Should I Exercise or Sleep in the Morning?

Your alarm goes off in the morning, and your mind is immediately filled with questions. The first one is of course, “Why is it so early?” but this is quickly followed by, “I feel so tired…should I just sleep a little more or go ahead with my workout like normal?” This is a conundrum millions of Americans face every day, so what is the right answer? Today, we’re going to shed light on this issue so no matter which one you choose in the morning, you can feel confident about it.

Exercise vs. Sleep

While most health experts (be they general practitioners, sleep doctors, or physical trainers) all agree that sleep and exercise are both extremely important to overall health. But, there is only so much time in the day, so which one should win out when the clock is ticking? According to sleep experts, losing sleep to workout is NOT recommended.

Exercise is great for regulating your weight, maintaining physical and mental stamina, and lowering your chances of developing systemic diseases, but getting enough sleep is as necessary to your body as food and water. Without adequate sleep, all your energy put into exercise will basically be wasted, as your body won’t be able to fully recover from your workout. Gains are actually made while you sleep! And, working out while tired also greatly increases the chances for injury.

Basically, when you work out and don’t sleep enough, you’re breaking your body down without giving it time to build back up.

So in conclusion, if you’re feeling a bit worn out lately, the solution is to go to bed a bit earlier or sleep a bit later and sacrifice your workout a bit. It’s the better choice for both your body and your long term health.

How to Fit Exercise into the Day

So you’ve decided to sleep more in the mornings…when are you supposed to workout now? Exercise shouldn’t just completely go out the window, right? Fortunately, if you find yourself pressed for time, there are a number of ways you can seamlessly integrate physical activity into your day that doesn’t involve hitting the gym:

• If possible, walk to work instead of driving.
• Take the stairs whenever you can.
• Clean your house/apartment. This activity is a great way to break a sweat and tidy up at the same time.
• Pick up a physical hobby such as gardening.
• Cook more often at home. This won’t only improve your diet, but it will also get you up and moving around the kitchen.

While none of these activities on their own should count as a workout routine, they can help supplement your exercise if you’re spending more time catching up on sleep.

When To Get Help

Something to keep in mind is that if you get an adequate amount of sleep every night (7-9 hours) and exercise consistently and still feel run down, then you may have an underlying sleep disorder. For example, around 80% of people with sleep apnea have no clue they are suffering from it.

Fortunately, getting help with your sleep is as easy as completing our short sleep test. It takes less than a minute to fill out, and after you’re done, our team will evaluate your answers and let you know exactly what you need to do next within 24 hours.

In the end, while both exercise and sleep are important, don’t forgo sleep simply to hit the gym! Your body will feel much better when it’s getting the right amount of sleep, which means you’ll have the energy to work out even harder!

About the Author

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is a certified sleep dentist who has been serving Florida for over 30 years. At his practice, he provides both sleep testing and sleep apnea treatment in Jupiter. If you’re concerned about you or a loved one’s sleep, he can help you get the answers you need. For more information, contact him today.