helped a single brother of the many that you passed? Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said; Does a man whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead?

Did you waste the day, or lose it, was it well or sorely spent? Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent? As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that God would say, You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today?

A good night’s sleep is crucial to the health and well-being of everyone, athletes included. Each of us requires a good night’s sleep to feel refreshed and ready to take on the next day. Letting your heart relax and your cells and tissues heal. This can aid in recovery after strenuous exercise. Also, the variations in heart rate and breathing that occur as you move through the different phases of sleep are beneficial to your cardiovascular system.

Getty Images/AFP/ JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER

They are healing from disease or avoiding it altogether. Cytokines are hormones the body produces while you sleep that stimulate the immune system to respond to illnesses. The recuperative benefits mentioned here are crucial for athletes’ health and success. Memory is best retained and consolidated during sleep. Athletes benefit from better long-term performance because of memory consolidation during sleep after practice or learning new abilities. The brain’s memory- and learning-related neural circuits cannot be generated or maintained without enough rest.

In addition, getting enough sleep is crucial for your brain’s overall functionality. Failure to get enough sleep has been linked to memory and concentration problems. Effects on cognitive abilities like decision-making and adaptability, which are crucial in some sports, may be diminished. In addition, just as physical activity may aid in improving or maintaining mental health, so too can enough sleep assist keep an athlete’s mind sharp and focused. If you sleep well, you’ll feel better in the morning. Getting a good night’s rest might help you avoid mood swings and mental health problems like depression.

The repercussions of insufficient sleep, both in terms of quality and quantity, are universally unfavorable. Getting too little shut-eye impairs your brain’s capacity to make rapid decisions and process information. Lack of sleep increases the likelihood that a person may act recklessly. Not getting enough shut-eye might make you snappier and more prone to emotional distress. Many physical health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, renal disease, and stroke, are linked to insufficient sleep.

In contrast to the beneficial effects of sleep on athletic performance, sleep deprivation has the opposite impact. When athletes don’t get enough shut-eye, many problems might occur.