3 Times It's Healthier to Sleep Than Work Out, According to a Trainer

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14 hours ago

We set our morning alarms with the best of intentions. Exercise, make a healthy breakfast, take a shower, and then you're off. But when the alarm actually goes off, it's often a different story.
On mornings where you're struggling even to get out from under the covers, is it healthy to make yourself to hit the gym?
For days you do want to move your body a little, the Start TODAY app offers workout plans with a range of intensity levels led by best-in-class trainers.
But it's not always the best move to force yourself to workout, says Stephanie Mansour, a certified personal trainer and Start TODAY fitness contributor. There are three scenarios in particular when she recommends people opt for sleep over sweat.
It might feel like you're just being lazy by sleeping in rather than working out. But the truth is that sleep is just as crucial for your health as physical activity.
And, Mansour says, there are a few specific scenarios when it's actually better for you to get that extra time in bed than it would be to force yourself to wake up for exercise:
First, you should prioritize sleep over working out if you're not already working out regularly — especially if you're also not naturally a morning person.
Second, if you're currently sleep deprived, focus on getting those quality hours of sleep in first. You can worry about working out once you're better rested.
And finally, if you're super stressed out, forcing yourself out of bed to get your morning workout in isn't going to help, Mansour says.
If you do still want to get some type of movement in, Mansour's 7-Day Morning Stretch Challenge in the Start TODAY app is a nice compromise, with gentle stretches designed to warm up the body and give you an energy boost.
In all of these cases, you may have good intentions to get your physical activity out of the way first thing in the morning. But your body needs something else: rest.
In the first scenario, you'd be forcing yourself to wake up and work out in a way that's against your usual behavior pattern. That's not likely to make you work out regularly in the morning, Mansour says. And for that reason, making yourself get out of bed is more likely to sabotage your good intentions about getting physically active.
If you're working out on a sleep deficit, "your workouts just won't be as effective when you're dragging," Mansour says. And sleep deprivation make it that much harder to eat well and stick to a fitness plan. Here, sleep should be your first priority. If you're having a hard time winding down at night, Mansour designed a 1-Week Bedtime Stretch Routine to help you de-stress and fall asleep more easily.
And, for those who are dealing with high stress levels, making yourself wake up early isn't going to help. "Yes, exercise helps combat stress," Mansour says. "But forcing yourself out of bed to do a HIIT routine won't do you any favors when you're going through a particularly stressful period."
Rather than fighting your body to get a burn in first thing in the morning, pay attention to what your body needs from you right now.
If you're new to working out, try to incorporate movement into your day in a more natural way, like taking a walk after dinner or hitting the gym after work, Mansour says. Or consider squeezing in a 5-minute strength or cardio workout using the Start TODAY app when you have time.
And, when your stress levels are particularly high, she recommends opting for gentle forms of activity, such as a restorative yoga routine or walking. You can increase the mental health benefits of your walk by turning it into a moving meditation with one of the 50-plus walking podcasts in the Start TODAY app.
Finally, for the sleep-deprived among us, tackle that problem first. Take a look at your nighttime sleep hygiene and bedtime habits, and go from there.
TODAY's Expert Tip of the Day series is all about simple strategies to make life a little easier. Every Monday through Friday, different qualified experts share their best advice on diet, fitness, heart health, mental wellness and more.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com