I read this quote last week in an Eric Cressey article and it hit hard:
“Go 3 days without your favorite thing. Then go 3 days without sleep. It turns out that sleep is actually your favorite thing.” -Joel Comm
We had company in our house which changed our sleeping arrangement for a week.
Our kids’ schedule has blown up since summer vacation started and the regular bed time of 8:30-9pm has crept all the way up to 10:30pm.
My alarm still goes off at 4am no matter when I go to bed.
It didn’t take long to figure out, after a self-assessment of why the hell I was feeling unmotivated and completely wiped out, that my sleep had been poor for over two weeks and I was running on fumes.
You’ve felt this too I bet.
Sleep Deprivation
Even a few nights of poor sleep can tank your mood, motivation, and recovery. When a couple of days becomes a week or two, it’s like trying to train and parent while wearing an invisible 50-pound weighted vest.
Regaining Control
Getting back on track does not require you to return to perfection or whatever worked before. Get back to intention. Re-establishing a consistent bedtime, even if it’s 10-15 minutes each night, can help your wind down routine which can quickly shift your sleep prep habits in the right direction.
Adjusting Training During Poor Sleep
If your sleep takes a hit, your training should dial back with it. Reduce the intensity, lower the volume, or swap strength exercises with mobility or restorative movements or drills. Don’t redline or empty your tank, give your tank and opportunity to fill back up.
We’ve said before that sleep is your #1 supplement. It’s also free. Turns out it is also your favorite thing.