Sleep or sweat? Experts weigh in on the ultimate morning dilemma

Do you often find yourself torn between hitting the snooze button or squeezing in an early workout? In today’s fast-paced world, balancing sleep and exercise can feel like a constant struggle. Yet both are essential pillars of physical and mental well-being, deeply interconnected and equally important. Experts share insights on how to navigate this common dilemma—and why prioritising both can lead to a healthier, more balanced life.

 

 

The morning workout at the gym or walk outside often helps one start the day fresh and focused. However, when you force yourself out of bed and cram a workout into the morning routine, it could leave you frustrated and irritated as well.

 

 

How to prioritise sleep or morning workouts?

 

If one is getting a consistent sleep of 6-7 hours and adding a morning workout to your routine, then you are set for a good start. But if it's less than six hours, then experts suggest not to choose the morning workout as it could lead to more harm than good.

 

Lack of sleep contributes to weight gain and also triggers an increase in cortisol levels impacting blood sugar. This could lead to heart attack and stroke.

 

Though staying active is important, prioritising sleep is way more important. Cutting sleep to fit in exercise is not a good idea, experts point out.

 

According to sleep medicine experts, the best approach is to organise your routine to allow sufficient sleep and regular exercise. "Getting enough sleep, which is generally seven to nine hours for adults, should be your foundation, as sleep is essential for overall health, recovery, and exercise performance," David Rosen, MD, a sleep medicine physician was quoted by the Health website.

 

Also, high-intensity workouts without adequate sleep could risk multiple injuries.

 

Losing sleep both short-term and long-term causes health consequences. Sleep deprivation is linked to increased risks of heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes and mental health issues including depression and anxiety.

 

Sleep deprivation could lead to:

 

Increased stress hormones

Increased appetite and food cravings

Mood swings, anxiety, irritability

Impaired immune function

Disrupted hormonal balance

Mental health issues

Faster aging

Risks of chronic diseases

 

Tips to balance sleep and exercise:

 

Schedule your days in a way of getting both adequate sleep and regular exercise

Practise good sleep hygiene

Be flexible and adapt based on your energy levels

Split workouts

Establish consistent sleep and wake times

 

Health