Tips for Exercising When Sleep-Deprived

Tips for Exercising , When Sleep-Deprived.

Data from the CDC indicates that nearly a third of Americans suffer from sleep deprivation.

A chronic feeling of being tired can make it easy to skip the gym.

However, cutting back on physical activity likely does more harm than good.

There is clear data to show that regular exercise improves sleep quality — moderate exercise in the morning, afternoon or very early evening can improve deep sleep, Dr. Phyllis Zee, Northwestern University, via CNN.

Research also shows that if you sleep better, you’re more likely to be able to engage in exercise and your physical activity levels are going to be higher, Dr. Phyllis Zee, Northwestern University, via CNN.

So I would say that even if you have had a bad night’s sleep, you should maintain your physical activity, Dr. Phyllis Zee, Northwestern University, via CNN.

However, intense workouts require rest for recovery, in which deep sleep plays a vital role.

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Without sleep, your muscles can’t recover from the stress you put them through during workouts.

, Dr. Raj Dasgupta, University of Southern California, via CNN.

It doesn’t do you much good to keep breaking down your muscles without giving them time to recover and grow stronger, Dr. Raj Dasgupta, University of Southern California, via CNN.

So instead of intense workouts when you're sleep-deprived, experts recommend taking it lightly.

If you’re not sleeping well, don’t go for that intense workout.

, Dr. Phyllis Zee, Northwestern University, via CNN.

Walk or do yoga instead, but certainly maintain an exercise or physical activity regimen at the regular time of the day that you normally would be doing it, Dr. Phyllis Zee, Northwestern University, via CNN.

Experts say that "everything counts" and that it's good to "do anything that makes you feel happy and refreshed." .

This is about hitting the reset button for yourself, not doing some form of exercise because you feel obligated to, Dr. Raj Dasgupta, University of Southern California, via CNN